James Toback and Alec Baldwin (Photo Courtesy of HBO)James Toback (Tyson) and Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) went to the Cannes Film Festival in 2012 hoping to find financing for their film described as “a political-erotic Middle Eastern adventure inspired by Bernardo Bertolucci’s classic Last Tango in Paris.” That 10 days of craziness trying to secure funding was filmed by Toback and the result is Seduced and Abandoned. Everything from meetings with producers and financiers to encounters with actors and directors were filmed during their Cannes visit, and Seduced and Abandoned shows the tug-of-war between art and commerce.
Seduced and Abandoned will debut on Monday, October 28, 2013 at 9pm ET/PT on HBO.
Seduced and Abandoned Details [Courtesy of HBO]
A dazzling collage of interviews, classic movie clips and colorful personalities, Seduced and Abandoned features a cast that includes, in addition to Alec Baldwin, Berenice Bejo, Bernardo Bertolucci, James Caan, Neve Campbell, Graydon Carter, Jessica Chastain, Diablo Cody, Francis Ford Coppola, Ryan Gosling, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Diane Kruger, Mike Medavoy, Ron Meyer, Jean Pigozzi, Roman Polanski, Brett Ratner, Martin Scorsese and Taki Theodoracopulos. The film documents Toback and Baldwin’s unpredictable experiences against the background of the bustling beauty of Cannes’ Promenade de la Croisette. The intimate and often poignant conversations with actors and industry giants constitute a heartfelt ode to everything alluring about cinema, from sex and death to the lingering hope of getting one more precious chance to tell one more story through film.
James Toback and Alec Baldwin first met on the set of Woody Allen’s Alice. A series of long conversations later led to the ideas that evolved into Seduced and Abandoned. The plan was to travel to Cannes to pitch their story, tentatively titled Last Tango in Tikrit, and explore the current state of the business of cinema. There was no script, providing the opportunity for something unique and memorable to emerge from the daily uncertainty.
Bertolucci, Coppola, Polanski and Scorsese provided invaluable insights through their reflections on their careers. But surprises also punctuate the film, as when Ryan Gosling offered, according to Toback, “the richest splash of brilliant anecdotes and observations about himself and the tribulations of film actors, as revealing as anything I’ve ever seen.”
Ultimately, the film turns the camera back on those who still can’t resist the devilish and beautiful temptations of a love affair with cinema, despite the outrageous odds against success. As the film builds to its climax, there’s no doubt that Toback and Baldwin remain hopelessly seduced. But will they be abandoned?
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