This is much more than just a young buck (Tom Berenger) seducing and dumping a bunch of sophisticated older women. It's the story of a series of time passing by in a classic era of romance yet a troubled time socially and politically. It's the study of a basically insecure young man who can't relate to women his own age (having tried to seduce someone his age and failed) and ends up satisfying series of sophisticated older women more deserving than what they have with their husbands or lovers their own age, unable to accept the fact when these relationships come to an end.
The very handsome and sexy Barringer certainly is desirable, and you can see why certificated Karen Black takes him on as a lover, yet unable to deal with it when she find him having been seduced by a friend (the outrageous Marilyn Lightstone), ultimately dumping him and leaving him on the steps in tears. His next rendezvous is with an avant-garde artist (Alberta Watson) which doesn't lead to the relationship being consummated, and then later to musician Susan Strasberg, which takes place during some rebellious times in communist Russia.
Berenger finally ends up in Montreal a few years later, finding love once again with a French beauty, Alexandra Stewart. He's still dashing as he gets older, but just as immature, trying the same seduction line that he had years before. Stewart is putty in barringer's hands, and it's in this sequence where you get to almost see him completely in the buff. This is definitely a film divided into chapters, and the lack of continuity Is not an issue because of the way you get to view history.
For me, Lightstone made the biggest impression, her obviously jealous matron setting her sights on Berenger, obviously realizing she'll never have him for the long-term so she might as well have him for a little bit of fun. Black and Strasberg also give good performances, and Watson is a cabaret artist that Christopher Isherwood would have been proud to write about. So while there isn't a really strong story, the way everything is developed makes it an enjoyable film, and each of these older women indeed did deserve some praise.
The very handsome and sexy Barringer certainly is desirable, and you can see why certificated Karen Black takes him on as a lover, yet unable to deal with it when she find him having been seduced by a friend (the outrageous Marilyn Lightstone), ultimately dumping him and leaving him on the steps in tears. His next rendezvous is with an avant-garde artist (Alberta Watson) which doesn't lead to the relationship being consummated, and then later to musician Susan Strasberg, which takes place during some rebellious times in communist Russia.
Berenger finally ends up in Montreal a few years later, finding love once again with a French beauty, Alexandra Stewart. He's still dashing as he gets older, but just as immature, trying the same seduction line that he had years before. Stewart is putty in barringer's hands, and it's in this sequence where you get to almost see him completely in the buff. This is definitely a film divided into chapters, and the lack of continuity Is not an issue because of the way you get to view history.
For me, Lightstone made the biggest impression, her obviously jealous matron setting her sights on Berenger, obviously realizing she'll never have him for the long-term so she might as well have him for a little bit of fun. Black and Strasberg also give good performances, and Watson is a cabaret artist that Christopher Isherwood would have been proud to write about. So while there isn't a really strong story, the way everything is developed makes it an enjoyable film, and each of these older women indeed did deserve some praise.