Cast:

Paul - Sean Connery
Hannah- Gena Rowlands
Meredith - Gillian Anderson
Trent - Jon Stewart
Joan - Angelina Jolie
Keenen - Ryan Phillippe
Roger - Anthony Edwards
Gracie - Madeline Stowe
Hugh - Dennis Quaid
Mark - Jay Mohr
Mildred - Ellen Burstyn

Director: Willard Carroll

Playing By Heart shows the different stages of this love, through 6 different, representative relationships, and their subsequent progression and development. Instead of focusing on one generation, Director Willard Carroll spans them all, showing that love, in all its joy and pain, knows no age boundaries.

These are smart, real characters in situations that most of have seen, or even experienced. Carroll uses a deft, Robert Altman-like touch to tell these different stories, never dwelling too much on one, nor really giving them all equal screen time, but rather giving each the time that it’s due. He slowly weaves a cinematic quilt, reels you in emotionally, and then brings them all together with a masterful touch. The stories are never rushed, but also never hidden in their connections for those that pay attention. It is this patience and attention to detail that makes the ending so powerful.

Of these six interactions, easily the most watchable, and best told of the stories is that of Phillippe and Jolie, as a silent reclusive guy and a wild, emotional party girl. Their scenes are the best performed, most honest, and definitely the most powerful.

Jolie is a definite up and coming talent, she’s already earned an Emmy and Golden Globe, and I think more statues are in her future. She shows an incredible energy, yet a real sensitivity that is rare in actresses today. She steals the screen every time she is on it.

Phillippe has recovered nicely from his "54" pretty-boy disaster. Here, what’s outside is downplayed and what’s inside is emphasized. I was pleasantly surprised.

Overall, this is an ensemble cast full of excellent performances. Anderson shrugs off her cold Scully image with ease, and her chemistry with Stewart, and his youthful, energetic comic touch, is very good. Connery and Rowlands, as the cornerstone relationship, make you believe that they have been married for 40 years. Comedian Mohr holds his own against this cast of heavies, and in his scenes with Burstyn. I did have a bit of a problem with the Stowe/Edwards storyline. It didn’t really seem to serve much of a purpose, the actors didn’t really seem to be into it, and in general it just seemed to detract away from the more interesting stories in the movie.

Carroll also uses some wonderful time lapse photography, by setting the early scenes at night, an then, as the characters and relationships progress, moving them into daytime. This, to me, showed how the resolutions brought light into each characters life.

Ultimately, this is a movie that may be hard for some to watch, as it deals with issues that we don’t necessarily like to admit are there in life, but must be dealt with in order to move forward. The seemingly disjointed stories may try the patience of some, but for those who pay attention and let these characters into their hearts, will really get something out of this experience, I know I did. This is a love story for the 90s. Not that fluffy, soap-opera stuff, nor the brutally wicked nighttime faire, but rather the medium in between where reality exists. Full of cultural references (the parking levels), and current issues (upfront, frank talk of AIDS, divorce and infidelity), it’s definitely a movie that is at exactly the right time, and hits all the right notes. So have patience and take the time to see this one. ($$$1/2 of $$$$)

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You can also see my reviews at the Online Film Critics Society, of which I am a proud member.