The Leading Man

1996
R
1h 40m

IMDb RATING

5.6/10

1.6K

YOUR RATING

Jon Bon Jovi, Anna Galiena, and Thandiwe Newton in The Leading Man (1996)

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Watch The Leading Man: Don't Try To Impress Him

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Drama Romance Thriller

A successful playwright falls in love with his new actress Hilary (Thandie Newton) and, in an attempt to leave his wife Elena (Anna Galiena) without incident, recruits a handsome Hollywood a... Read allA successful playwright falls in love with his new actress Hilary (Thandie Newton) and, in an attempt to leave his wife Elena (Anna Galiena) without incident, recruits a handsome Hollywood actor (Jon Bon Jovi) to seduce her.A successful playwright falls in love with his new actress Hilary (Thandie Newton) and, in an attempt to leave his wife Elena (Anna Galiena) without incident, recruits a handsome Hollywood actor (Jon Bon Jovi) to seduce her.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.6/10

1.6K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos1

Clip 1:12

Watch The Leading Man: Don't Try To Impress Him

Photos8

Storyline

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Trivia
In a 2020 interview with Vulture, Thandiwe Newton expressed her regret having appeared in this film, which was directed by John Duigan, who had groomed and abused her during the making of Flirting (1991) and had bullied her into participating. During a scene where Newton was topless, Duigan told her that the camera was framed above her breasts, and Newton was mortified to later discover that was not the case.

Goofs
The exterior of the theatre in which the play is performed is obviously The Playhouse, Charing Cross, London but the interior is the Theatre Royal, Stratford, London.

Connections
Featured in The Movie Show: Episode dated 1 June 1997 (1997)

Soundtracks
Burning Down the House
Performed by Talking Heads
Composed by David Byrne (as Byrne), Chris Frantz (as Frantz), Tina Weymouth (as Weymouth) AND Jerry Harrison (as Harrison)

User reviews14

Review

Featured review

6/10

A par flick with a pleasantly surprising story

"The Leading Man" peers into the lives of thespians including a playwright who is having an affair with an actress much to the chagrin of his wife. Enter the leading man, Bon Jovi, who offers to seduce the playwright's wife to distract her from her constant ruminations about her husbands affair. What happens after that is probably not what you would expect which is what makes this movie a pleasant surprise. Well cast, acted, written, directed, and shot, "The Leading Man" is an enjoyable little sleeper for mature tv audiences.