PLAYING BY HEART
US, 1998, 122 minutes, Colour.
Gillian Anderson, Ellen Burstyn, Sean Connery, Anthony Edwards, Angelina Jolie, Jay Mohr, Ryan Felipe, Dennis Quaid, Gena Rowlands, John Stewart, Madeleine Stowe, Patricia Clarkson, Nastassja Kinski.
Directed by Willard Carroll.
Playing By Heart is an entertaining pun title for a film about relationships, matters of the heart.
The film was little seen on its release despite an extraordinary cast. The film has eleven characters who are explored in their interrelationships – and, finally, the much closer relationships of each of the characters is revealed, to some surprise.
The film relies on Sean Connery and Gena Rowlands playing an older couple, married for forty years, reflecting on fidelity and infidelity and temptation in their marriage. The youngest couple are played by Ryan Philippe (with blue hair) and Angelina Jolie, the year that she won an Oscar for Girl, Interrupted. John Stuart and Gillian Anderson play two lonely people, she a theatre director, he an architect. Their tentative relationship builds up. Madeleine Stowe and Anthony Edwards are a couple cheating on their spouses. There is also a mother with a son dying of HIV AIDS, Ellen Burstyn and Jay Mohr as the son. Dennis Quaid is a man who spends his time in bars, telling stories. Eventually all this material comes together.
The film was directed by writer Willard Carroll who has made only five films, this being his second.
1.A human and humane entertainment? Geared for emotional response? The appeal to middle aged and older adults?
2.The title and its tone, the emphasis on playing, work and acting? The emphasis on the heart?
3.The photography of Los Angeles, the various worlds of the city, the affluent homes, apartments, the theatre, bars, hotels, hospitals? The stop-motion photography to indicate the passing of time? The world of affluent Los Angeles citizens?
4.The screenplay and its jigsaw style, the daisy chain of events and characters, the verbal clues, everything coming together at the end? A satisfying ending and understanding the implications of character, plot?
5.The introduction with Joan about the music, dancing to architecture, speaking about love?
6.The devices for introducing each character: the audience responding to them personally, the initial reaction, later changes of perception?
7.Hugh and his powerful stories in the bars, the crash and the death of his family, his work at the television studio and programming and being sacked, his story about being gay and his relationship? The role of the supervisor and the later explanation of his course? His effect on the listeners - the compassionate woman listening about his dead family, Nastassja Kinski as the young woman in the bar - and wanting to pay for his trip home because he was drunk, the drag queen listening fascinated but not believing a word?
8.This introduction with Hugh and the theme of truth and lies, surfaces and depths, revelation and relationships?
9.The subplot of Martha and her son, the AIDS situation and films about AIDS? Her finding her son in hospital in Chicago, discussions about his partner and her learning about her son's relationships? The mother knowing and not knowing about her son? The truth game and her being unwilling, her explanation that she did not love her son's father, the explanation of her marriage, security and staying married? The young man learning to die, the mother learning to face it? The background of his marriage and the marriage break-up? The funeral - and Meredith receiving the phone call, going to the funeral, being his wife?
10.Meredith and her work in the theatre, her relationships and tensions, her wariness of commitment? The accident with the magazines, meeting Trent, the date, awkwardness and tension, his saying she was charming? At home, the dog, the dinner - and the tension and her breaking the date? Reacting badly? Meeting again, the play as a success? The second dinner, the sexual relationship, her letting go, her going to the funeral? (And her moving the car for Joan and Keenan?)
11.Hugh and Gracie, the tensions of their marriage, the many years, the lack of intimacy, no children? Hugh at home and the routines, the garbage? The contrast with his course and the review with the supervisor? Gracie and her affair, the hotel and the room, the psychological discussions and counselling, the talk and the intimacy, no future in the relationship, Roger and his family? The irony that Roger was the celebrant at the anniversary?
12.Joan and her borrowing quarters, Harry and the break-up, the cat? Drinking, talking incessantly? Borrowing from Keenan, having a drink with him, his silences? Tension? His comments about intimacy and talking? The agreement to go to the movie? Keenan at home, his father? The discussion, the absent car? The drinks, the truth about the girlfriend and her drugs, HIV infection? Joan giving up drink? The possibilities of love without sexual intimacy? A future together?
13.Paul and Hannah, his illness, their talking, the 40 years of marriage? Hannah and her TV cooking career, the accident? The easy relationship between the two - and Paul woofing like a dog? The family, discussions about the past, the children, memories? Hannah finding the photo of Wendy? Her refusing to speak, anger, Paul and his explanation of the relationship with Wendy, the love, the possibility of leaving Hannah, his not doing this and making choices? The build-up to the celebration and their meeting their children?
14.The celebration, the arrival of everyone, including Martha? Talk, friendships, reuniting love, the ceremony and the renewal of vows? The possibilities and the final circle of the dance?
