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{{short description|1998 American comedy-drama film directed by Willard Carroll}}
{{short description|1998 film by Willard Carroll}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Playing by Heart
| name = Playing by Heart
Line 6: Line 5:
| caption =
| caption =
| director = [[Willard Carroll]]
| director = [[Willard Carroll]]
| producer = Willard Carroll <br />Meg Liberman
| producer = Willard Carroll<br />Meg Liberman<br />Tom Wilhite
| writer = Willard Carroll
| writer = Willard Carroll
| starring = {{Plainlist|
| starring = {{Plainlist|
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| gross = $3,970,078<ref name="mojo">{{cite web |title=Playing by Heart |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=playingbyheart.htm |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] }}</ref>
| gross = $3,970,078<ref name="mojo">{{cite web |title=Playing by Heart |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=playingbyheart.htm |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] }}</ref>
}}
}}
'''''Playing by Heart''''' is a 1998 American [[comedy drama|comedy-drama]] film, which tells the story of several seemingly unconnected characters. It was entered into the [[49th Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref name="Berlinale">{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1999/02_programm_1999/02_Programm_1999.html |title=Berlinale: 1999 Programme |accessdate=2012-02-04 |work=berlinale.de}}</ref> It stars [[Gillian Anderson]], [[Ellen Burstyn]], [[Sean Connery]], [[Anthony Edwards (actor)|Anthony Edwards]], [[Angelina Jolie]], [[Jay Mohr]], [[Ryan Phillippe]], [[Dennis Quaid]], [[Gena Rowlands]], [[Jon Stewart]] and [[Madeleine Stowe]]. ''Playing by Heart'' is an ensemble work, that explores the path of love in its character's lives.
'''''Playing by Heart''''' is a 1998 American [[comedy drama|comedy-drama]] film which tells the story of several seemingly unconnected characters. It was entered into the [[49th Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref name="Berlinale">{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1999/02_programm_1999/02_Programm_1999.html |title=Berlinale: 1999 Programme |accessdate=2012-02-04 |work=berlinale.de}}</ref> It stars [[Gillian Anderson]], [[Ellen Burstyn]], [[Sean Connery]], [[Anthony Edwards (actor)|Anthony Edwards]], [[Angelina Jolie]], [[Jay Mohr]], [[Ryan Phillippe]], [[Dennis Quaid]], [[Gena Rowlands]], [[Jon Stewart]] and [[Madeleine Stowe]]. ''Playing by Heart'' is an ensemble work that explores the path of love in its characters’ lives.


==Plot==
==Plot==
⚫
In Los Angeles, the lives of intertwining characters are shown. Among the characters are an older couple, who are about to renew their wedding vows; a theatre director and architect navigating a new beginning; a young woman looking for a good time; a gay man dying of [[AIDS]] and his mother who had not been close; a couple having an affair and her husband who is exploring ways to break through the staleness of their marriage.
{{More plot|date=December 2020}}
⚫
Among the characters are an older couple, who are about to renew their wedding vows ([[Sean Connery]] and [[Gena Rowlands]]); a theatre director ([[Gillian Anderson]]) and architect ([[Jon Stewart]]) navigating a new beginning; a young woman ([[Angelina Jolie]]) looking for a good time but finding ([[Ryan Phillippe]]); a gay man dying of [[AIDS]] ([[Jay Mohr]]) and his mother ([[Ellen Burstyn]]) who had not been close; a couple having an affair ([[Anthony Edwards (actor)|Anthony Edwards]] and [[Madeleine Stowe]]) and her husband ([[Dennis Quaid]]) who is exploring ways to break through the staleness of their marriage.


As the stories evolve, the connections between the characters become evident.
As the stories evolve, the connections between the characters become evident.

Unhappily-married Hugh regularly hits on women with an array of lies: that he has killed his wife and son in a car accident; that his wife and kids leave him on the same day he is fired; and that he has cheated on his wife with her brother. Hugh runs into improv classmate Valery in a bar, telling her he performs better in real life than in class.

Paul, suffering a brain tumour, and Hannah are planning their 40th-anniversary party and renewing their vows. Despite Hannah's best efforts, Paul refuses to address that he's dying. Hannah considers canceling her televised cooking show, but Paul won't let her. When Hannah confronts Paul over a picture of another woman on his desk, he admits he never slept with her because he was in love with her.

