The Diplomat
Genre: Drama
Director: Woody Allen
Writer: Lon Charles
Cast: Johnny Depp, Eva Green, Jay Mohr, Mallory Wanecque, Emma Laird
Plot: Outside of a luxurious New York City hotel, Gerard Dubois (Johnny Depp), a powerful French diplomat, is being escorted out by police officers. His appearance is disheveled as flashing lights from paparazzi cameras create a strobe-like effect as he is led into the back of a police car. Gerard is told that he is being arrested for sexual assault. Once he is taken to the station, Gerard is informed that the case against him consists of a maid at the hotel alleging that Gerard forced himself on her while she entered his hotel suite to clean, overpowered her and subjected her to a violent sexual attack. Gerard maintains his innocence and asks for his legally guaranteed phone call.
Anna Dubois (Eva Green), Gerard's wife, is attending a high-society charity event in Paris, France. Always the center of attention, the poised and elegant Anna excuses herself from the event as she receives a phone call. Her face grows frustrated as she listens to the voice on the other end of the line. After hanging up, Anna leaves the event as the others elites begin murmuring.
Meanwhile, their teenage daughter Sophie, is at home in Paris preparing for a night out with friends. Sophie is on her phone, checking social media, when a flood of notifications alerts her to the news of her father's arrest. She tries calling her mother, but doesn't get an answer. Sophie scrolls through the news, pausing on the headline "French Diplomat Accused of Rape in NYC Hotel."
Gerard is released on bail but placed under house arrest. He rents out an opulent New York penthouse overlooking Central Park to be the residence of his house arrest. When Gerard arrives at the apartment, his wife Anna is there waiting for him, having flown in from Paris. Gerard tries to explain the situation to her, but Anna's response is curt and dismissive. She retreats to one of the many other room in the apartment, leaving Gerard alone. Shortly afterward, Sophie arrives. She pauses outside the apartment door, nervous to enter. When she finally does enter, she sees her father. He warmly embraces her, promising that he did not do what he has been accused of. Sophie is unsure how to feel.
Jack McDowell (Jay Mohr), Gerard's high-powered lawyer, enters the apartment with swagger. While he's dressed sharply, his demeanor is anything but polished - brash and blunt. He lays out the seriousness of the charges against Gerard. Jack explains to Gerard that the maid's accusations are detailing and damning. She claims that Gerard violently assaulted her and forced her to perform oral sex on him, using his position of power to intimidate and silence her. Jack mentions that even if Gerard is found not guilty, the public perception may never recover. As Jack continues to rattle off potential legal strategies, Gerard, still in shock, struggles to keep up. Anna and Sophie overhear parts of Gerard and Jack's conversations from other rooms. Anna's face is overcome with anger, while Sophie becomes distressed and struggles to hold back tears.
After Jack leaves the apartment, Gerard is left alone in the expansive but empty living room. Gerard pours himself a drink, the first of many, and stares out at Central Park from the windows. He continues to stare out the window as the sun goes down, leaving Gerard sitting alone in the darkness.
As his house arrest continues, Gerard's once impeccable appearance is beginning to slip - his hair is unkempt, his face unshaven, a haunted look in his eyes. He spends much of his time alone, drinking heavily, watching life move on from the massive windows of the apartment. Meanwhile Anna spends most of her time in her own space, avoiding Gerard whenever possible. Sophie mostly stays in her bedroom, constantly following the news and developments in the case against her father.
Gerard's lawyer Jack returns to give Gerard an update. He mentions that the maid's lawyers might try to subpoena Gerard's past records. Gerard, already on edge, reacts with paranoia, fearing that his entire life will be laid bare for the world to judge. The more Jack talks, the more Gerard drinks, using alcohol to numb his growing anxiety. Jack, noticing the state his client is in, tries to inject some levity into the conversation, but it doesn't help.
