One of the many films caught in con man/film producer/sleazebag David Bergstein’s ongoing drama with Capitol Films (as of February there were about 89 court judgments against the company and growing), we didn’t expect to see Taylor Hackford’s “Love Ranch” anytime soon. Until now.
The story of how the film got released from the clutches of Bergstein is a sorry one, but we imagine the tale will become familiar as more and more creditors begin collecting on the growing debts owed to them. In this case, after borrowing over $10 million from Aramid Entertainment Fund and using “Love Ranch” as collateral, Bergstein and co. failed to make payments allowing Aramid to foreclose on the film. A distribution deal has now been struck with Canadian firm E1 Entertainment and the film will see a limited release this June in Canada and the United States. E1 also has the rights for the U.K., Scandinavia, France and Australia and we would imagine release dates in those territories will soon follow.
Oh right, the film. It’s actually an intriguing premise based around “the real-life story of Joe and Sally Conforte, who in 1971 opened Mustang Ranch, the first legalized house of prostitution in Nevada.” Here’s the official synopsis that can still be found on Capitol Films website:
Grace is married to Charlie, a violent gangster constantly trying to hit the big time in Reno, Nevada. Throughout their marriage she has always been the brains to his brawn and together they are a force to be reckoned with… But when Charlie dreams up yet another money making enterprise and brings Bruza, a world class boxer into their realm everything will change.
There is something different about Bruza – his passion, his past, his mane of hair – and despite the danger, Grace is unable to stay away from him. As the electricity between them builds to its inevitable conclusion, the weariness of Grace and Charlie’s twenty-two year marriage begins to show. As does the dark and dangerous underbelly of Charlie’s character when he finds himself sidelined. As the big fight draws closer, it transpires that Bruza has not told Grace everything. Bruza shouldn’t be fighting and Grace shouldn’t be caring.
Although they both know better, they can’t stop themselves from falling in love. When the enormity of Grace’s treachery is revealed, Charlie reacts with the fury of a man who has lost everything when he almost had it all.
Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci play the husband wife duo and significantly for Pesci, it marks his first leading role since his semi-retirement after 1998’s “Lethal Weapon 4” (he also made in a small cameo in his good friend Robert DeNiro’s “The Good Shepherd”). Gina Gershon and Bai Ling also star.
We’re glad to see one film escape the house that Bergstein built and we hope to see more, starting with David O. Russell’s “Nailed.”