Lonely theatre director Meredith dates architect Trent. Both are divorced; Meredith has been burnt many times before, and Trent still wears his wedding ring four years on. Trent convinces Meredith to invite him over and cook him dinner. Meredith panics once he arrives, first telling him they will not be having sex, then asking him to leave, saying it's to avoid the inevitable heartache. However Trent gets a do-over, and they connect at his place.

The spark has gone from Gracie's marriage, who deals with this by meeting her lover Roger in hotel rooms before returning home to her distant husband Hugh. Roger wants their relationship to develop beyond just sex, but Gracie is firm on things staying the way they are. Gracie brings spontaneity to Roger's life for the first time.

Mark is gravely ill with [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]] and being looked after by his mother Mildred who, after years of estrangement, finally learns he is gay through his diagnosis. He asks her to recite ''[[Goodnight Moon]]'' to him as he dies.

Twenty-something clubber Joan flirts with Keenan after having a very final, vocal breakup with her ex via payphone. After complaining about how terrible her relationship was, Joan propositions Keenan to see a film only to be rebuffed as he 'doesn't date'. Even so, Keenan turns up at the movies as Joan proposes. Joan and Keenan admit their feelings. He reveals his former girlfriend contracted AIDS from sharing needles and died, and that, as a result, he is [[HIV-positive people|HIV-positive]]. Promising to be careful, they start a relationship.

Mildred calls Meredith for Mark's funeral, as he was her high school sweetheart, then husband, who left her for a man. Returning home with Mildred, Meredith goes next door to her parents - Hannah and Paul - where the anniversary preparations are well on their way. Sister Gracie appears to help, and little sister Joan breezes in at the last moment.

Roger officiates the ceremony, and we see all three sisters on the dance floor with their men and their parents. Even Gracie and Hugh seem to have reconciled.


==Cast==
==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
⚫
* [[Gillian Anderson]] as Meredith
⚫
* [[Ellen Burstyn]] as Mildred
⚫
* [[Sean Connery]] as Paul
⚫
* [[Anthony Edwards (actor)|Anthony Edwards]] as Roger
* [[Angelina Jolie]] as Joan
* [[Angelina Jolie]] as Joan
⚫
* [[Dennis Quaid]] as Hugh
⚫
* [[Ellen Burstyn]] as Mildred
* [[Jay Mohr]] as Mark
* [[Jay Mohr]] as Mark
* [[Ryan Phillippe]] as Keenan
* [[Ryan Phillippe]] as Keenan
⚫
* [[Dennis Quaid]] as Hugh
* [[Gena Rowlands]] as Hannah
* [[Gena Rowlands]] as Hannah
⚫
* [[Sean Connery]] as Paul
⚫
* [[Gillian Anderson]] as Meredith
* [[Jon Stewart]] as Trent
* [[Jon Stewart]] as Trent
* [[Madeleine Stowe]] as Gracie
* [[Madeleine Stowe]] as Gracie
⚫
* [[Anthony Edwards (actor)|Anthony Edwards]] as Roger

* [[Kellie Waymire]] as Jane
⚫
[[Kellie Waymire]], [[Nastassja Kinski]], [[Alec Mapa]], [[Amanda Peet]] and [[Michael Emerson]] also have roles in the film. [[Hilary Duff]] has a small part in the movie as one of the characters' children, although her part is uncredited.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 April 2020 |title=Hilary Duff's Top 10 Movies, Ranked From Best To Worst By IMDb Score |url=https://screenrant.com/hilary-duffs-lizzie-mcquire-movies-best-imdb-ranked/ |website=ScreenRant }}</ref>
* April Grace as Valery
* [[Patricia Clarkson]] as Allison
* [[Michael Emerson]] as Bosco
* [[Amanda Peet]] as Amber
* [[Alec Mapa]] as Lana
* [[Nastassja Kinski]] as The Lawyer (uncredited)
⚫
* [[Hilary Duff]] as Extra (uncredited)<ref>{{cite web |date=11 April 2020 |title=Hilary Duff's Top 10 Movies, Ranked From Best To Worst By IMDb Score |url=https://screenrant.com/hilary-duffs-lizzie-mcquire-movies-best-imdb-ranked/ |website=ScreenRant }}</ref>
}}


