Film.com's FREE movie of the week is "Love the Hard Way." Oscar-winner Adrien Brody and Charlotte Ayanna star in this drama about a thief who falls for a curious, beautiful young woman. As their intimacy grows, a slick cop (Pam Greer) is closing in.
Rich-kid Derrick shares his trendy Manhattan loft with fellow college students Cathy and Travis. When Derrick sarcastically defends gossip as the basis of history and religion in his communications class, his professor heartily disagrees. As a result, Derrick and Cathy decide to spread a rumor as an unofficial class project. However, the rumor they start for fun, involving a puritanical student's secret sex life, soon rages out of control when accusations of rape and attempted suicide begin to surface.
Other reviews
Despite its title, "Gossip" won't be able to count on good word of mouth, for loose lips will surely sink this silly, shallow melodrama that turns upon the havoc wreaked by rumor. It's a total waste of time and the talent of such proven film craftsmen as cinematographer Andrzej Bartkowiak and composer Graeme Revell, who strive mightily to create mood and suspense not provided in Gregory Poirier and Theresa Rebeck's heavily contrived script and Davis Guggenheim's flashy direction.
