*** 1/2
Frank Langella, Lauren Ambrose, Lili Taylor, Adrian Lester
Directed by Andrew Wagner
Rated PG-13
Opens Friday
A graduate student, Heather (Ambrose), does her thesis on a brilliant but out-of-print author, Leonard (Langella). They meet for interviews and grow closer, she attracted to his genius and stature, he to her beauty and intelligence. Langella has received much praise for his performance as the stiff, guarded author, but I’m not sure he pulls this off; it’s difficult to convey stiffness without giving a stiff performance. But the film works because of its subplot: Leonard’s daughter (Taylor) wishes to have a child. Her true love refuses. Their stalemate is often more interesting than the main plot.