Playing Mona Lisa (2000)

A young pianist is looking for love in all the wrong places once her fiancee drops her. Maybe her flame will be rekindled both for the piano and a new love?

Director:

Matthew Huffman

Writers:

Marni Freedman (play), Marni Freedman (screenplay),

Stars:

Alicia Witt, Harvey Fierstein, Brooke Langton

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alicia Witt	...	Claire Goldstein
Harvey Fierstein	...	Bennett
Brooke Langton	...	Sabrina
Johnny Galecki	...	Arthur
Ivan Sergei	...	Eddie / Carl / Ben
Marlo Thomas	...	Sheila Goldstein
Elliott Gould	...	Bernie Goldstein
Tammy Townsend	...	Alice
Molly Hagan	...	Jenine Goldstein
Estelle Harris	...	Aunt Velva
Pat Crawford Brown	...	Grandma Ida Weinberg
Zachary Kranzler	...	Jeremy
Joe Mazza	...	Barry / Bo
Sulo Williams	...	Manny
Sandra Bernhard	...	Bibi Carlson

Storyline

Claire Goldstein is a gifted pianist, but the same week that none of her friends pass a major competition, including her boyfriend Jeremy, he dumps her. An earthquake in San Francisco damages her apartment, so she must cross town to live with her parents. Her sister is about to get married; her mom is into the occult; her dad is withdrawing and losing his job. Claire obsesses about Jeremy, despite her girlfriends' advising her how to interest other men ("look mysterious, like Mona Lisa") and taking her to parties. Her sweet teacher, Bennett, gets her auditions, but she blows them off. Then, she meets Eddie. Is he the key to her rejoining the human race?

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Plot Keywords:

pianist | earthquake | piano | girl stripped down to bra | san francisco california | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for drug content, sex-related dialogue and brief language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 May 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Two Goldsteins on Acid

Filming Locations:

Hayes Street, San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bubble Factory, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Eddie takes Clair to the greenhouse for pizza, you can see a cameraman crouching behind leaves as they enter, even though he says they closed it a long time ago.

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Quotes

Bennett: I once heard someone say: "When you dim your light, so that someone else can shine, the whole world gets darker."

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Connections

References Baywatch (1989)

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Soundtracks

"The Rumble of Normal"
Written by Doug Deep & Brooke Langton
Performed by Doug Deep & Brooke Langton

User Reviews

NICE WAY TO KILL AN HOUR AND A HALF

I used to run a video store and this movie rarely got rented. It came on cable this afternoon and I didn't have anything else to do. I found the beginning of the film slow and rather predictable, but, as it got further into the story, I actually found myself hanging on the story, curious as to what could POSSIBLY happen next. I now find myself wondering why it never got rented in the store, because this was REALLY a good movie. I keep guessing if it was a romantic movie trying to be funny or a comedy trying to be romantic. The blend of both is what I actually enjoyed most about the film.

I have only seen one other movies with Alicia Witt, but I think I'm going to be looking for more of her. Elliott Gould and Marlo Thomas are a nice blend as her parents, too.