White Palace Details

James Spader has long been Hollywood's favourite rich kid, but this (along with sex, lies, and videotape) provided him with a rare role that he could really get his teeth into. He plays a youngish middle-class ad man who falls for 40-something waitress Susan Sarandon, much to the dismay of his peers. Spader and Sarandon spark off each other superbly, making the most of a mature script that intelligently explores class and sexuality in modern America. Luis Mandoki's direction is admirably level-headed, and he successfully sidesteps the usual clichés and melodramatics. There's also a strong supporting cast, which includes Kathy Bates and Eileen Brennan.

In the years following his wife's death, Max (Spader) leads a carefully controlled life: a sense of purpose is found... read more on Time Out