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Actors: Sean Connery, Gena Rowlands, Angelina Jolie, Ellen Burstyn, Gillian Armstrong, Madeline Stowe, Dennis Quaid, Ryan Philippe, Jon Stewart, Jay Mohr, Ant
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Playing By Heart |
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This is an ensemble movie that follows the lives of three sisters and their parents. Gracie is married to Hugh, but she's having a sexual fling while he pretends to be someone else every time he steps into a bar. Second sister Meredith divorced because her husband turned out to be gay, and she's had such horrible experiences with men that when Trent finally enters her life, she's all barbs and defensiveness. Kid sister Joan loves easily, has just broken off with the last guy when she meets the stand-offish Keenan, who doesn't date. Their parents are Paul, a director, and Hannah, a TV chef. Apparently, Paul and Hannah have received bad news about Paul's health and it's implied that he may not have long to live. But in checking Paul's will, Hannah discovers a photo of the woman she's always suspected her husband had an affair with and she begins quarreling with Paul. While all this is going on, Meredith's ex-husband Mark is dying of AIDS and he and his mother Mildred spend his last days being totally honest about their lives.
It turns out that Hugh is taking an improvisational acting class. Through it he realizes he's good at telling lies because of the lie he's been living at home, pretending that his marriage is all right. Gracie's fling partner starts wanting more from her than just sex, but opening up means she has to deal with her and Hugh's problems. Having pushed Trent away, Meredith's play opens and it's a success. She at last confesses to Trent that she's attracted to him, but then hears from Mildred that Mark has died and leaves for his funeral. Joan pursues the reluctant Keenan, who eventually reveals why he can't have a relationship. Hannah's quarrel with Paul ends in Paul's shocking revelation that his love for the other woman actually renewed their marriage. When Paul and Hannah celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary with their daughters, all these stories converge.
--Karen Law, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Playing By Heart |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1980's-1999
Romance/Love/Hugging
Yes
Kind of romance:
- romance (general)
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- actor
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- red
Hair type
- (woman) short/butch/lez
Body type
- (woman) skinny
Events of movie makes character more...
- sensitive
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- red
Hair style
- (woman) short/butch/lez
Body type
- (woman) average
How much in movie?
- 40%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- none
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- West
City?
Yes
City:
- Los Angeles
Misc setting
- bar
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- explicit references to deaths
Movie makes you feel...
- encouraged
Any profanity?
- Some foul language
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Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Karen Law
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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