Did you see "Love Liza" or "Happiness" or "Punch-Drunk Love" (funny, I just realized that Hoffman is in all these) in a theater and did you feel like you had to hold back laughter as it might be construed as inappropriate? What I like so darn much about smart movies like Love Liza is that I can't really describe what it is exactly I find so out-loud funny. And interesting, and moving, etc. But FUNNY.
Hoffman is some kind of caricature of abuse that only a real junkie would find insulting. This movie is so outrageously unreal. "Okay, Phil. When we start rolling, wait three beats and really sniff that rag. And don't forget you're driving here, so don't focus too much off the road. Make-up! Make Hoffman sweatier-looking." Wild. Could this character suffer any more? It's like hitting--over and over--one of those inflated, bottom-heavy punching things with a silly face and moustache and feeling good about it. Why not? Seeing this character get tortured by a script and a director is somehow funny because, like the punching thing with face and moustache, no real feelings are being put upon. It's an exercise. And who better than Phil Hoffman to do this work?
Not a date movie, not one to see with the guys, Love Liza just is. It is what it is. Word.
Hoffman is some kind of caricature of abuse that only a real junkie would find insulting. This movie is so outrageously unreal. "Okay, Phil. When we start rolling, wait three beats and really sniff that rag. And don't forget you're driving here, so don't focus too much off the road. Make-up! Make Hoffman sweatier-looking." Wild. Could this character suffer any more? It's like hitting--over and over--one of those inflated, bottom-heavy punching things with a silly face and moustache and feeling good about it. Why not? Seeing this character get tortured by a script and a director is somehow funny because, like the punching thing with face and moustache, no real feelings are being put upon. It's an exercise. And who better than Phil Hoffman to do this work?
Not a date movie, not one to see with the guys, Love Liza just is. It is what it is. Word.