Love Ranch: a misfire, despite talented cast

The true message behind the story is lost in a hackneyed, rags-to-riches tale led by Joe Pesci,

Helen Mirren in "Love Ranch". Courtesy: Gulf Film
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Love Ranch
Director:
Taylor Hackford
Starring: Helen Mirren, Joe Pesci, Gina Gershon
*

Based on real events, Love Ranch is a drama about Grace and Charlie (Mirren and Pesci), a married couple who endeavour to open the first legal brothel in Nevada. Driven by ambition, their relationship is tested by Charlie's infidelity, and the emotionally broken women in their employ. The director Hackford (Mirren's husband) does not deliver anywhere near the emotional punch of his previous work, despite the respectable cast. The true message behind the story is lost in a hackneyed, rags-to-riches tale led by Pesci, playing Charlie as a watered-down version of his Goodfellas character, and Mirren, who maintains her usual gravitas but is beleaguered by wandering subplots and obvious dialogue. Overall, a complete misfire given the talent involved.