One evening, after several drinks, Gerard confronts Anna about her cold demeanor towards him, accusing her of being unsupportive and questioning her loyalty to the family. The argument escalates quickly. Anna tells Gerard that he's not that man she married and that the current scandal has revealed the worst in him. She leaves him alone, retreating to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Sophie has overheard the entire argument from her room, deeply shaken.
Gerard begins adding cocaine into the mix along with his rampant drinking. His hands tremble as he reaches for his phone. In a moment of despair, Gerard calls a prostitute, Gwen (Emma Laird), to the apartment. The encounter with Gwen is tense and awkward from the start. Gerard, under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, struggles to communicate what he wants as voice is slurred. He tries to aggressively act out what the maid has accused him of doing with Gwen. His body betrays him though, as the drugs and alcohol have rendered him impotent. Gwen tries to remain professional, stifling back laughter. Gerard, shaken, starts to unravel. He lashes out verbally, venting his frustrations at Gwen. She helps Gerard back to his chair, where he collapses, defeated, pants around his ankles. Gwen tells Gerard that she's seen men like him before - powerful men brought low by their own actions. As Gwen speaks, Gerard's anger fades, replaced by shame. After Gwen gathers her things a leaves, Gerard reaches for another drink. He pauses for a brief moment, as if he is reconsidering, but soon brings the drink to his lips and drinks deeply.
In Gerard's next meeting with his lawyer, Jack mentions the possibility of a plea deal. Gerard is furious, throwing a whiskey bottle against the wall, shattering it to pieces. Gerard maintains his innocence. Jack motions toward the windows overlooking Central Park and tells Gerard that out there in the world the public sentiment has turned increasingly against Gerard. Gerard tells Jack that he will never sign any kind of deal that admits any guilt.
In another heated argument, Anna accuses Gerard of not only destroying his own life but also dragging their family's name through the mud. Anna recounts past infidelities and Gerard's abuse of power, saying their entire marriage has been built on lies and compromise. Anna's accusations hit Gerard hard. Gerard insists that he never touched the maid and has never raped anyone in his life. Anna asks about the other women or his shady financial affairs in eastern Europe. Gerard turns the accusation around on Anna, suggesting that she has joined forces with those who are conspiring against him. Anna calls Gerard a coward. Anna and Sophie pack up their bags, informing Gerard that they are leaving to go back to France. As the door closes behind them, Gerard is left utterly alone.
Gerard finally has his day in court. Jack is at Gerard's side as they are escorted into the court house, swarmed by reporters and flashing cameras. Inside, the courtroom is packed with spectators, all eager to witness the fall of a once-powerful man. Gerard sits at the defendant's table with Jack beside him. Gerard sits in a daze as he listens to the prosecution's case against him. He struggles to fight the urge to argue.
Gerard is escorted back to his holding cell as the jury begins their deliberation. Gerard is now a broken man, his fate resting in the hands of others for the first time in his life. The wait is brief as Gerard is soon escorted back to the court room to hear the outcome. The tension in the courtroom is palpable as the foreman reads out the decision... Not Guilty on all charges. The room is in shock. The media outside explodes with the news, screaming that a miscarriage of justice has been committed. Gerard shouts in excitement and wells up with tears. He looks at Jack and tells him that he told him he was innocent.
Back in the apartment, Gerard reaches out to Anna to give her the good news. She is cold and distant, only wanting to discuss practical matters. She informs him that she and Sophie are going to be staying in Paris, that they need some time and space away from him. Gerard attempts to apologize, but Anna ends the call.
Jack visits Gerard at the apartment to finalize some paper work. Gerard's spirits are slightly higher, but Jack confronts Gerard with news that while he was acquitted on the sexual assault charges, investigations have begun into Gerard's money laundering in Ukraine. Gerard doesn't seem too concerned by this though. Jack offers his resignation as Gerard's legal representation. Jack leaves the apartment. Gerard wanders over to the windows, looking out over the city. Gerard takes a drink, his hand trembling, before he drops the glass, letting it shatter on the floor.
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