Love the Hard Way

Love the Hard Way

104 mins | Drama, Crime, Romance | March 27, 2003

Claire, a brilliant student, seeks answers to the meaning of life in the calm of her biology laboratory. One day, she meets a mysterious young man, Jack, at the cinema, and is intrigued by his style, assurance and audacity. Apart from his artistic activities, Jack has a regular scam going, ripping off foreign businessmen with his loyal mate Charlie and two actresses. But his tough guy exterior conceals a secret passion for old books, and he dreams of writing a novel one day. Jack falls hard for Claire's purity and curiosity. An unusual romance develops between them. But Jack is scared of their growing intimacy and rejects Claire, withdrawing into his shell. Abandoned and confused, Claire gradually begins to neglect her studies and embarks on a spiraling course of self-destruction, whilst Jack, who tries to ignore her, concentrates on his criminal activities. However, a sharp detective, named Linda Fox, is following his dodgy tracks.

Love the Hard Way

104 mins | Drama, Crime, Romance | March 27, 2003

Love the Hard Way
Claire, a brilliant student, seeks answers to the meaning of life in the calm of her biology laboratory. One day, she meets a mysterious young man, Jack, at the cinema, and is intrigued by his style, assurance and audacity. Apart from his artistic activities, Jack has a regular scam going, ripping off foreign businessmen with his loyal mate Charlie and two actresses. But his tough guy exterior conceals a secret passion for old books, and he dreams of writing a novel one day. Jack falls hard for Claire's purity and curiosity. An unusual romance develops between them. But Jack is scared of their growing intimacy and rejects Claire, withdrawing into his shell. Abandoned and confused, Claire gradually begins to neglect her studies and embarks on a spiraling course of self-destruction, whilst Jack, who tries to ignore her, concentrates on his criminal activities. However, a sharp detective, named Linda Fox, is following his dodgy tracks.
IMDb rating 6.3
Producers Vif Babelsberger Filmproduktion GmbH & Co. Dritte KG, P'Artisan Filmproduktion GmbH, Daybreak Pictures Ltd.
Original title Love the Hard Way
Directors Peter Sehr
Writers Shuo Wang, Marie Noëlle, Peter Sehr

Cast

Adrien Brody

as Jack Grace

Charlotte Ayanna

as Claire Harrison

August Diehl

as Jeff

Jon Seda

as Charlie

Pam Grier

as Linda Fox

Katherine Moennig

as Debbie

José Rabelo

as Cook

Joey Kern

as Fitzgerald

Michael G. Chin

as Asian Businessman #1

Ben Wang

as Asian Businessman #2

Huan Wang

as Asian Businessman #3

Michaela Conlin

as Cara, Jack's Lover

Lee Sellars

as Dennis

Sylvia Kauders

as Mrs. Rosenberg

Dave Simonds

as Librarian

Jeffrey M. Marchetti

as Biggest Guy

John Elsen

as Interrogating Detective

Miguel Sierra

as Car Mechanic

Andy Duppin

as Precision Driver #1

Jonathan Hadary

as Boris

Bobby J. Brown

as Man in Video Arcade

Steven Goldstein

as The John in Street

Sara Klingebiel

as Jill

Francisco Lorite

as Barry

Kris Eivers

as Tunnel Bartender

Eric Kornfeld

as Claire's Trick

Keisher McLeod

as Hooker #1

Rue DeBona

as Hooker #2

Amber Gross

as Hooker #3

Gregor Manns

as Large Man #1

Kevin Merrill-Wilson

as Large Man #2

James Saito

as Akiri

Robert G. McKay

as Louis

Chazz Menendez

as Prisoner #1

Charles Santy

as Prisoner #2

Mick O'Rourke

as Prisoner #3

Mitchell Washington

as Prisoner #4

Deborah Braun

as Lab Assistant

Tod Engle

as Lucky Guy

Grace Garland

as Female Port Authority Officer

Amy Laughlin

as Vendor at Hotel Dior

Slava Schoot

as Russian Guy #2

Jack Lotz

as The John in Bedroom

Ernestine Johnson

as Jack's Neighbour

Charles Duval

as Waiter

Peter McRobbie

as Prison Doctor