The Escort [Mauvaise Passe] ** (1999, Daniel Auteuil, Stuart Townsend, Liza Walker, Noah Taylor, Frances Barber, Ben Whishaw) – Classic Movie Review 10,456

Director Michel Blanc’s 1999 France UK film The Escort [Mauvaise Passe] stars Daniel Auteuil as a poverty-stricken French writer called Pierre, who becomes a male escort in London, where he finds his new lifestyle more appealing than he previously thought. Stuart Townsend plays his friend Tom, a gigolo for ladies, who unexpectedly introduces him to the scene by taking him to a party where they are paid by two female clients.

The Escort is an odd, disconcerting, rather dodgy drama, with a capable cast battling the muddled script, and a decent visual style about it, thanks partly to some intriguing London locations and to Barry Ackroyd’s cinematography.

Ben Whishaw plays Jay.

It is the second film for Ben Whishaw (as Jay), following The Trench.

The main cast are Daniel Auteuil, Stuart Townsend, Liza Walker, Noah Taylor, Frances Barber, Claire Skinner, Béatrice Agenin, Keith Allen, Ben Whishaw, Barbara Flynn, Amanda Ryan, Peter Mullan, and Sarah-Jane Potts.

The Escort [Mauvaise Passe] is directed by Michel Blanc, runs 106 minutes, is made by Renn Productions, Pathé Productions, France 3 Cinéma, CNC, and Canal Plus, is released by Pathé, is written by Michel Blanc, Hanif Kureishi and Nick Love, is shot by Barry Ackroyd, is produced by Claude Berri and is scored by Barry Adamson.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,456

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