Main Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Sean Connery, Anthony Edwards, Jay Mohr, Ryan Phillippe, Dennis Quaid, Gena Rowlands, Jon Stewart, Gillian Anderson, Angelina Jolie, Madeleine Stowe
Release Year: 1998
Country: US
Run Time: 120 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Sophomore writer/director Willard Carroll weaves together an all-star cast in interlocking stories about finding love in Los Angeles. The film's theme is spoken by young club-hopper Joan (Angelina Jolie). Taken by the mysterious Keenan (Ryan Phillippe), she tells him that "talking about love" is like "dancing about architecture" (the original title until the studio thought it would be confused with Dancing at Lughnasa), meaning speech is not the medium to adequately express the details of love. They all try, anyway. Others up for the dance include a TV cooking-show hostess (Gena Rowlands) and her husband (Sean Connery) who still fight over his one brief infidelity 25 years earlier; two lovers (Madeline Stowe, Anthony Edwards) who discuss their unhappy marriages; and a theater director (Gillian Anderson) and her architect, Mr. Right (Jon Stewart). Also searching are Dennis Quaid, Nastassja Kinski and Patricia Clarkson. For a familial sort of love, there's Ellen Burstyn as the estranged mother to her son (Jay Mohr) dying of AIDS. ~ Ron Wells, All Movie Guide
Review
Willard Carroll's uneven but disarming L.A. tale does nothing new for the ensemble drama, and some of its actors come off better than others, but it remains heartfelt and suffused with noble intentions. The multi-character story line lacks the bravura touches of similar efforts by such directors as Robert Altman and Paul Thomas Anderson, but thankfully the film doesn't really aspire to be more than it is, which makes it more enjoyable than a more pretentious effort might be. The highlight of the fine cast is Angelina Jolie; her spirited and touching performance enriches the film's most intriguing story line, which depends almost exclusively on her undeniable spunk and appeal. Other plot lines are less effective (especially a nearly unnecessary AIDS tale that feels instantly dated and overly sentimental), and Carroll's writing sometimes lacks the assurance it needs to truly convey its points about fate and happenstance, but the film is agreeable entertainment throughout. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
Nothing special here, just your average miscellaneous various-artists compilation masquerading as a soundtrack album. The contemporary love-story plot opens the door for various contemporary performers (PJ Harvey, Moby, Ed Kowalczyk of Live with Neneh Cherry) singing downcast songs over trip-hop beats, along with licensings of previously released tracks by Bonnie Raitt, Cracker, and others. There is a taste of Chet Baker in the saxophonist/singer's rendition of "Everything Happens to Me" with the Charlie Haden Quartet West and composer John Barry's "Remembering Chet," one of two excerpts from the score. It all makes for a moody, low-key collection, little of which is memorable. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
Jerry Harrison (Producer), Bonnie Raitt (Producer), Bonnie Raitt (Performer), Chet Baker (Performer), Moby (Performer), Cracker (Performer), PJ Harvey (Performer), Fluke (Performer), John Barry (Producer), John Barry (Performer), Tchad Blake (Producer), Ed Buller (Producer), Ed Buller (Mixing), Neneh Cherry (Performer), Joe Chiccarelli (Engineer), Karl Derfler (String Arrangements), Mitchell Froom (Producer), Charlie Haden (Producer), Mick Harvey (Arranger), Ed Kowalczyk (Performer), Ron McMaster (Mastering), Don Smith (Producer), Don Smith (Engineer), Don Smith (Mixing), Gomez (Performer), Tommy Steele (Art Direction), Morcheeba (Performer), Charlie Haden Quartet West (Performer), Ben Lee (Performer), Wendy Dougan (Design), Chris Fogel (Mixing), Tim Sexton (Music Supervisor), Linda Cobb (Art Direction), Phil Schuster (Production Coordination), Christopher Kennedy (Music Editor), Bran Van 3000 (Performer)