==Production==
==Production==
According to director Willard Carroll the film was made on a budget of $14 million as the cast led by Sean Connery agreed to work for $50,000. Carroll praised Connery saying he "continued his total democratic cooperation in the ensemble piece. He was the most generous actor, although he’s a larger-than-life star" and that Connery set the example the others followed.<ref name="Archerd">{{cite web |date=15 January 1999 |first=Army |last=Archerd |title=Spelling set for busy millennium |url=https://variety.com/1999/voices/columns/spelling-set-for-busy-millennium-1117490256/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |quote=Carroll and Liberman confirm "Playing By Heart" for Miramax came in for $14 million thanks to the cast’s agreement to work for $50,000 — led by Sean Connery. }}</ref>
According to director Willard Carroll, the film was made on a budget of $14 million as the cast led by Sean Connery agreed to work for $50,000 each. Carroll praised Connery, saying he "continued his total democratic cooperation in the ensemble piece. He was the most generous actor, although he's a larger-than-life star" and that Connery "set the example" the others followed.<ref name="Archerd">{{cite web |date=15 January 1999 |first=Army |last=Archerd |title=Spelling set for busy millennium |url=https://variety.com/1999/voices/columns/spelling-set-for-busy-millennium-1117490256/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |quote=Carroll and Liberman confirm "Playing By Heart" for Miramax came in for $14 million thanks to the cast’s agreement to work for $50,000 — led by Sean Connery. }}</ref>


In some regions, the film was released under the title ''Intermedia''. The original US title was ''Dancing About Architecture'', a reference to a line in the film (based on a quote regarding "[[Writing about music is like dancing about architecture|writing about music]]") that the idea of "talking about love" is equivalent to "dancing about architecture".<ref>{{cite web |date=January 22, 1999 |author=Mark Caro |title=WRITING ONLY SKIN DEEP IN 'PLAYING BY HEART' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-01-22-9901220059-story.html |website=ChicagoTribune.com }}</ref> A second working title, ''If Only They Knew'', made it as far as the top label for some copies of the soundtrack CD. Executive producers include [[Bob Weinstein]] and [[Harvey Weinstein]], for [[Miramax Films]].
The film's original working title was ''Dancing About Architecture'', a reference to a line in the film (based on a quote regarding "[[Writing about music is like dancing about architecture|writing about music]]") that the idea of "talking about love" is equivalent to "dancing about architecture".<ref>{{cite web |author=Caro |first=Mark |date=January 22, 1999 |title=Writing Only Skin Deep In 'Playing By Heart' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-01-22-9901220059-story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418033023/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-01-22-9901220059-story.html |archive-date=April 18, 2022 |access-date=August 3, 2022 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> A second working title, ''If Only They Knew'', made it as far as the top label for some copies of the soundtrack CD. Executive producers include [[Bob Weinstein]] and [[Harvey Weinstein]] for [[Miramax Films]].


[[Jon Stewart]]'s character is an architect, his film home is the [[Stahl House]].<ref>{{cite web |date=18 May 2015 |last=Martino |first=Alison |title=We Grew Up in Case Study House #22 Los Angeles Magazine |url=https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/we-grew-up-in-case-study-house-22/ |website=[[Los Angeles Magazine]] }}</ref>
[[Jon Stewart]]'s character is an architect, his home in the film is the [[Stahl House]].<ref>{{cite web |date=18 May 2015 |last=Martino |first=Alison |title=We Grew Up in Case Study House #22 Los Angeles Magazine |url=https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/we-grew-up-in-case-study-house-22/ |website=[[Los Angeles Magazine]] }}</ref>


{{Anchor|Music}}
{{Anchor|Music}}
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==Reception==
==Reception==
{{Anchor|Box office}}
{{Anchor|Box office}}
The film was released in the [[United Kingdom]] on August 6, 1999, and opened on #11.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.25thframe.co.uk/charts/chart.php?chart=19990806|title=UK Weekend Box Office 6th August 1999 - 8th August 1999|publisher=www.25thframe.co.uk|accessdate=8 August 2019}}</ref>
The film was released in the United States on December 18, 1998. In the [[United Kingdom]], it was released on August 6, 1999, and opened at the number 11 spot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.25thframe.co.uk/charts/chart.php?chart=19990806|title=UK Weekend Box Office 6th August 1999 - 8th August 1999|publisher=www.25thframe.co.uk|accessdate=8 August 2019}}</ref>


