Eleven articulate people work through affairs of the heart in Los Angeles.
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Title: Playing by Heart (1998)
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1 win & 1 nomination.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Angelina Jolie | ... | Joan | |
| Dennis Quaid | ... | Hugh | |
| April Grace | ... | Valery | |
| Patricia Clarkson | ... | Allison | |
| Gena Rowlands | ... | Hannah | |
| Sean Connery | ... | Paul | |
| Gillian Anderson | ... | Meredith | |
 |
Christian Mills | ... | Phillip |
| Kellie Waymire | ... | Jane | |
| Madeleine Stowe | ... | Gracie | |
| Anthony Edwards | ... | Roger | |
| Ellen Burstyn | ... | Mildred | |
| Jay Mohr | ... | Mark | |
| Tim Halligan | ... | Cook Show Director | |
| Michael Emerson | ... | Bosco | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
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Storyline
Eleven articulate people work through affairs of the heart in Los Angeles. Paul produces Hannah's television cooking show, and they must move beyond gentle barbs when she wants to know about an affair of his years ago. Mark is dying of A.I.D.S., and his mother comes to his bedside: they must speak truthfully. Men have scalded Meredith, so she rebuffs Trent's charm, but he persists. The trendy, prolix Joan tries to pull the solitary Keenan into her orbit: why is he reluctant? An adulterous couple meets at hotels for evening sex, but she is unwilling for the relationship to grow. Hugh tells tall tales, usually tragic, to women in bars. By the week's end, their parallel stories converge. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
Plot Keywords:
manhattan new york city | sister sister relationship | cheating | chicago illinois | divorce |Taglines:
The comedy with a twist. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
22 January 1999 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
If They Only Knew See more »Filming Locations:
Mayan Theater - 1038 Hill Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$20,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$26,669, 3 January 1999Gross USA:
$3,970,078Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$3,970,078Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.39 : 1
Edit
Trent: What doesn't?
Meredith: I mean, you turn a guy down a-and WHAM. he just metamophoses into an anger ball.
Trent: An 'Anger ball'?
Meredith: See.
See more »
(1990)
Written by Ottmar Liebert
Performed by Ottmar Liebert
Courtesy of Higher Octave Music
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
This movie contains spoilers for Midnight Lace (1960), Citizen Kane (1941), Psycho (1960), and Suddenly, Last Summer (1959). See more »Goofs
Although Joan's cat is called Blanche and is consistently referred to as "she", the actual animal is a male (tomcat). See more »Quotes
Meredith: Well, That doesn't take long does it?Trent: What doesn't?
Meredith: I mean, you turn a guy down a-and WHAM. he just metamophoses into an anger ball.
Trent: An 'Anger ball'?
Meredith: See.
See more »
Crazy Credits
The opening scenes introducing the major characters list their character names with subtitles, but not the actors/actresses who are portraying them. See more »Alternate Versions
Trailer includes scenes of sexual encounter between Anthony Edwards and Madeline Stowe. See more »Connections
Featured in At the Movies: At First Sight/Another Day in Paradise/Hi-Lo Country/Playing by Heart/The Theory of Flight (1999) See more »Soundtracks
Surrender 2 Love(1990)
Written by Ottmar Liebert
Performed by Ottmar Liebert
Courtesy of Higher Octave Music
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
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No one I know has heard of this movie, and that's a shame. Somewhat. The film's huge cast is similar to the better-known Love Actually, with the eclectic mix of seemingly-unrelated characters who finally congregate together in the end. It's also got a British actor (Sean Connery) to boot, as well as some big stars like Angelina Jolie and surprisingly, Jon Stewart (being a lot more romantic here than on his Daily Show, of course). But Playing by Heart isn't that funny, which may be why it's escaped everyone's ears. It's undoubtedly a well-made film, but it just didn't leave me gushing with praise. The acting was good, and the tribulations and angst the characters felt were real and at times somber (especially the poor man dying of AIDS), but the film left no lasting impression on me. The humor was rare and the drama on the dry, "oh well, too bad" or (in monotone) "wooo, problem solved, happiness for all" side. But then, I'm a finicky watcher and I admit, a borderline pretentious critic. Since I didn't dislike the film, it probably means most people will enjoy or even love it, so I give this a 7/10. Just don't watch it expecting to burst into uproarious laughter or a free flowing sob-fest. You'll most likely chuckle here and there (like when discovering John Stewart's bed buddy) and feel sorry for those afflicted with disease, who, for me, are the only truly touching characters in this not-bad, not-contrived, not-unimpressive film.