| | | A Comic Tragedy.
Features: DVD, Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 1.85:1, Dolby Surround Sound, French, Dubbed & Subtitled, Spanish, Subtitled
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Punch-Drunk Love, Almost Famous) and Academy Award®-winner Kathy Bates (1990 Best Actress, Misery; About Schmidt) star in a heartbreaking and surprisingly funny drama about love, grief and starting over.
Successful Web designer Wilson Joel's (Hoffman) life spirals out of control after the sudden devastating event of his wife's suicide. Unable to read the goodbye note she left for him, Wilson forges new, unpredictable relationships with friends, co-workers and his stunned mother-in-law (Bates). But the bond he creates with a dangerous drug could take what's left of his blown-apart life and extinguish it completely.
"Love Lizaâ could do for Mr. Hoffman what Leaving Las Vegas did for Nicolas Cage!" Rex Reed, New York Observer
"An extraordinary film. Philip Seymour Hoffman gives the performance of the year." Aint It Cool News
Editor's Note
Wilson Joel's (Philip Seymour Hoffman) wife, Liza, has committed suicide, leaving behind a note that he can't bear to read. He tries to go about his usual routine, but when his coworkers start to worry about his erratic behavior, they convince him to take a leave of absence to deal with his loss. Liza's mother (Kathy Bates) offers support to Wilson, but when she finds out that he won't open the note, their relationship turns sour. Wilson's life becomes even more tragic when he begins sniffing gasoline as a means to dull his pain, explaining his gas consumption as the result of his interest in model airplanes. A film about grief that provides no easy answers, LOVE LIZA showcases an exceptionally strong lead performance by Hoffman. Wilson's misguided grieving process may be difficult viewing for some, especially during moments which come off as absurdly comic (cued by Jim O'Rourke's superb bossa nova influenced score). But under the direction of first-timer Todd Louiso, this very subtle and deliberately paced work will reward anyone willing to go to the often uncomfortable places it reaches. The strikingly original screenplay by Gordy Hoffman (brother of the film's star) was the winner of the Waldo Salt Screenwriting award at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival.
| Features | Interactive Menus | | Scene Selection | | Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Hindi | | Trailers | | Filmographies | | Digitally Mastered Audio & Anamorphic Video | | Audio: English (Dolby Surround) | | Widescreen Version | | Philip Seymour Hoffman, Director And Writer Commentary | | Weblink |
| Technical Info
|
Release Information
| | Studio: Columbia Tri-Star |
| Release Date: 5/27/2003 |
| Running Time: 93 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 2002 | | Catalog ID: 10377 | | UPC: 00043396103771 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English, French Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: French, Portuguese, Spanish | | Video: Color |
| Cast & Crew
|
| | Professional Reviews | Premiere
"...LOVE LIZA is a low-key labor of love that strikes a very resonant chord..." 01/01/2003 p.20-1New York Times
"...A piercing study of spousal grief..." 12/30/2002 p.E1 Entertainment Weekly
"...Hoffman acts the hell out of the role..." 01/10/2003 p.50 Sight and Sound
"...Information is conveyed with deft economy....Louiso introduces a few well-paced flourishes..." 02/01/2003 p.52 Chicago Sun-Times
"...The purpose of a movie like this is to inspire thoughts about human nature....There is a kind of attentive concern that Hoffman brings to his characters..." 02/07/2003 p.31 Total Film
"...Hoffman is superb....Todd Louiso's nuanced direction frequently allows silent action to speak louder than words..." 08/01/2003 p.109 San Francisco Examiner 9 of 10
We never see Wilson recover, not entirely. Love Liza encompasses only about six weeks, which is not enough time for a lonely soul to get over the loss of his life mate. The point of Love Liza is to record grief and the feelings that surround it--to show that grief is never just grief, there's love and laughter in there, too. And more than just a little life. - Jeffrey M. Anderson
Reel.com 9 of 10
Love Liza is about someone doing everything he can in order to evade facing a tremendous loss, which makes Wilson not so different from a lot of people. The question is, will those people then avoid this movie in order that it not roil up painful emotions? Let's hope not. In addition to Hoffman's powerful acting clinic, this is that rare drama that offers a thoughtful and rewarding glimpse into the sort of heartache everyone has felt, or will feel someday. - Pam Grady
|
| |
|
|
|
