Some Velvet Morning

Director: Neil LaBute
Year Released: 2013
Rating: 2.0

An 'attorney' (Stanley Tucci) returns to an 'ex-girlfriend' (Alice Eve) after claiming to have left his wife and hoping to rekindle the old flame, except she's hesitant (and apparently dating his son). Fundamental questions about the nature of the relationship between the Tucci and Eve characters (why didn't he call first? why doesn't she call the police?) get washed away in the final 'twist,' which is admittedly clever without being particularly illuminating, as the Eve character is still subjugated and used for despicable means (the final shot that suggests she has feelings for the Tucci figure is even more deplorable). It's basically an extended (and quite often redundant) monologue done by a immensely talented actor, while Eve's role is to act like an evasive object and ultimately be subject to 'consensual' rape (in exchange for money). Further questions arise: does the Eve character have to memorize a script that her johns provide for her or does she have to improvise with every session? Does every session end in sexual violence? Is LaBute actually a misogynist or is he just playing with the nerves of his (predominantly) liberal audience as a one-trick pony provocateur?