IVANS XTC
Year: 2000
USA: Artistic License Films
UK: Metro Tartan
Cast: Danny Houston, Peter Weller, Lisa Enos, James Merendino, Adam Krentzman, Alison Taylor, Joanne Duckman, Robert Graham, Caroleen Feeney, Sarah Goldberg, Morgan Vukovic, Jay Lavender, Carol Rose, Steve Dickman, Wendy Rhoads, Kate Connor, Ken Stephens, Jay Itzkowitz, Julia Verdin, Alex Butler, Ruby Rose, Boris Gorbis, Heidi Jo Markel, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Pierre Tisserand, Dan Ireland, Lisa Henson, Hal Lieberman, Marilyn Heston, Valeria Golino, Angela Featherstone, Bobby Bell, Vladimir Tuchinsky, Victoria Silvstedt, Ken Enos, Crystal Atkins, Sofia Eng, Courtney Kling, Sam Lingenfelter, Mike Gold, Megan Carson, Pria Chattergee, Tommy Harris, Jerry Kaona, Sharon Hall
Director: Bernard Rose
Countries: UK / USA
UK: 92 mins
UK Certificate: 18 contains strong sex, language, and drug use
USA Release Date: 12 July 2002 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 19 July 2002
Synopsis
Ivan Beckman (Danny Huston), the hottest agent in Hollywood, the heir apparent to the most powerful agency - Media Talent Agency has suddenly died. Most people assume it was drugs, as Ivan has been partying hard. His colleagues scramble to prevent Ivan's clients from defecting, to repair damage to the agency. In particular they are afraid of losing Don West (Peter Weller), the biggest star in the world. Don is angry as Ivan has been slack lately. Must have been the drugs.
At Ivan's funeral the guest are more concerned as to whether or not Don West will show up. Fortunately he does and agents high five each other in relief. The problem is solved. Poor Ivan just went off the rails. One fact hardly registers; Ivan did not die of a drug overdose. He died of a massive tumour in his lungs.
The film slowly fades to black and begins again; we now meet Ivan. He is the picture of health, dynamism, and personal charisma. We see Ivan in action and he is extremely impressive, pulling deals out of the air, smoothing egos, weaving a wonderful and humorous web of spiel that crystallizes into hard cash and falls into his lap. But at the height of his success he gets a phone call from his doctor; a routine insurance exam has turned up something - a spot on his lungs.
We now follow Ivan's life through a dizzying descent into hell. Ivan can't tell anyone the truth about his condition as he quickly realizes that to do so is to be instantly ostracised.
We see Ivan's relationships unravel, with his family, his lover, his colleagues. Ivan runs around in ever more desperate circles searching for a moment of peace, some instant to give his life any kind of meaning.
As Ivan gets closer to the moment we all have to face the film becomes increasingly intense, reaching a moving and unexpected - climax, where Ivan finally achieves his ecstasy.
