Kepesh has a huge ego, and he and his professor friend, a Pulitzer Prize-wining poet, George O’Hearn, portrayed effectively with a mix of whimsy and philosophy by Dennis Hopper, pontificate with each other about their lives and relationships. An unregenerate womanizer, Kepesh has carried on a long affair with Carolyn, a businesswoman whom Patricia Clarkson plays with the kind of insight that has brought increasing appreciation of her stature as a sublime actress. Carolyn accepts the non-committal nature of their relationship but at least would like him to be faithful to her. But the ever-horny Keplesh has also mined the amorous opportunities with students impressed by his intellect and strong sexuality that persists even as he ages. He makes a dubious ethical point of sleeping with them only after grading them.

His latest conquest is Consuela, a young woman of Cuban parents, and although convention would have it that Penélope Cruz would seem a bit old for student days, she looks youthful enough here to seem like many a woman one might encounter in an urban university classroom. (The screenplay says she has worked for a while before enrolling.) Cruz brings passion to the part as well as beauty and a helping of pathos as she runs up against Kepesh’s inability to make a commitment to even meet her parents at a graduation celebration. She isn’t bothered by the age discrepancy, but he is, although that doesn’t hinder his carrying on in the relationship as long as he can avoid acquiescing to demands.

When Consuela breaks off with him in the face of his disappointing her, he continues to be haunted by feelings for her, and when she reappears unexpectedly some years later with a severe problem, he is able to be emotionally supportive in a way he could not be earlier. He is also able to get closer to his estranged, resentful son, played impressively by Peter Sarsgaard. Events take a toll on Kepesh's emotions and how he views himself, although he is too egotistic to ever see himself with sufficient objectivity.