Notes on…

Indecent Proposal(1993)

Dir. Directed by Adrian Lyne

With the real estate connection, the wavey hair, the double-breasted suits... surely Gage is a veiled reference to Trump?

Also, kinda hilarious that they stole a story from Citizen Kane as if the critics wouldn't notice.


In the book, the billionaire is Middle Eastern and the husband is Jewish, a configuration that would never have happened with a high-end Hollywood movie but which would give what happens some additionally provocative context.

Adam Nayman


The whole thing needs a leading man with snap and vim, instead of which it gets Woody Harrelson. Admittedly, it's an awful part, which calls for little more than unfocussed emoting, but then Woody trying to emote looks like anyone else trying to go to sleep. At one point, he has to give a lecture on the inspiring joys of architecture, rising to the contention that "even a brick wants to be something." He should know.

Anthony Lane (The New York Times)

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Synopsis: John Gage offers a down-on-his-luck yuppie husband $1 million for the opportunity to spend the night with the man's wife.