{{Anchor|Critical response}}
{{Anchor|Critical response}}
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has an approval rating of 60% based on reviews from 53 critics. The site's consensus was: "It's overly talky, but ''Playing by Heart'' benefits from witty insights into modern relationships and strong performances from an esteemed cast."<ref>{{cite web |title=Playing by Heart (1998) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/playing_by_heart |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=2020-10-10 }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]] the film has a score of 55% based on reviews from 26 critics.<ref>{{cite web |title=Playing by Heart |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/playing-by-heart |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=2020-04-05 }}</ref> Audiences surveyed by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film a grade B+ on scale of A to F.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title= PLAYING BY HEART (1998) B+ |work= [[CinemaScore]] |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= 2018-12-20 }}</ref>
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of 60% based on reviews from 53 critics, with an average rating of 6/10. The site's consensus was: "It's overly talky, but ''Playing by Heart'' benefits from witty insights into modern relationships and strong performances from an esteemed cast."<ref>{{cite web |title=Playing by Heart (1998) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/playing_by_heart |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=2020-10-10 }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a score of 55% based on reviews from 26 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web |title=Playing by Heart |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/playing-by-heart |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=2020-04-05 }}</ref> Audiences surveyed by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of B+ on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title= PLAYING BY HEART (1998) B+ |work= [[CinemaScore]] |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= 2018-12-20 }}</ref>


[[Roger Ebert]] gave it a thumbs down, and 2.5 out of 4 in his print review, due to its entertaining dialogue, star power and charming moments, but determines it to be a 'near miss' because of its soft, gooey center.<ref name="Ebert">{{cite web |date= January 22, 1999 |first=Roger | last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert | title=Playing by Heart |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/playing-by-heart-1999 |access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref> It was one of the last films reviewed on air, by film critic [[Gene Siskel]], on ''[[At the Movies (1986 TV program)|Siskel and Ebert at the Movies]]'', before his death on February 20, 1999. Like Ebert, Siskel gave it a thumbs down, deeming the film more about behaviour than story.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://siskelebert.org/?p=4858 |title=Gene's last show 23 January 1999 |work=Siskel&Ebert.org |access-date=24 January 2020}}</ref>
[[Roger Ebert]] gave it a thumbs down, and 2.5 out of 4 in his print review, due to its entertaining dialogue, star power, and charming moments, but determines it to be a 'near miss' because of its soft, gooey center.<ref name="Ebert">{{cite web |date= January 22, 1999 |first=Roger | last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert | title=Playing by Heart |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/playing-by-heart-1999 |access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref> It was one of the last films reviewed on air, by film critic [[Gene Siskel]], on ''[[At the Movies (1986 TV program)|Siskel and Ebert at the Movies]]'', before his death on February 20, 1999. Like Ebert, Siskel gave it a thumbs down, deeming the film more about behaviour than story.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://siskelebert.org/?p=4858 |title=Gene's last show 23 January 1999 |work=Siskel&Ebert.org |access-date=24 January 2020}}</ref>


{{Anchor|Awards|Accolades}}
{{Anchor|Awards|Accolades}}
Jolie won an award for "Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actress" from the [[National Board of Review of Motion Pictures]], and writer/director [[Willard Carroll]] was nominated for an award at the [[Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Playing by Heart (1998) Awards |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0145734/awards |website=IMDb }}</ref>
Jolie won an award for "Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actress" from the [[National Board of Review of Motion Pictures]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=1998 Archives |url=https://nationalboardofreview.org/award-years/1998/ |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=[[National Board of Review]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and writer/director [[Willard Carroll]] was nominated for an award at the [[Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Playing by Heart (1998) Awards & Festivals |url=https://mubi.com/films/playing-by-heart |access-date=August 3, 2022 |website=[[MUBI]]}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{Wikiquote}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DppPtpEbFag Playing by Heart Trailer], YouTube, 2013
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DppPtpEbFag Playing by Heart Trailer], YouTube, 2013
* {{IMDb title|id=0145734|title=Playing by Heart}}
* {{IMDb title|0145734}}
* {{Amg movie|174296|Playing by Heart}}
* {{Amg movie|174296}}
* {{mojo title|id=playingbyheart|title=Playing by Heart}}
* {{mojo title|id=playingbyheart|title=Playing by Heart}}
* {{YouTube|id=BLfcuY3tX_w|title=John Barry Memorial Concert - 'Remembering Chet' from Playing By Heart}}
* {{YouTube|id=BLfcuY3tX_w|title=John Barry Memorial Concert - 'Remembering Chet' from Playing By Heart}}
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[[Category:1998 films]]
[[Category:1998 films]]
⚫
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:1998 comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:1998 comedy-drama films]]
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[[Category:Hyperlink films]]
[[Category:Hyperlink films]]
[[Category:Hyperion Pictures films]]
[[Category:Hyperion Pictures films]]
[[Category:Miramax films]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Willard Carroll]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Willard Carroll]]
[[Category:Films set in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Films shot in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:HIV/AIDS in American films]]
[[Category:LGBT-related comedy-drama films]]
⚫
[[Category:1990s American films]]
[[Category:1998 LGBT-related films]]
[[Category:English-language comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:American LGBT-related films]]

