My title would refer to my reception of this movie and not any particular theme in the movie. In short, I thought the movie was great...especially in light of the conspicuous lack of fanfare over it. I discovered it through Netflix's "related searches" function and I must admit, the stylish "Cocktails and Dreams" motif sold me on it. One of the other reviewers mentioned that he/she didn't find the Mrs. Robinson character to be pretty and that she looked "old" in a few shots but that she was a good actress...well, how very magnanimous? I thought that she was also a good actress, but did the reviewer miss the point of her character? Common sense says, "yes." She might have looked "old" perhaps because she was an "older woman." Now, does this have much to do with her sensuous nature? Not to anyone who is relatively sophisticated. The point of her inclusion wasn't to present a centerpiece that would be coveted and fawned over, but to be an available sexual option that represented acceptance and opportunity.... That is the point of her character, not to be some sort of high status beauty queen. I would have thought that was obvious. More over, her apparent wrinkles in many scenes further serve to illustrate the urgency of her condition: fading beauty and quiet desperation. Her character was obviously a driving aspect of the movie, but the fact that the actress nailed the role while the script writers did such a great job with the character, boosted my appreciation for this film.

Yes, this story has been told (The Graduate), but I loved this for the character of Monty, because I can relate to being a piano teacher, hustling around town to earn $25/lesson, and then the elation of getting that gig at the swanky hotel. And I love piano bars!Monty has dreams of opening his own piano bar. I rooted for him. The older woman was not that pretty in my opinion, I mean in some shots she looked really old, (sorry); but she was a good actress. This movie was not so much about the romance, more about a guy trying to make a living from his doing something he loves. (Piano bar). Plenty of humor in this, especially a hilarious scene with Jason Schwartzman. This movie stayed with me a long time. LOVED IT. There could have been more piano music/piano playing scenes. Recommended for anyone who loves piano bars.

This was so reminiscent of the coolest aspects of 80's romantic angst, set in L.A. The music was intoxicating and addictive if you like a sort of Tangerine Dream soundtrack, which I do. The classic moped, the street scenes with no people or traffic. It created that mythical quality of early 80's L.A. when it was still white and neon, and still the portal to young men's dreams. They even have a young white couple living in central Los Angeles, like they used to in real life.I've never heard of or seen the lead actor, but he was perfectly cast. He reminds me of a young Beau Bridges in Your Three Minutes are Up. The musical moments when he's on his moped last just the right amount of time and leave you craving more.But there's a deeper theme here for those thinkers who wonder what it was all about. They drew a clear picture, but you may have gotten lost in the dreamlike qualities. This young man had been smothered. First by his mother, then by his girlfriend's mother, and finally by a slightly psychotic "cougar." He had no confidence, and no fight in him. He had been fully emasculated and barely able to function in the world. Often those types lose themselves in dreams they can't fulfill, because they don't have the strength or courage to do so.The scenes with the older woman will make you squirm. This guy may be 30 in real life, but he looked very innocent, as he was supposed to. Call it a double standard, but that kind of thing when the woman is older creeps me out. It almost ruined it for me.In My Tutor in 1983, the woman was relatively young, and could not be the character's mother. The hotel manager character was also perfectly cast. Even his gay glance at our protagonist was done with perfect subtlety. I will search for the soundtrack, but will not give it another watch, due to the creepy sex thing. But nice job by the Schwartzmans nevertheless.

Here's the setup - Monty Fagan is on the low end of the economic scale working jobs and trying to get a loan to open his dream piano bar. His girlfriend has become bored with their life together and having to live with her mother. Monty gets a break to perform on piano at a very high end restaurant and there he is taken by Olivia who is very much on the upper end of the economic scale. This situation cannot go well!Director Robert Schwartzman presents a story any movie goer has seen before. Young man of average looks and struggling to make a life gets his heart stolen by a seductive older but beautiful and wealthy and bored woman. Each character is nicely performed and more entertaining, than being performed as being real. The plot keeps your interest with just enough twist, turns, and emotional suspense in the story to keep it lively.As stated above this is a good afternoon flick for easy entertainment.