Playing by Heart

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Plot: This amiably amorphous comedy-drama about a myriad of articulate and witty people pondering the meaning of love was originally titled Dancing About Architecture. As one of the lovelorn puts it...( read more  ), in trying to explain the elusive nature of desire, "Talking about love is like dancing about architecture." However, with the way the characters in Willard Carroll's film talk, it sounds like they could dance a samba around Frank Lloyd Wright. This undiscovered gem doesn't have a particular destination in mind, as it weaves in and out of the stories of its high-profile ensemble, but it does offer some hilarious, sharp dialogue and quiet surprises. Carroll focuses his film on four couples, all in one way or another battling with the problems of relationships, ranging from long-marrieds (Gena Rowlands and Sean Connery) to Gen-X club-hoppers (Angelina Jolie and Ryan Phillippe). 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 Playing by Heart compulsively watchable. Most striking, surprisingly enough, are Jolie and Phillippe, the youngest members of the cast who reveal heretofore hidden depths of talent. Jolie in particular increases her already-soaring stock as an actress. Equally impressive are Gillian Anderson and Jon Stewart, who transcend their yuppie personas in their awkward enactment of the timeless dating rituals. Other cast members, including Dennis Quaid, Anthony Edwards, Ellen Burstyn, Jay Mohr, and the always luminous Madeleine Stowe, 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. --Mark Englehart

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  pattiherrera
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  ziurmaya
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  jess8315
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  kym4ever05
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  mjslawrence
  

  MCT:

  April 30, 2008

  It's slower paced but the dynamic cast brings it all together and keeps you interested to the end...several different stories that all sort of come together in a cool way at the end...definitely something different, to say the least.

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  savetodd
  

  MCT:

  April 5, 2008

  The interwoven and meandering stories told in this film are beautiful and are buttressed by a phenomenal cast. I can watch this one over and over again - indeed, I have.

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  rakistangdramachine
  

  MCT:

  March 15, 2008

  Honestly, this film is better than Short Cuts and Love Actually combined. Short Cuts doesn't really have a certain theme, and Love Actually is too cliched. The film's characters are adorable, and there are a couple of memorable quotes. I particularly love Quaid's and Jolie's storylines. And the members of this ensemble cast are more connected to each other than I thought they would be.

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  klarsen1839
  

  MCT:

  March 5, 2008

  Chick flick to the extreme - but, being a chick, I'm not ashamed to say I loved this film. All the wonderful relationships played throughout were just beautiful and I just loved how everything comes together. A great cast acting in a great movie, in my opinion.

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  wettka
  

  MCT:

  March 1, 2008

  i really liked this film...it brought everything round full circle...the interactions between characters was touching and meaningful...

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• 
  Angelina Jolie
• 
  Anthony Edwards
• 
  Dennis Quaid
• 
  Ellen Burstyn
• 
  Gena Rowlands
• 
  Gillian Anderson
• 
  Jay Mohr
• 
  Jon Stewart
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  Madeleine Stowe
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  Ryan Phillippe
• 
  Sean Connery

• Rated: (R)
• Directed by: Willard Carroll
• Genres: Drama, Comedy
• Released: December 30, 1998
• DVD Released: October 2, 2001

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