Revision as of 01:57, 10 August 2024

Playing by Heart
Directed byWillard Carroll
Written byWillard Carroll
Produced byWillard Carroll
Meg Liberman
Tom Wilhite
Starring
CinematographyVilmos Zsigmond
Edited byPietro Scalia
Music byJohn Barry
Christopher Young[1]
Production
companies
Distributed byMiramax Films
Release date
  • December 18, 1998 (1998-12-18)
Running time
121 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$14-20 million[2][3]
Box office$3,970,078[3]

Playing by Heart is a 1998 American comedy-drama film which tells the story of several seemingly unconnected characters. It was entered into the 49th Berlin International Film Festival.[4] It stars Gillian Anderson, Ellen Burstyn, Sean Connery, Anthony Edwards, Angelina Jolie, Jay Mohr, Ryan Phillippe, Dennis Quaid, Gena Rowlands, Jon Stewart and Madeleine Stowe. Playing by Heart is an ensemble work that explores the path of love in its characters’ lives.

Plot

In Los Angeles, the lives of intertwining characters are shown. Among the characters are an older couple, who are about to renew their wedding vows; a theatre director and architect navigating a new beginning; a young woman looking for a good time; a gay man dying of AIDS and his mother who had not been close; a couple having an affair and her husband who is exploring ways to break through the staleness of their marriage.

As the stories evolve, the connections between the characters become evident.

Unhappily-married Hugh regularly hits on women with an array of lies: that he has killed his wife and son in a car accident; that his wife and kids leave him on the same day he is fired; and that he has cheated on his wife with her brother. Hugh runs into improv classmate Valery in a bar, telling her he performs better in real life than in class.

Paul, suffering a brain tumour, and Hannah are planning their 40th-anniversary party and renewing their vows. Despite Hannah's best efforts, Paul refuses to address that he's dying. Hannah considers canceling her televised cooking show, but Paul won't let her. When Hannah confronts Paul over a picture of another woman on his desk, he admits he never slept with her because he was in love with her.

Lonely theatre director Meredith dates architect Trent. Both are divorced; Meredith has been burnt many times before, and Trent still wears his wedding ring four years on. Trent convinces Meredith to invite him over and cook him dinner. Meredith panics once he arrives, first telling him they will not be having sex, then asking him to leave, saying it's to avoid the inevitable heartache. However Trent gets a do-over, and they connect at his place.

The spark has gone from Gracie's marriage, who deals with this by meeting her lover Roger in hotel rooms before returning home to her distant husband Hugh. Roger wants their relationship to develop beyond just sex, but Gracie is firm on things staying the way they are. Gracie brings spontaneity to Roger's life for the first time.

Mark is gravely ill with AIDS and being looked after by his mother Mildred who, after years of estrangement, finally learns he is gay through his diagnosis. He asks her to recite Goodnight Moon to him as he dies.

Twenty-something clubber Joan flirts with Keenan after having a very final, vocal breakup with her ex via payphone. After complaining about how terrible her relationship was, Joan propositions Keenan to see a film only to be rebuffed as he 'doesn't date'. Even so, Keenan turns up at the movies as Joan proposes. Joan and Keenan admit their feelings. He reveals his former girlfriend contracted AIDS from sharing needles and died, and that, as a result, he is HIV-positive. Promising to be careful, they start a relationship.

