Gere plays a Howard Hughes, John DuPont type philanthropist, who has more money than earth, and wants to help/meddle with Dakota Fanning's life because he feels responsible for her parents sudden death.
Addicted to Hydromorphone, he employs her husband (played by Theo James) at his children's wonder emporium type hospital in order to keep his supply of analgesia full, and to keep his foot in the door.
But when people begin to resist, refuse, and deny him what he wants, he becomes more and more desperate.
When a person with great power and wealth becomes vulnerable, it becomes quickly apparent to people that they are losing their edge, and the weak spots begin to show. Well in this film, it's really difficult to tell how many weak spots Franny has.
His obvious addiction to Morphine is the primary problem, but the film decides that he has more and more problems as the narrative unfolds, and it becomes mind bendingly awkward as to what his motivation is, and why Franny has all these ulterior motives.
Is it his guilt? We are treated to several flashbacks and nightmare sequences featuring the accident that becomes his undoing, but in the real time narrative, it's barely mentioned, just knowing looks and 'Hmmm's' from the cast.
Gere is wonderful, it's a showcase for him, doing his usual blinky performance. His desperation as Franny is pretty grim, especially one scene were his need for a fix is horrifically apparent.
But why does it come as such a shock to everyone that he has this problem? Especially someone who has studied medicine, their addictive qualities, and the dangers of taking strong analgesia........especially when Franny has practically got on his knees, begged for it, and then made out it was a joke.......several times.
If it wasn't for Gere's wonderful performance, this would have been just another TV movie of the week, it's clear to see why Fanning isn't as big as she were when she was younger, and James is in danger of being just another pretty boy who got lucky with a franchise.
But Franny is such a complex character, he is the glue to the film, and just about holds it together.
A word of warning though, there is an extended shaving scene during the end credits, and I was waiting and waiting and waiting.......you never get to see finished product, it surprisingly infuriated me.
Addicted to Hydromorphone, he employs her husband (played by Theo James) at his children's wonder emporium type hospital in order to keep his supply of analgesia full, and to keep his foot in the door.
But when people begin to resist, refuse, and deny him what he wants, he becomes more and more desperate.
When a person with great power and wealth becomes vulnerable, it becomes quickly apparent to people that they are losing their edge, and the weak spots begin to show. Well in this film, it's really difficult to tell how many weak spots Franny has.
His obvious addiction to Morphine is the primary problem, but the film decides that he has more and more problems as the narrative unfolds, and it becomes mind bendingly awkward as to what his motivation is, and why Franny has all these ulterior motives.
Is it his guilt? We are treated to several flashbacks and nightmare sequences featuring the accident that becomes his undoing, but in the real time narrative, it's barely mentioned, just knowing looks and 'Hmmm's' from the cast.
Gere is wonderful, it's a showcase for him, doing his usual blinky performance. His desperation as Franny is pretty grim, especially one scene were his need for a fix is horrifically apparent.
But why does it come as such a shock to everyone that he has this problem? Especially someone who has studied medicine, their addictive qualities, and the dangers of taking strong analgesia........especially when Franny has practically got on his knees, begged for it, and then made out it was a joke.......several times.
If it wasn't for Gere's wonderful performance, this would have been just another TV movie of the week, it's clear to see why Fanning isn't as big as she were when she was younger, and James is in danger of being just another pretty boy who got lucky with a franchise.
But Franny is such a complex character, he is the glue to the film, and just about holds it together.
A word of warning though, there is an extended shaving scene during the end credits, and I was waiting and waiting and waiting.......you never get to see finished product, it surprisingly infuriated me.