Desertman84 Playing by Heart is a comedy-drama film, which tells the story of several seemingly unconnected characters who are articulate and witty people that are pondering on the meaning of love.The cast ensemble includes Gillian Anderson,Ellen Burstyn,Sean Connery,Anthony Edwards,Angelina Jolie,Jay Mohr,Ryan Phillippe,Dennis Quaid,Gena Rowlands,Jon Stewart and Madeleine Stowe.It was written and directed by Willard Carroll.Carroll focuses his film on four couples, all in one way or another battling with the problems of relationships, ranging from long-marrieds to Gen-X club-hoppers. Ostensibly, part of the film is invested in the mystery of how all these characters are interrelated, but keen viewers will be able to discern the connections among everyone. It's the uniformly excellent performances, though, that make this multi- character drama compulsively watchable. Most striking, surprisingly enough, are Jolie and Phillippe, the youngest members of the cast who reveal heretofore hidden depths of talent. Equally impressive are Gillian Anderson and Jon Stewart, who transcend their yuppie persona's in their awkward enactment of the timeless dating rituals. Other cast members are quite good though saddled with story lines that are occasionally less than compelling. The only complaint you'll have is that once everyone's connections are revealed, you'll wish this cast had more of an opportunity to interact. The journey toward the film's bittersweet end, however, is marvelous in and of itself.But nevertheless,it certainly provides more emotional nourishment than most other mainstream movies generate these days.

badajoz-1 I found this DVD whilst I was trying to find something cheap to make up the full price of my Father's Day present - a gift voucher on Amazon. I had never heard of the movie, and it would not have mattered if I had continued in my ignorance! A frightfully over emotional 'American' movie that presumably felt it could follow the TV success of a show like '30 Somethings' and do the multi-strand jump cutting of 'Babel' with everything coming together at the end. Well, it didn't work. You assemble a great cast of pros - the Weinsteins looking for a left field hit that might pick up some Oscar traction - and make an auteur film about love that is supposed to make you feel better!! Uh, no, I was depressed fairly soon in - what with the ridiculous Dennis Quaid strand talking about running over his wife and child (yes!), and a young man dying, a la 'Philadelphia' of AIDS!! Talk about cheap shots and sentimentality that would have made John Ford blush in shame! The storyline is of various couples of various ages ( and quickly it becomes clear are all part of one family) talking about love, trying to find love, and actually having affairs. I'm afraid it loses credibility because several of the actresses post-coital have very carefully wrapped sheets or duvets around themselves demonstrating a complete lack of spontaneity (although that is the point I suppose, as the film is all too much talk and cod philosophising about love to be really credible. There is interest in the Ryan Phillippe/Angelina Jolie and Sean Connery/Gena Rowlands elements, but because of the too many strands, even these are rushed, overwrought and concluded far too quickly. A pity because they might have made a half decent movie. But ultimately the film is crushed by its own sense of po-faced theatricality and verbiage - yet again Americans taking themselves too seriously. The tagline called it a romantic comedy with a twist - yes, the twist was it was not very funny at all (the guy with Aids dies in his mother's arms on full screen - ho, ho!). Hoiw did this ever get made????

leplatypus This is a capsules movie, with a lot of stories tangled together.A precursor of "Babel" and much more memorable. If the script isn't a revolution, it has at least the quality to be credible and reveals in addition some surprises.If "Babel" is already behind with this issue, the wonderful cast leaves no more doubt: Connery, Jolie and Anderson: What a great bunch! It is really a rare movie when you finish a scene with a star, then start a new scene with a second star, and again with a third one! Finally, a simple and direct movie with the first treasure of Hollywood: its talents!

darksideofmoon Sometimes its a nice surprise to find a hidden gem. I didn't know anything about this film and just looking at the cover i was amused to find such a good cast. I randomly picked up this film from the store and boy i was surprised. Great cast and amazing performance and its one of those movies which you can go through again without getting bored. I am not surprised very few people have heard about this film,including me of course. The performance of all the actors is noteworthy and i specially liked Sean Connery, Ryan Phillip and Angelina Jolie. It sure is going to my personal collection. Definitely underrated and highly recommended.