PLAYING BY HEART by DeWyNGaLe Rating: A-
Going into this movie, I didn't know anything about it except for the cast members, and that it was about couples and what they go through. The only reason I went to see this movie was because of the large cast, and I am very glad I did go. The cast consists of Gena Rowlands, Gillian Anderson, Sean Connery, Angelina Jolie, Ryan Phillippe, Jon Stewart, Jay Mohr, Anthony Edwards, Madeline Stowe, Dennis Quaid, and Ellen Burnstyn. Playing By Heart is about many couples, and what life is like in the real world.
Gena Rowlands and Sean Connery play Hannah and Paul, a couple that has been married for forty years. Paul and Hannah are constantly fighting, and things aren't really working out between them. Hannah finds out some secrets that Paul has kept from her all his life and becomes extremely angered with him. Gena Rowlands and Sean Connery do excellent as their characters. Although they are extremely undeveloped, you could still get a good feel of how the characters were.
Angelina Jolie and Ryan Phillippe play Joan and Kennan, two wild and crazy kids who have been through a lot. Joan and Kennan both go to dance clubs in their spare time, and that is where the two first meet. Ryan and Angelina click on the big screen. Keenan has been through a lot through his life, including the death of the only woman he has ever loved. Joan also has been through a lot of heartache in her life as well. Angelina Jolie gives the best performance of the large cast, stealing every scene she is in. With her wild outfits and her one-eyed cat, and Kennan's blue hair and unique habits, this couple becomes the most fun to watch. The two characters get the most screen time, and their characters are well developed.
Gillian Anderson and Jon Stewart play another couple. Gillian Anderson plays Meredith, a play director, and Jon Stewart plays Trent, an architect. Meredith is the type who isn't into dating or anything like it. She is still upset about her previous marriage, when she found out her husband was gay. Trent is there to try to help her, but she becomes angered even more. It was interesting to watch Gillian Anderson on the screen outside of the X-Files series. She did a good job of acting, and she should have a successful movie career. Jon Stewart does a good job as well, but the performance was somewhat disappointing. I think that he was miscast in the role of Trent.
The other two couples are involved in the film are Mildred (Ellen Bunstyn), and her son, Mark, (Jay Mohr) who has AIDS, and the other couple is Gracie, (Madeline Stowe) and Roger. (Anthony Edwards) These two couples didn't get much screen time, and weren't developed very much at all. The other character in the film hanging around is Hugh, played by Dennis Quaid. Quaid gives a funny, outstanding performance. Hugh doesn't accomplish much throughout the film, except for going from bar to bar lying to everyone he can.
Playing By Heart is a realistic movie, not a love fairy tale that couldn't exist in real life. The movie was very true to life, and I admired that. The ending was also extremely well done. Endings can be one of the most important parts of the film, because it is the last impression of the movie you get, and Playing By Heart's ending certainly was great. I don't know what it was about Playing By Heart that got me, but it worked. It is a very touching story of what you can go through in life. It wasn't pure drama though, in fact, there were many very funny scenes throughout the film. Willard Carroll, director of this film, hasn't had many motion picture credits as of yet, but hopefully he will deliver some more wonderful pieces of work.
The Bottom Line- Playing By Heart has a little something for every age, even teenagers.
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