Playing by Heart (1998)

Truly the worst movie I've ever seen in a theater

Just so...so bad

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

To my surprise ''Playing by Heart'' was in fact a good movie.I saw it with my wife and we both liked it. Although we have seen the story - or should I say stories - before, but none of it is ever trite or offensive. It's all played out with such grace and nuance that even it's somewhat conventional ending is welcomed. The acting is well-acted and it is almost impossible not to like the long list of characters.Playing By heart is seriously playing by Skill. It is emotional,sensational,funny, and just the right movie for a bad day. A true feel-good film that shows us a sweet (but still realistic) picture about the many sides of love.

A beautifully written, directed, and acted craft with one exception... Ryan Phillippe seriously disappoints, as usual, being the only star I could not justifiably keep amongst this cast. I didn't believe him for a second. It is not the first time in his career that he has left me wondering if he is acting or simply being himself. That said, it was the second viewing that reminded me that Jolie is a treasure both to behold and to experience. I feel ashamed that I have let her personal, overly tabloid-ed persona cloud my judgment of her unforgiving talent. She manages, so improbably, to make up for Phillippe's lack of commitment. Enjoy!

Essentially a series of short films, "Playing By Heart" revolves around the love lives of a handful of wealthy, white, articulate, middle class men and women (blame Woody Allen), all of whom are connected in some way. Upon release, "Playing by Heart" was one of many "Short Cuts"/"Pulp Fiction"/John Sayles knock-offs. Today, such "inter-connected" romantic comedies are even more routine, many released annually by big studios. The film's cinematographer was the legendary Vilmos Zsigmond, who bathes the film in shadows, romantic lights and the muted glow of multicolored bulbs.Many of the film's subplots or "short films" are mediocre, except one which finds actress Gillian Anderson and actor Jon Stewart as a cute, likable couple. Actress Angelina Jolie, who plays an emotionally naked punk chick, and actor Dennis Quaid, who plays a lonely bar crawler, are also mildly watchable. The film relies heavily on its actors to elevate its poor, contrived material. It ends, as such films do, with a wedding. Some audiences may find the film vomit inducing.7/10 – IMDb demographics state that women of all ages rate this film much higher than men, except women over the age of 45. Are the jaded 40s the age at which chick flicks stop working on chick flick audiences?

The relationship between Angelina Jolie and Ryan Phillippe is one of the top 5 best relationships in the last 40 years and carries the film. Mohr and Burnstyn should a special amount of "growth" in a relationship that has little time.This is a relationship movie, and deals with people needing to accept people for who they are, to be patient and understanding to what has made people the way they are. I enjoyed discovering the about the relationships as the movie went along. Kudos to Dennis Quaid for playing a searching personality that does not come across as the suave macho lead. If you like Jon Stewart this you have fun watching him act. There is something for everyone and everyone may find themselves in one of the characters and hopefully grow from the experience.