The Dying Gaul is an interesting little movie, written and directed by playwright Craig Lucas, in his feature-film debut. It tells the story of Robert (Peter Sarsgaard), a gay screenwriter who’s just sold his extremely personal script “The Dying Gaul” to studio executive Jeffrey Tishop (Campbell Scott). Jeffrey is married to Elaine (the always lovely Patricia Clarkson) but desires Robert, and they begin an affair. Elaine finds out, and soon deception and betrayal are afoot among the three, with Elaine pretending to be Robert’s recently deceased lover, whom his script is based on. The actors are all very good, if the story is a bit strange and the ending a tad unsatisfying.

The film looks great, presented in anamorphic 1.85:1, with lots of nice visual flourishes. The view from the movie exec’s home is outstanding and quite crisp. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack doesn’t add too much, for the film is more about the words spoken than the sounds that surround them. However, there’s a nice, minimal score from Steve Reich that sounds great.

The special features are quite bare and only include an alternate ending and three deleted scenes. The alternate ending really doesn’t add much to the already bizarre ending that closes the film. I would have appreciated a commentary from Lucas, but there is none.

It’s an interesting film but not outstanding for the home theater arena.