Seduced and Abandoned

This week's most informative pick in Australia on DocPlay and Beamafilm, and in the US on Fawesome is Seduced and Abandoned. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. James Toback's involvement signals a level of cooperation that is hard to secure. Available now on DocPlay — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Seduced and Abandoned is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. What makes Seduced and Abandoned work is a willingness to sit with complexity instead of resolving it neatly. SEDUCED AND ABANDONED combines acting legend Alec Baldwin with director James Toback as they lead us on a troublesome and often hilarious journey of raising financing for their next feature film. Moving from director to financier to star actor, the two players provide us with a unique look behind the curtain at the world's biggest and most glamourous film festival, shining a light on the bitter-sweet relationship filmmakers have with Cannes and the film business. Featuring insights from directors Martin Scorsese, 'Bernando Bertolucci' and Roman Polanski; actors Ryan Gosling and Jessica Chastain and a host of film distribution luminaries. James Toback and Alec Baldwin bring credibility that the subject matter deserves. It hit screens in 2013. Seduced and Abandoned lets its subjects speak for themselves rather than shaping them into a predetermined narrative. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Seduced and Abandoned is the kind of documentary you immediately want to recommend to someone else. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. The subject drives every choice here, not the other way around. The kind of production you finish and immediately want to read more about.

Seduced and Abandoned was released in 2013, directed by and starring James Toback. The full 100-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.