Love in vain

He’s a rebel. Con artist Jack Grace (Adrien Brody), the antihero of Love the Hard Way, smokes in restaurants and wears a jacket made of reptile hide. He claims to have bedded 200 women. His latest conquest is a college student named Claire (Charlotte Ayanna), who knows genetics but somehow never learned how predatory men can be.

Love the Hard Way starts along a predictable course of a street-level hustler redeemed by the love of a good woman. But the con turns out to be on Jack and the audience alike, as the plot makes hairpin turns that reveal unexpected insight into the dark sides of sexuality and emotional attachment.

The film’s most intriguing scenes involve the blackmail scams run by Jack and his partner Charlie (Jon Seda). They work with fake prostitutes who lure out-of-town businessmen to hotel rooms, then Jack and Charlie burst in dressed as police officers. Claire tries to convince Jack to give up his criminal ways, especially when his swindles draw the attention of a shrewd vice cop (Pam Grier, giving her usual unmemorable performance).

Hard Way’s confidence schemes snap with authenticity, but Claire rings strangely false. German director and co-writer Peter Sehr encumbers her with dreadful dialogue. Claire’s concerned classmate warns her that Jack’s going to hell, to which Claire retorts, “Well, maybe I want him to take me with him!”

Jack is no less surprised than we are when heartbroken Claire makes such self-destructive choices, and she gradually shatters his emotional reserves. Brody’s performance reveals how constricted feelings can have fine distinctions. At first Jack maintains an aloof self-regard, but he becomes increasingly numb and desolate as the film goes along.

It’s interesting to see Brody playing in such a different key than in The Pianist, but Love the Hard Way affirms that his virtuoso work was yet to come.

Peachtree Film Society sceens Love the Hard Way Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m., at Lefont Garden Hills Cinema, 2835 Peachtree Road. $7.50 ($6.50 for PFS members). 404-770-729-8487. www.peachtreefilm.org.