Watch The Benefactor

The Benefactor is a dramatic film from 2015, featuring an all-star cast including Richard Gere, Dakota Fanning, and Theo James. The movie follows the story of Franny (Gere), a wealthy philanthropist who is grappling with grief and guilt over a tragic accident that took the lives of his best friends. As a result of this trauma, Franny becomes addicted to painkillers and becomes increasingly isolated and erratic.

One day, Franny is reunited with his friends' daughter, Olivia (Fanning), who is now grown up and working as a medical resident. Franny becomes obsessed with Olivia and her boyfriend, Luke (James), and begins showering them with gifts and favors as a way of trying to make up for his past mistakes. However, his attempts to help them soon turn sinister as he becomes increasingly possessive and controlling.

Throughout the film, we see Franny's descent into madness as he tries to cope with his guilt and addiction. Gere delivers a standout performance as the troubled and complex protagonist, and Fanning and James also deliver strong performances as Olivia and Luke, respectively.

The Benefactor is a slow-burn drama that delves into themes of addiction, guilt, and the consequences of our actions. The film explores the idea of how past mistakes can shape our present and our future, and how even the most well-intentioned actions can have unintended consequences.

One of the strengths of the film is its nuanced portrayal of Franny's character. While he is undoubtedly troubled and flawed, the film avoids portraying him as a one-dimensional villain. Instead, we see him as a complex individual who is trying to make up for his past mistakes in the only way he knows how. This makes for a more compelling and thought-provoking film that raises questions about the nature of forgiveness and redemption.

At its heart, The Benefactor is a character study that explores the inner workings of a troubled individual. It is a slow-paced film that relies heavily on its performances and character development, rather than on action or suspense. As such, it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those who enjoy character-driven dramas, it is a compelling and engaging film.

Overall, The Benefactor is a well-crafted and nuanced drama that features strong performances from its cast. It is a thought-provoking film that raises questions about the nature of guilt, redemption, and the consequences of our actions. While it may not be a film for everyone, it is certainly worth checking out for those who enjoy complex and character-driven dramas.

The Benefactor is a 2016 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2 and a MetaScore of 40.