Man of the Century MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +1 Content: -2 1/2

Its one thing to long for the good old days. Its quite another to really believe youre living in them. Johnny Twennies (Gibson Frazier), a newspaperman writing for a two-bit newspaper, is stuck in the Roaring Twenties. When the paper is bought by a progressive publisher, Johnnys out-of-date column is the first to go and Johnny with it. But Johnny convinces his editor (David Margulies) to let him stay if he can break a really big story by the end of the day. Johnny has a lead that might just expose one of the biggest crime bosses in the city. But hes got to play his cards just right to get to the big man himself. Meanwhile, hes got a few other items to take care of that day, like win his girlfriend (Susan Egan) back and help an upstart opera singer (Cara Buono) find a job. He also has to convince his photographer to cover this dangerous story - all by 8 p.m. And he cant be late for the swanky dinner party at his mothers house that evening. Shes going to introduce him to the society girl she wants him to marry. For Johnny Twennies, its all in a days work. This black-and-white feature is strange indeed, but the contrast of perspectives between the roaring twenties and the decadent nineties will provide some food for thought for the limited audiences likely to see MAN OF THE CENTURY.

The film portrays Johnny as nave and two-dimensional, a master of clichs. But hes also principled, kind, and upbeat. In contrast, the people of the nineties are complex but unprincipled, liberated but decadent. Johnnys photographer is gay (and not in the 1920s sense of the word); his girlfriend wants sex before marriage (but Johnnys an old-fashioned kind of a guy); and the job contact for the opera singer is a sexual sadist (and kinky sex is not in Johnnys vocabulary). This is a story of innocence lost, not of a person, but of an entire culture. While some may roll their eyes at the well-mannered era of Johnny Twennies, others will long for those good old days. Unfortunately, part of the real world of the nineties includes some foul language, including 33 f-words and 12 regular profanities. The scene with the opera singer and the sadist shows her tied up and him dressed in leather with accompanying whip, but no nudity or actual sex is shown. Much of MAN OF THE CENTURY is fun and comical. However, offensive language will remind discerning viewers why many still long for Johnny Twennies good old days.

Preview Reviewer: Cliff McNeely
Distributor: Fine Line Features, 116 North Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048