Unlikely to put a spring in anyone's step, this downbeat meditation on grief does have an ace up its sleeve in the estimable Philip Seymour Hoffman. His portrayal of Wilson, a widower hooked on pain-relieving fuel fumes, is a tour-de-force of naked emotion. He, and Kathy Bates in the difficult mother-in-law role, are quite outstanding.
But his brother Gordy's script piles on rather too much emotional trauma, contriving to make life as miserable as possible for poor Wilson. As a result, the honesty of the film is somewhat tainted and it will raise a few cynical eyebrows.
Prior to this screening at the London Film Festival, producer Ruth Charny purposely described the film as "messy", and said that it "doesn't offer any answers". So though it's undeniably brave, Love Liza drifts a little too closely to 'TV matinee tearjerker' territory. That said, I wish it well.
But his brother Gordy's script piles on rather too much emotional trauma, contriving to make life as miserable as possible for poor Wilson. As a result, the honesty of the film is somewhat tainted and it will raise a few cynical eyebrows.
Prior to this screening at the London Film Festival, producer Ruth Charny purposely described the film as "messy", and said that it "doesn't offer any answers". So though it's undeniably brave, Love Liza drifts a little too closely to 'TV matinee tearjerker' territory. That said, I wish it well.