Ivans XTC [2002]

The truly tragic nature of this story is Ivan's realisation that he fights for success and the accompanying status through a simple need to be loved, but that he has been looking for love in all the wrong places. The frightening speed with which his colleagues and 'friends' dismiss his death serves as testement to the fact that success and status may prompt popularity and interest from others, but that it is no more than the success and position itself that is loved. Through his pursuit of success, Ivan has distanced himself from his family, surrounded himself with fickle friends who simply use him to further themselves (and who are so bound up with his status that he simply cannot tell them of his illness) and rendered himself utterly alone. At the time of his death the only thing that truly loves Ivan (and that Ivan truly loves) is his pet dog. An extraordinarily heartbreaking film.


reaching for the xtc   March 30, 2005
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Ivans XTC left me staring at the screen, not crying, not laughing; just feeling very numb. When you die, you're meant to be see your life flash before your eyes, this film is pretty much this in an out of body experience.

It's a double edged sword, both a portrayl of the sprawling consumerist Hell that is Hollywood and how it can corrupt the soul, and a show of how life really actually means very little when you look at the bare bones (scuse the pun) of it.

Ivan is a hotshot Hollywood hitter; he has a nice car, loads of cocaine, the girls... what more could you ask for? Well, something to get up for in the morning one suspects.
Danny Huston as Ivan is fantastic, giving the right amount of oompf to his party boy persona as well as managing to plumb the depths of a man with nothing inside without going into eye rolling, breast beating histronics.

The film rolls from the top (big film offers, lots of feet on desk, 80s style back slapping from men with too much gel in their hair) to rock bottom. Which is dying in hospital with barely anyone knowing or caring.
It's a rollercoaster trip and will leave you feeling like you're very, very hollow. It will disturb most. Shot like bi-polar disorder (lots of dizzying, colourful imagry when Ivan's on form, and murky, slow tracking at the end) it can be a little too hyperactive, but make it through and you will be rewarded with a performance that should have made more waves with filmgoers than it did. But then again, no one really wants to see cold harsh truth as entertainment, and this is as cold and harsh as it gets.


Intelligent, Fresh, Observant US Cinema   December 21, 2003
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

It's not the first time we've seen films foray into the world of the Hollywood agent, however Ivans XTC refrains from satire. This remains a story about redemption, consequence and loneliness. It's cleverly directed, with it's digital quality amd readily moving frame aptly mirroring the hectic existence of the lead character's lifestyle. The acting is charming and wonderfully observed, it's the strong point of this character based film.
It doesn't leave you with anything but a sad, reflective glimpse into the life, and death, of one man who must respresent many in our modern isolated culture. It's a touching gem of modern US cinema.