Death of a Ladies' Man

2020

1h 40m

Drama

List

90%

20 Reviews

Tomatometer

Samuel O'Shea, a university professor of poetry, exuberant womanizer and enthusiastic drinker has seen better days. His second marriage is ending, and his wife and children are at their wits' end with him. More disturbingly, he has begun seeing things: Frankenstein sidles up to the bar and strangers sing and dance to Leonard Cohen tunes. His much missed father, who died when Samuel was just a boy, pops up for chats. At first Samuel thinks it could be the drink, or perhaps he's just crazy or over-imaginative, but then learns he has a brain tumor. Reflecting on the life he has lived, Samuel retreats to his family shack in remote Ireland, where he begins work on that great novel he always meant to write, and generally take stock. Surprisingly, or not, he meets and falls in love with a local woman, who is full of unexpected ideas. All this leads Samuel to an utterly unforeseeable happy ending.

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Matt Bissonnette

Director

Gabriel Byrne

Samuel O'Shea

Jessica Paré

Charlotte

Brian Gleeson

Ben O'Shea

Antoine Olivier Pilon

Layton Gagnon-O'Shea

Karelle Tremblay

Josée Gagnon-O'Shea

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89%

86%

37 Seconds

45%

71%

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Italian Studies

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Cath Clarke

Guardian

It’s an insubstantial little film with slimly conceived characters, but Byrne adds at least 10 points to its IQ score and makes it twice as watchable.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 18, 2022

Full Review

David Stratton

The Australian

The screenplay, by director Matthew Bissonnette, is leavened with flashes of curious humour - like the assertion that the Canadian National Anthem is Cohen's Bird on a Wire.

Rated: 3.5/5

May 24, 2021

Full Review

Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

Byrne's most remarkable achievement lies in the fact he never allows Samuel's incurable self-absorption to become boring.

Rated: 4/5

May 19, 2021

Full Review

Trevor Johnston

Radio Times

Byrne holds the attention throughout, nailing the deadpan one-liners and bringing more emotional heft to the material.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 4, 2022

Full Review

Cris Kennedy

The Canberra Times (Australia)

Cohen's songwriting forms the DNA of Bisonette's screenplay and his words and his music emerge both subtly and overtly.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 4, 2022

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...as played by Gabriel Byrne, O’Shea is a three-dimensional character, an ‘operator’ by his own description, but also worth our compassion...

Rated: 4/5

Jul 27, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Samuel O'Shea, a university professor of poetry, exuberant womanizer and enthusiastic drinker has seen better days. His second marriage is ending, and his wife and children are at their wits' end with him. More disturbingly, he has begun seeing things: Frankenstein sidles up to the bar and strangers sing and dance to Leonard Cohen tunes. His much missed father, who died when Samuel was just a boy, pops up for chats. At first Samuel thinks it could be the drink, or perhaps he's just crazy or over-imaginative, but then learns he has a brain tumor. Reflecting on the life he has lived, Samuel retreats to his family shack in remote Ireland, where he begins work on that great novel he always meant to write, and generally take stock. Surprisingly, or not, he meets and falls in love with a local woman, who is full of unexpected ideas. All this leads Samuel to an utterly unforeseeable happy ending.

Director: Matt Bissonnette
Producer: Mark Gingras
Screenwriter: Matt Bissonnette
Production Co: Corey Marr Productions Inc., Port Pictures, Don Carmody Productions
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 40m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)