The Decline of the American Empire (1986)

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A rousing "he said/she said" endeavor, The Decline of the American Empire begins by separating the boys from the girls. Preparing a gourmet dinner, four male intellectuals begin trading stories of their sexual experiences. At the same time, four well-read women, all working out in a gym, exchange their own tales from the love front. The film is set in the lofty circles of academia, a world well known to Canadian director Denys Arcand. The anecdotes related herein are based on actual events in the lives of Arcand's professorial friends. There's nothing bookish, however, about the subject matter of the stories themselves, which ranges from mild philandering to S & M. The Decline of the American Empire was the winner of eight Canadian Genie awards (that's the above-the-border equivalent of the Oscar), including Best Picture. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Starring:: Pierre Curzi, Rémy Girard, (more)

Director(s):: Denys Arcand

Theatrical MPAA Rating:: R

Format(s):: DVD
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Synopsis of The Decline of the American Empire

Theatrical Feature Running Time:: 102 mins

Complete Cast of The Decline of the American Empire

Pierre Curzi - Pierre
Yves Jacques - Claude
Dominique Michel - Dominique
Dorothee Berryman - Louise
Genevieve Rioux - Danielle

Director(s):: Denys Arcand

Writer(s):: Denys Arcand

Producer(s):: Roger Frappier, René Malo, Pierre Gendron

Theatrical MPAA Rating:: R(Adult Language, Not For Children, Adult Situations, Strong Sexual Content, Profanity, Nudity)

The Decline of the American Empire Awards:

1987 - Genie Awards - Best Sound Editing
1987 - Genie Awards - Best Sound Editing
1987 - Genie Awards - Best Director
1987 - Genie Awards - Best Original Screenplay
1987 - Genie Awards - Best Editing
1987 - Genie Awards - Best Sound
1987 - Genie Awards - Best Supporting Actress
1987 - Genie Awards - Best Supporting Actor
1987 - Genie Awards - Best Picture
1987 - Genie Awards - Best Sound Editing

Warning: This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

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	Phyllis L.

8 out of 8 people found this review helpful

I found this movie to be rather interesting. The intensely personal sexual escapades spoken of by both male and female characters was a bit unexpected. Not a fan of "Sex & the City" because I found it's sexuality boring, this was much more realistic in it's depiction of the intellectualization of sex by its couples. A story of what couples do together and apart, as friends and as lovers. I valued the depictions of adult sexual situations, discussions of marriage, relationships, affairs by reasonably attractive, intelligent men and women. All in all this film was enjoyable for an afternoon. Lots of nudity and sexual situations, but nothing too graphic or at all "pornographic".

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	Carol C.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful

Carol C. Strongsville, Oh I couldn't relate to these people. They seemed so amoral and lacking in loyalty and simple taste. Are French Canadians really like this? I doubt it. All the couples were faithless and hedonistic. The women were as bad as the men. No one valued marital privacy. I didn't like anyone. I couldn't identify with any one.

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	Keith G.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful

Engaging often funny, intelligent talkfest about sexuality. Sort of a French-Canadian ÂBig Chill, but smarter, if less emotional. There really is no plot. The first 1/2 of the film 4 upscale, yuppie male friends (one gay) prepare a meal and talk about sexual adventures and problems, while their female counterparts do the same at a gym. The 2nd half is the two groups sharing dinner, where the talk is more muted, but the personal stakes much higher. Probably overrated when it first came out, now treated too harshly. The acting is strong throughout, and the satiric reality that all of the characters believe themselves self-knowing, but are really all living in denial and delusion is a little obvious, but interesting in execution.

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The Decline of the American Empire (1986)

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