LOVE, LIZA (2002)

 

Directed By: Todd Louiso Written By: Gordy Hoffman  Cinematography: Lisa Rinzler  Editor: Katz & Anne Stein 

Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kathy Bates, Jack Kehler, Stephen Tobolowsky, Erika Alexander, Sarah Koskoff, Kelli Garner 

Following the unexplained suicide of his wife Liza, a web designer turns to gasoline fumes and remote-control airplanes while avoiding an inevitable conflict with his mother-in-law.

Philip Seymour Hoffman takes a stoner character who could have easily been more a comedic performance on any other film. Despite the tragedy that surrounds him and makes him heartfelt and all too human that is recognizable. 

It’s a poignant performance where we find out the cause of his addiction. We see the beginnings and the depths he goes through to feel numb to hide from fears and emotions. After the death of his wife.

It’s a mesmerizing performance that brings an extra sadness knowing his own tragic end in life. Making you wonder how parallel it close might have been to this performance. 

We see his mother-in-law's emotional reactions. She wants to be nurturing but is also falling apart and is looking to him to help her grieve but finds nothing. 

At times the film veers close to seeming like it will be a quirky slice of life that will teach the character life is worth living and appreciating for so many unpredictable reasons, but the film is smarter than that and brings him back to reality after time to time finding peace on a lark. Like his developing friendship with a fellow recluse. 

The film explores how the world reacts and moves on as normal, but he is stunted or held back in his grief. Whereas his addiction is as odd as it is. Seems to be the only way for him to move forward. Even if in destructive ways. 

It’s a film built more on performances and the strength/Charisma of the lead actor than a conveniently plotted three-act structure.

It’s a lonely journey barely populated but it does certainly meet the characters. Who brings a little definition to a wide-ranging performance and film that likes to wander with no clear path. It constantly feels strong yet singular as one of the fears of the main character is that he caused his wife’s death or he wasn’t good enough for her when she needed him.

These darker films are built on characters and performances. Seems to be like most actors more the type he preferred. That offers a more intimate experience and more richness for an actor to offer. Performances that feel more lived in, like in the film JACK GOES BOATING that can come off as tragedies.

A tragedy, desperation not a movie to see cinematic beauty necessarily more organic. At one point it becomes a road trip movie 

In the end, the film actually does have a symbolic ending. Starting over a new at first thought we should never find out what was in the letter left for him that he carries throughout  but by actually revealing the contents of the letter it allows for closure and an ending of sorts 

Grade: B-