Loved (1997)

Waste of time

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Absolutely Fantastic

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

This film affected me on a deep visceral level. I saw this movie at the Seattle International Film Festival and would love to see it again. Robin Wright's performance captured the strength of openness and vulnerability. Hedda's question to William Hurt's character, "Do you love me enough yet?" was quite haunting. And to her mother, when she asked why Hedda hadn't told her about her pain (if I remember correctly), "because you aren't strong enough," poignantly portrays a soul that has been emotionally used and abused from a young age and learned to take on others' emotional needs at her own expense - especially a woman who has true empathy.

'Loved' is not edge of the seat stuff. It is a grown-up film which examines the nature of love and infatuation. The script is beautifully crafted and provides insight into the machinations of it's individual characters. Robin Wright-Penn and William Hurt undergo a professional relationship which seems to promise something more. The question raised is about commitment and whether that commitment necessitates losing something in oneself. The language of the film is as much in the incidental actions and gestures as in the dialogue. William Hurt stands by the pool, fully clothed, he offers his hand to help R W-P out, she beckons him in. If that is too subtle for you, steer well clear. But, if nothing else, do catch the first five minutes for the brilliant Sean Penn cameo.

There are things you never can tell why you like them. Why you let this CD hypnotize you,make you listen to it, why you're taken away with that movie. You can't describe it, can't put it into words. It's the air, the atmosphere, the charm of it that takes over you. I felt that in "Loved". And i loved this movie.And I'd like to thank Robin Wright Penn for acting so heavenly she made me forget to breathe and watch Loved like something that i experience in flesh-with my senses,with my mind,with my heart. And - William Hurt - he's got a flair, he's so unbelievably talented-he never lets you down.

I saw this film while voting for the Independent Spirit Awards and I must say it had many of my favorite performers. William Hurt, Amy Madigan, Sean Penn (whose company helped make the movie), Joanna Cassidy, Paul Dooley and Jennifer Rubin is like a dream cast to me. I couldn't wait for them to be put to good use. Sadly, they were given almost nothing interesting to do. It has a good setup, it is about the damage that happens in abusive relationships, specifically what people are willing to endure in order to feel loved. The project was not structured or developed very well, however. I think the script needed a few more drafts because the situations needed more urgency or more weight. Most good independent films take you on an emotional or spiritual journey and this film just did not do that.