Mildred calls Meredith for Mark's funeral, as he was her high school sweetheart, then husband, who left her for a man. Returning home with Mildred, Meredith goes next door to her parents - Hannah and Paul - where the anniversary preparations are well on their way. Sister Gracie appears to help, and little sister Joan breezes in at the last moment.

Roger officiates the ceremony, and we see all three sisters on the dance floor with their men and their parents. Even Gracie and Hugh seem to have reconciled.

Cast

Production

According to director Willard Carroll, the film was made on a budget of $14 million as the cast led by Sean Connery agreed to work for $50,000 each. Carroll praised Connery, saying he "continued his total democratic cooperation in the ensemble piece. He was the most generous actor, although he's a larger-than-life star" and that Connery "set the example" the others followed.[2]

The film's original working title was Dancing About Architecture, a reference to a line in the film (based on a quote regarding "writing about music") that the idea of "talking about love" is equivalent to "dancing about architecture".[6] A second working title, If Only They Knew, made it as far as the top label for some copies of the soundtrack CD. Executive producers include Bob Weinstein and Harvey Weinstein for Miramax Films.

Jon Stewart's character is an architect, his home in the film is the Stahl House.[7]

The soundtrack includes songs by Morcheeba, Bonnie Raitt, Bran Van 3000, Edward Kowalczyk of Live, Neneh Cherry and Moby.[8][9]

Reception

The film was released in the United States on December 18, 1998. In the United Kingdom, it was released on August 6, 1999, and opened at the number 11 spot.[10]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 60% based on reviews from 53 critics, with an average rating of 6/10. The site's consensus was: "It's overly talky, but Playing by Heart benefits from witty insights into modern relationships and strong performances from an esteemed cast."[11] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 55% based on reviews from 26 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[12] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of B+ on an A+ to F scale.[13]

Roger Ebert gave it a thumbs down, and 2.5 out of 4 in his print review, due to its entertaining dialogue, star power, and charming moments, but determines it to be a 'near miss' because of its soft, gooey center.[14] It was one of the last films reviewed on air, by film critic Gene Siskel, on Siskel and Ebert at the Movies, before his death on February 20, 1999. Like Ebert, Siskel gave it a thumbs down, deeming the film more about behaviour than story.[15]

Jolie won an award for "Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actress" from the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures,[16] and writer/director Willard Carroll was nominated for an award at the Berlin International Film Festival.[17]

References

  1. ^ Stephan Eicke (16 July 2019). The Struggle Behind the Soundtrack: Inside the Discordant New World of Film Scoring. McFarland. p. 104. ISBN 978-1476676319.
  2. ^ a b Archerd, Army (15 January 1999). "Spelling set for busy millennium". Variety. Carroll and Liberman confirm "Playing By Heart" for Miramax came in for $14 million thanks to the cast's agreement to work for $50,000 — led by Sean Connery.
  3. ^ a b "Playing by Heart". Box Office Mojo.
  4. ^ "Berlinale: 1999 Programme". berlinale.de. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
  5. ^ "Hilary Duff's Top 10 Movies, Ranked From Best To Worst By IMDb Score". ScreenRant. 11 April 2020.
  6. ^ Caro, Mark (January 22, 1999). "Writing Only Skin Deep In 'Playing By Heart'". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  7. ^ Martino, Alison (18 May 2015). "We Grew Up in Case Study House #22 Los Angeles Magazine". Los Angeles Magazine.
  8. ^ "Playing By Heart". Capitol. 1999.
  9. ^ "Playing by Heart - Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  10. ^ "UK Weekend Box Office 6th August 1999 - 8th August 1999". www.25thframe.co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Playing by Heart (1998)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  12. ^ "Playing by Heart". Metacritic. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
  13. ^ "PLAYING BY HEART (1998) B+". CinemaScore. Archived from the original on 2018-12-20.
  14. ^ Ebert, Roger (January 22, 1999). "Playing by Heart". Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  15. ^ Gene's last show 23 January 1999. Siskel&Ebert.org. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  16. ^ "1998 Archives". National Board of Review. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
  17. ^ "Playing by Heart (1998) Awards & Festivals". MUBI. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
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