As Good As It Gets

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Blistering performances.

THE STUD is a slightly controversial big screen adaptation of one of Jackie Collins' potboiler novels, about the relationship between a nightclub manager and the wife of a bored businessman looking for a little excitement. This film is notable for featuring Joan Collins in an alluring role; in her mid-40s, she's more than happy to strip off as the part requires and her vibrant personality is very much a reason to tune in.Unfortunately, the rest of the film is something of a dated mess, and the most enjoyment I got from it were the various funky tunes placing in the various disco dancing scenes. It's an overlong movie and one that's padded to boot; the sex and dancing takes up a lot of the running time, and the rest of the plot is rather slim. Oliver Tobias is miscast as the wooden lead, and I simply didn't care about his predicament whatsoever. Sue Lloyd and Walter Gotell give good value in support, but the sex feels tepid rather than exciting and the end result tends to be 'is that what all the fuss was about?'.

I enjoyed this movie, Joan Collins is the only actress that could pull it off. She has the ability to play these roles without letting it become silly, or needlessly pornographic. She has the charisma of a true golden era movie star, but her roles are daring, unique and push the envelope. She brings an energy that is so youthful to her roles; which is great in these movies and Dynasty where she is at an age where most women are no longer seen at all, never the less sexy and beautiful. She shows that there is life after you are mature, and she makes it look fun. The messages in the film are interesting; both the men and the women have their own angles on each other and what is happening, neither is really a victim. Infidelity and promiscuity are seen in all socioeconomic levels in society. From peasants to kings sex is happening and has happened. There are also consequences for each character but they happen and life goes on. Some people are put off by the sexuality of the film but Fontaine is a jets disco owner in the seventies, it fits the character.

Like the follow-up to "The Bitch", this is a Joan/Jackie Collins vehicle which represents an epiphany of late 1970s excess and trash.We are shown a group of privileged amoral silly people in a way which attempts to "glamorise" their vapid "shopping and shagging" lifestyle. So meet the improbably named "Khalid Fontaine" (Collins playing a pre-Alexis Alexis), owner of nightclub "The Hobo", possibly the tackiest dive to ever soil the streets of London, England. Oliver Tobias plays the titular lead, an anti-hero who we recoil from.Every scene is more excessive and ridiculous than the one before. The dialogue is wooden and childish. Collins' delivery is at its worst ever (apart from the Bitch), and that's saying something. She feels compelled to pronounce the last word of every line as if it's written in CAPS LOCK, bold case and italics in the script.The drugged-out swimming pool scene is horrific. Did we have to see Joan's chest? The whole film is like an over-imaginative, over-sexed 14 year old's fantasy of the way that rich people must live.See it! See it now!

It has to be said that Joan Collins really swooped down low to make this film. The Stud could almost be considered a soft porn with some outstanding sex scenes especially with the orgy in the swimming pool when Joan Collins (a married woman), another woman and a man engage in some romping activities. All in all the film keeps you occupied because of the situation between the "Stud" and the girl he falls in love with but the whole film is rather too raunchy ....that is if you like that sort of stuff..HEY HEY....