Love Liza (2002)

53% of critics liked it
(85 reviews)
75% of users liked it
(6,847 ratings)

Love Liza is a psychological drama about a man trying to come to terms with his wife's suicide. Wilson Joel (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) is searching for answers as to why his wife, Liza, killed herself. He is unable to bring himself to read the suicide note Liza left behind. Instead of facing his… More Love Liza is a psychological drama about a man trying to come to terms with his wife's suicide. Wilson Joel (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) is searching for answers as to why his wife, Liza, killed herself. He is unable to bring himself to read the suicide note Liza left behind. Instead of facing his demons, Wilson becomes addicted to sniffing gasoline. Kathy Bates co-stars as Liza's mother. This film was written by the star's brother Gordy Hoffman, and directed by newcomer Todd Louiso. Love Liza was screened at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Todd Louiso
Written By: Gordy Hoffman
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2002 Wide
On DVD: May 27, 2003
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

Critic Reviews

Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle
Largely this sad story is handled with a morbidity and monotony that go nowhere -- certainly not toward understanding.
Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic
This is a film that succeeds on the strength of its acting, which is uniformly brilliant.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
After a while, Hoffman's quirks and mannerisms, particularly his penchant for tearing up on cue -- things that seem so real in small doses -- become annoying and artificial.
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
A showcase for an actor's actor rather than as a drama that engages our hearts.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The script isn't very good; not even someone as gifted as Hoffman (the actor) can make it work.
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News
It is a warm, perceptive study of people who do curious things.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Philip Seymour Hoffman gives a strong performance that slightly elevates this minor film (written by his brother) above its narrow scope and small-scale production.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
A bela performance de Hoffman é prejudicada pelo roteiro irregular, que o obriga a passar por mudanças súbitas e inexplicáveis, como se a necessidade de arrancar lágrimas do espectador fosse maior do que o interesse em buscar coesão para a história.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Lays grief on with a thickness that smothers.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
To prove that Love Liza is a work of deliberate sadism, Sony has curiously decided to include Hindi subtitles on this DVD edition of the film.
Jeffrey Bruner, Des Moines Register
Love Liza is a festival film that would have been better off staying on the festival circuit.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Love Liza doesn't leave us with redemptive speeches or somber homilies but with a hard-earned sense of something moving down deep, below the apparent emptiness
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
Love the performance, can't say I loved the movie. See review for details.
Jack Garner, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Despite the film's bizarre developments, Hoffman keeps us riveted with every painful nuance, unexpected flashes of dark comedy and the character's gripping humanity.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Mark W

Despite him regularly being the support with smaller roles, Philip Seymour Hoffman was an actor that always grabbed my attention with his consistently excellent performances, while the bigger 'stars' around him struggled to keep up. This was the film that gave Hoffman a rare… More
Despite him regularly being the support with smaller roles, Philip Seymour Hoffman was an actor that always grabbed my attention with his consistently excellent performances, while the bigger 'stars' around him struggled to keep up. This was the film that gave Hoffman a rare lead role, helping him cement his reputation as one the finest actors of his generation. Following his wife's suicide, computer designer Wilson Joel (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is left with a goodbye note he cannot bring himself to read. His grief takes a peculiar turn when he becomes addicted to sniffing gasoline and becomes involved in flying toy planes just to feed his petrol habit. Sometimes a film comes along that's not entirely classic stuff but gives an exceptional actor a showcase role and a chance to show what they can do. This is that very film for Hoffman. His performance is marvellous, shifting effortlessly from one emotion to another as he conveys the depths of his despair and emotional suffering. This is an actor displaying his full acting range and when his performance was lavished with superlatives, it deserved every one of them. The film itself is an offbeat little drama, that doesn't follow the conventions of it type. It has touches of brilliance and director Todd Louiso (in his debut) shows that he can confidently craft a good character study. The supporting roles are also well played by the ever-reliable Kathy Bates as Wilson's mother-in-law and especially Jack Kehler as Wilson's childlike friend Denny - who all but reprises his small role of The Dude's landlord in the "The Big Lebowski". The problem with the film though, is the pace. It's only 90mins long but feels longer somehow, as sharing a character's mental and emotional anguish isn't good for the time flying. If sitting through a film where the main character is in a constant state of suffering and losing his grip on reality, doesn't appeal to you then avoid this, but by avoiding you would only miss out on an acting masterclass.
♥˩ƳИИ &

