- Actors: Angelina Jolie, Dennis Quaid, April Grace, Patricia Clarkson, Gena Rowlands
- Directors: Willard Carroll
- Format: Closed-captioned, Colour, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language English
- Subtitles: English
- Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 2.20:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: R (Restricted) (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: Miramax
- DVD Release Date: 17 Aug 1999
- Run Time: 121 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00000JGOJ
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 126,874 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Playing by Heart is an amiably amorphous comedy-drama about a myriad of articulate and witty people pondering the meaning of love. It was originally titled Dancing About Architecture, since, as one of the lovelorn puts it 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 them all. 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 marvellous in and of itself. --Mark Englehart, Amazon.com
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is, if I'm honest, a bit of a chick flick! However, please give this film a chance. It is a sweet and ultimatly rewarding romantic comedy. It revolves around the lives of three sisters and their parents, finding love and in the process of this finding out about themselves. This may sound corny and like the descriptions of many rom-coms before it but the superb acting and ingenuitive use of storytelling that the diector employs makes this film a cut above the rest. I, personally, loved this film. It showcased the acting talents of Gillian Anderson and Angelina Jolie (post X-Files and fame respectively) and managed to not only make me laugh but also cry.
Give this film a go, I think that you will be pleasantly suprised! The DVD includes all the usual extras and wil;l become an essential part of your collection.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Not for the impatient, Playing by Heart is a particularly good example of the complex romantic comedy. The excellent acting complements the apparently disparate -most definitely quirky- plot lines and incisive dialogue. A four star script, slightly weak on characterisation, works due to the presence and competence of the A-list cast.
It's not though; the film for casual watching and to really get anything from the film a fair amount of concentration is essential. Definitely not the movie for everyone you will have few laugh-out-loud moments but should leave the cinema touched and amused.
A solid 5 star movie overall some truly entertaining twists make this well worth your time.
It's not though; the film for casual watching and to really get anything from the film a fair amount of concentration is essential. Definitely not the movie for everyone you will have few laugh-out-loud moments but should leave the cinema touched and amused.
A solid 5 star movie overall some truly entertaining twists make this well worth your time.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The film revolves around four relationships, all given roughly the same amount of screen time, and all dealing with the problems of relationships in contrasting ways.
The older generation are represented by Paul (Sean Connery) and Hannah (Gena Rowlands) squabbling about a love affair Paul had twenty five years ago as they approach their fortieth wedding anniversary. It is a pleasure to see Connery acting a part and not playing himself as so often happens.
Two of the couples Joan (Jolie) and Keenan (Phillip), Meredith (Anderson) and Trent (Stewart) are trying to recover from the trauma of failed relationships, Gracie (Stowe) and Roger (Edwards) are cheating on each other, and mother love comes in the form of Mildred (Burstyn) whose gay son Mark (Mohr) is dying of AIDs. There are also other occasional characters that slightly confuse the plot with other problems.
This is a well acted, well directed film, moving and warmly involving, and arriving at a feel good but not sentimental ending that makes for a very satisfying evenings viewing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A GOOD Chick Flick...? Eh?
I wondered what made such a superb ensemble appear together in a single movie. Sean Connery, Gena Rowlands, Madeleine Stowe, Dennis Quaid, Angelina Jolie... Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2008 by Kalah
its all about love be it new or old, dead or alive....
An interesting movie that takes us through several different relationships as individual stories only to tie all the characters together piece by piece. Read more
Published on 21 April 2006 by RD
Timeless classic...
This film delves into the range of relationships that people can have today. It examines the mother/son relationship, the family relationship and a range of others yet presents... Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2006 by "eleanorstephan"
Very Touching!
That's a great movie. It deals mainly with the unpleasant situations that can arise in a couple's relationship. Read more
Published on 22 Nov 2003 by George Gerasimou
Beautiful
This is a wonderfully sweet, funny, heart-warming film. It's shocking that it is almost completely unknown. Buy it. Watch it. You will love it.
Published on 19 Nov 2003
Not for the impatient
Not for the impatient, Playing by Heart is a particularly good example of the complex romantic comedy. Read more
Published on 3 Jun 2003 by "soleyeao"
One of my favourite movies!
Really enjoyed this one. An all star cast, with great acting and a good story line. Ryan Philipe! What more can I say :) Gillian Anderson is great in this film also, and shows... Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2002
A lovely sweet movie
I have just re-watched this movie and I love it, especially Angelina Jolie and Gillian Anderson, who shows her wonderful acting ability - Of the men I like Jon Stewart who shows... Read more
Published on 7 Mar 2002 by Mrs. F. Mulligan
A cocktail of romance
Playing by Heart may not be the deepest of films, but it's a pleasant movie-going experience when you're not in the mood for something hard-hitting or deep. Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2002
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