Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

AutCuddly Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Verity Robins Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

Desertman84 Playing by Heart is a comedy-drama film, which tells the story of several seemingly unconnected characters who are articulate and witty people that are pondering on the meaning of love.The cast ensemble includes Gillian Anderson,Ellen Burstyn,Sean Connery,Anthony Edwards,Angelina Jolie,Jay Mohr,Ryan Phillippe,Dennis Quaid,Gena Rowlands,Jon Stewart and Madeleine Stowe.It was written and directed by Willard Carroll.Carroll focuses his film on four couples, all in one way or another battling with the problems of relationships, ranging from long-marrieds to Gen-X club-hoppers. Ostensibly, part of the film is invested in the mystery of how all these characters are interrelated, but keen viewers will be able to discern the connections among everyone. It's the uniformly excellent performances, though, that make this multi- character drama compulsively watchable. Most striking, surprisingly enough, are Jolie and Phillippe, the youngest members of the cast who reveal heretofore hidden depths of talent. Equally impressive are Gillian Anderson and Jon Stewart, who transcend their yuppie persona's in their awkward enactment of the timeless dating rituals. Other cast members are quite good though saddled with story lines that are occasionally less than compelling. The only complaint you'll have is that once everyone's connections are revealed, you'll wish this cast had more of an opportunity to interact. The journey toward the film's bittersweet end, however, is marvelous in and of itself.But nevertheless,it certainly provides more emotional nourishment than most other mainstream movies generate these days.

Chrysanthepop Willard Carroll's feel-good 'Playing By Heart' is charming and funny. It follows a number of heartbroken characters: a mother and her dying son (Ellen Burstyn and Jay Mohr), a married elderly couple (Sean Connery and Gena Rowlands), a childless wife (Madeleine Stowe) having an affair with a minister, a barsurfing man (Dennis Quaid) who fabricates stories, a relationship-burnout designer (Gillian Anderson) forcing herself to resist the charms of an architect (Jon Stewart) and a sassy young woman (Angelina Jolie) and her failed attempts to win the heart of a young man (Ryan Fillipe) with a secret. While it is quite well shot and decently written, it is mainly the acting that stands out. As much of the film is a series of interactions, solid performances are required and all the actors at least do a good job. Connery, Rowlands, Burstyn and Anderson are excellent. They're a delight to watch. Stowe doesn't get much scope unfortunately. Quaid is hilarious. Stewart and Fillipe fit the bill. Jolie is adorable.On the flipside, I felt the ending was a little clichéd and a tad overdone. Overall, Carroll's film makes for a fine rainy day flick.

leplatypus This is a capsules movie, with a lot of stories tangled together.A precursor of "Babel" and much more memorable. If the script isn't a revolution, it has at least the quality to be credible and reveals in addition some surprises.If "Babel" is already behind with this issue, the wonderful cast leaves no more doubt: Connery, Jolie and Anderson: What a great bunch! It is really a rare movie when you finish a scene with a star, then start a new scene with a second star, and again with a third one! Finally, a simple and direct movie with the first treasure of Hollywood: its talents!

kspoor233 I zapped by this movie and came upon one of the first scenes. I immediately was fascinated, and all those famous actors!?! I never heard of this movie, what's up with that? So i got nailed to the TV-screen. All those people's lives were very recognizable and again strange, it was moving to watch. A big fan of the great Sean, the sexy Angelina, the mysterious 'Scully' and some others i know as good actors, i was almost compelled to watch this. A love story between already married people, a search for love by singles, the love of mother and child. Love contains death also, because we care for each other. And that was so outstanding played in this movie. Even when i'm giving my opinion i'm filled with laughter, thrill and tears. This is one of every actor, whom put so much believable performance in Played by heart, one of their best movies I let out a tear or two and never wanted to forget this most beautiful movie I had ever seen.