Playing By Heart
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Movie Reviews of Playing By Heart
Movie Review: Unique, Creative, Well Done
Summary: 5 Stars
While this movie wasn't deep-arguably that is-it was creative, unique, and quite realistic. If you pay close attention to the dialogue it can be predictable especially if you like to figure things out before they happen. Willard Carroll left just enough room to make you wonder and then certain revelations-unless you're out of it-are expected and not surprising. The characters were believable and the acting by the entire cast was nothing short of sensational.
If you get confused easily, stick it out, comes together very nicely in the end.
Side note-two things:
1. How excellent that Gillian Anderson had the ability to show range. Don't get me wrong, love Dana Scully, I do, however, she is an unsung hero when it comes to this art. (See her in Masterpiece Theater's Bleak House.)
2. It is in my opinion that most comedians stick to comedy and there are but a few when they transition or give drama a try do an excellent job. Having said that hats off to Jon Stewart. His performance was more than respectable.
Movie Review: A Mostly Overlooked Gem
Summary: 5 Stars
As has been noted previously, the original title of this movie was DANCING ABOUT ARCHITECTURE. The title was changed because it was felt that the title was too weird and confusing for prospective moviegoers. Perhaps that's true. However, I think calling the movie PLAYING BY HEART also worked against the movie but for the opposite reason: It's such a generic name that it could be about anything. It saddens me that this movie didn't get more attention because it's one of my all-time favorites. The plot isn't anything ground breaking, but there are so many good performances that I'm surprised the VCR or DVD player doesn't explode. Although everyone in the movie is good, the standout is Angelina Jolie. This is the movie that made me fall in love with her. Her performance as the damaged club kid had me laughing and crying at the same time. Although Ellen Burstyn had one of the smaller roles, I thought she also did a superb job. So see this movie. There is truly something for everyone in it.Movie Review: An American "Love Actually" Plus
Summary: 5 Stars
Somehow I missed Playing by Heart when it came out in 1998, but that's okay because I suspect I appreciate it a whole lot more now. Like the British film, Love Actually, it examines love from many perspectives, using an ensemble cast of terrific actors to show love that is difficult. A few of the types of relationships examined include: love between a mother and her dying son, a 40-year married couple who come to reexamine their life together in the light of a possible infidelity, and love(s) negotiated by three sisters and four men who try hard to figure out what these interesting women need.
In turns funny, sad, ironic, and a commentary on American society in the 1990s, Playing by Heart took the trope of love in LA, theatrical people in love, and just plain loving as work, and, well, made it work.
A film well worth seeing.
Movie Review: Playing by Heart
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie follows the stories of 3 sisters and their private romantic lives. One sister (Madeline Stowe) is married and gets her kicks out of sleeping around. This section of the film bothered me, that character was so awful, but it didn't ruin the film. Gillian Anderson (of XFiles) did a wonderful job as a young woman whose been hurt and disappointed all her life by men and is afraid to trust her new love. The third sister and my very favorite storyline was played by Angelina Jolie. She is a total whacked out wild party girl who falls in deep love with Ryan Phillipe (Cruel Intentions). Their storyline brought me to tears, I've never seen a movie deal with this kind of content, but I can't say what it is, I don't want to give it away. The chemistry these two had was phenomenal. Please listen and don't let this movie pass you by!Movie Review: So much more than Altman-esque
Summary: 5 Stars
It's time to stop labeling movies as such 'Robert Altman' films. After all, dramas aren't still referred to by he who supposedly did the first drama. What stands out more than distinct, inter-related stories, is the lessons learned about loving. These lessons can be no more relevant than in present day - when people date until they find 'the' flaw... or a flaw. Even the seemingly least-inviting of us all, are insecure and just need someone to stick in there with us... We all wish for supreme realism and honesty, but this movie shows what happend when it's put into practice. One of the best lines, aside from the numerous ones from Jolie's character, is, "Do we (or We don't) really need to know everything about those we love?"
The original name was to be 'Dancing About Architecture," Sometimes words cannot express.