The Look of Love

There’s some boobies and a 1950s-style bush here and there, but otherwise, it’s a pretty boring biopic. I was hoping I’d at least have some fun or be shocked. But in this case, I felt as if it were all filmed by a reserved Brit who was afraid to come up with anything that would distinguish this movie from the rest. The only upside of the movie is Steve Coogan who gives it his absolute all once he gets into character. (21/03/2015)

Despite its very average rating on FilmBooster, I had the feeling for quite a long while that I was watching a three-star film, not one that would get you ecstatic, but one that wouldn't bore you and had nothing blatantly wrong with it. However, as the minutes went by, I got the impression that Raymond's story was fading out. The screenwriter seemed unsure of how to approach this material. It's not so much a biographical film because we don't follow Raymond from the moment he tried to make it in the industry with a few dollars in his pocket, and we don't see his artistic beginnings or his initial successes. We only get to know him when he is already brimming with confidence, with both millions and mistresses and nothing significant really happens in his life - unless we consider the exchange of life partners significant. From a dramatic perspective, the film simply doesn't work. It can be considered to some extent as a picture of the free sixties when sexism was rampant and the golden era of pornography began, but the film doesn't work with that systematically either. The designation "a glimpse into the lives of one family that got rich" would suit it the most in the end. In the last third, the film starts to take on dangerously sentimental positions when it addresses drug addiction and the daughter's illness. The Look of Love is watchable, but it's just a run-of-the-mill spectacle that will easily slip your mind afterward. Overall impression: 45%. (20/11/2017)

Another rewatch after many years, and yet another underwhelming experience. Despite its abundance of twists and turns, the plot of this film felt strangely flat. I've never had an aversion to erotica or pornography, so theoretically, this movie should have entertained me, but it failed to do so. I could argue that perhaps the creators attempted to cover too much ground by encompassing the life and work of Paul Raymond, but honestly, I don't think that would have made a difference. The story of Britain's once-richest man was uninteresting, disjointed, and failed to engage me. After watching the whole film, I left with only a basic understanding of who Paul Raymond was and mostly negative feelings about the experience. / Lesson learned: When you're unsure about what to do with your money, avoid investing in cocaine or other fuels and consider supporting those less fortunate, like the poor and disabled. I can't wait. (19/06/2022)