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kathy Bates, Jack Kehler DIRECTED BY: Todd Louiso Following the unexplained suicide of his wife Liza, website designer Wilson Joel (Philip Seymour Hoffman) turns to gasoline fumes and remote control gaming while avoiding an inevitable conflict with his… More
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kathy Bates, Jack Kehler DIRECTED BY: Todd Louiso Following the unexplained suicide of his wife Liza, website designer Wilson Joel (Philip Seymour Hoffman) turns to gasoline fumes and remote control gaming while avoiding an inevitable conflict with his mother-in-law (Kathy Bates). Oh what a sad, depressing movie that was brilliantly done by Hoffman. Just so raw and honest. The more movies I see with Hoffman the more I love him. He is amazing. Kathy Bates is amazing she needs no praising. Just the two of them in this film were great. You feel so bad for his character and the downward spiral he is going down. Although it's a bit slow, the performances you get is well worth it.
Drew S

It's interesting that I watched this movie right after Away From Her. Whereas the latter film explored heavy emotions like loss evenly and with purpose, Love Liza's interest seems to be dragging you through the mud for an hour and a half with little to offer for it. It has… More
It's interesting that I watched this movie right after Away From Her. Whereas the latter film explored heavy emotions like loss evenly and with purpose, Love Liza's interest seems to be dragging you through the mud for an hour and a half with little to offer for it. It has its poignant moments but begins to get really irritating; about ten minutes from the end of the film, I actually asked myself out loud "How much longer do I have to deal with this guy?" For this film to bill itself "a comic tragedy" and "surprisingly funny" is complete bullshit. I laughed once. The supposed "humor" is entirely at Philip Seymour Hoffman's expense and just makes the entire movie even more awkward and depressing. Really, this movie is a mess; the only redeeming qualities are getting to experience those scattered touching moments and Hoffman's brilliant (of course) performance. Even his acting gets a little wearying by the end of the movie, though it probably has to do with the character. If someone's wife commits suicide and I spend more of the movie being bothered by them instead of feeling sorry for them, then I would say that it was probably a failure.
Stephen E

Wilson is upset. He's disheveled, confused, and angry. It's all in direct correlation with his wife's suicide. He's not really angry at anybody or anything; just angry. Maybe at the world. Love Liza is slow-moving, confusing, and plotless, but it's something… More
Wilson is upset. He's disheveled, confused, and angry. It's all in direct correlation with his wife's suicide. He's not really angry at anybody or anything; just angry. Maybe at the world. Love Liza is slow-moving, confusing, and plotless, but it's something that you won't find all that often; genuine. It's had a considerable amount of time put into it, and while it isn't utterly perfect, it's honest and relatable to anyone whose experienced a loss in their life. Most of all, Love Liza is anchored by a strong central performance from Philip Seymour Hoffman. He's always good at playing an emotionally strained character and here he does not disappoint. It's great to hear him yell.
Mike T

Philip Seymour Hoffman is truly one of the most skilled actors I've ever seen. This bizarre, funny and extremely tragic character piece is engaging the whole way through, and most of its power is due to the brilliance of Mr. Hoffman. I really, really liked it.
Stephen E

"Love Liza" isn't a particularly exciting film. It's not even all that interesting. But it's wonderful to watch Hoffman work. He plays the role of Wilson with such power and strength that you watch the movie just for him.
Sunil J

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Kathy Bates are just amazing in this movie.
Eduardo C

As intimate a character study as I have ever seen. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is heartbreakingly good in the role of a man whose wife has very recently commited suicide. The film is alternately funny and tragic, but never anything less than absolutely real. A seriously underrated… More
As intimate a character study as I have ever seen. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is heartbreakingly good in the role of a man whose wife has very recently commited suicide. The film is alternately funny and tragic, but never anything less than absolutely real. A seriously underrated work.