Eleven articulate people work through affairs of the heart in L.A.
The "American Gods" star credits amazing co-stars and killer special effects for his mind-bending performance.
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Title: Playing by Heart (1998)
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1 win & 1 nomination.
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Edit
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 L.A. Paul produces Hannah's TV 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 AIDS, and his mother comes to his bedside: they must talk 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 meet 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:
If romance is a mystery, there's only one way to figure it out. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Release Date:
22 January 1999 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
If They Only Knew See more »Filming Locations:
Los Angeles, California, USAEdit
Box Office
Budget:
$14,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$26,669, 3 January 1999, Limited ReleaseGross USA:
$3,956,212, 21 February 1999Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.39 : 1
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Trent: I'm not men. I'm not a group. I'm just me.
See more »
(1998)
Written by James Di Salvio (as James Di Salvio), Haig Vartzbedian and Duane Larson
Performed by Bran Van 3000
Courtesy of Audiogram/Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Music Special Markets
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Ryan Phillippe didn't tell the filmmakers that he was going to dye his hair blue. The first they knew of it, was when he turned up on set on the day of filming with his hair a different color. Most of the cast and crew were taken aback, but director Willard Carroll liked it. Coincidentally, Angelina Jolie dyed her hair on exactly the same day. See more »Goofs
Throughout the entire movie, whenever there is a scene (and there are many) involving martinis, between shots the olives and level of vodka in the glass change. This happens many time when a character either eats an olive or is about to eat one, it will re-appear in the glass seconds later. Also - many times where the character is starting to say something, and the view is changed to be from their point of view and their lips are no longer moving. See more »Quotes
Meredith: I have a hard time trusting men.Trent: I'm not men. I'm not a group. I'm just me.
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 »Soundtracks
Drinking in LA(1998)
Written by James Di Salvio (as James Di Salvio), Haig Vartzbedian and Duane Larson
Performed by Bran Van 3000
Courtesy of Audiogram/Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Music Special Markets
See more »
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Why this film wasn't in wide release is beyond me. It had a great cast and a great story and even the trailer for it was funny. And plus, can't Sean Connery sell a movie all by himself? This is a true hidden gem of a film and it is one that really should be seen by everyone.
I won't really get into the details of the film too much because seeing what this film is all about is one of the joys of it. You watch it and you know there is more to it than the screen play lets on about and it is fun trying to piece clues together to understand what is going on. It is a mystery in some ways and isn't that what the movie claims to be? A mystery about love. And as they allude to, love is a mytery anyway.
My fave characters are Gillian Anderson's and Jon Stewarts. Their story hits all the right notes and it is easy to relate to them. They are both cautious people when delving into love. Both have been hurt but one of them is just a little more relaxed and willing to learn about love again. And there is one scene where Gillian jumps all over Stewart about some silly issue and this is the area where most movies go the traditional route and they break up, get back together and live happily ever after. It is a typical concept and it has been done to death. But in this movie it takes a fresh approach to solving problems and that is it's strength.
This is a great romance and it is also wickedly funny. And the way everything is summed up at the end is not only perfect but it is heart warming and it leaves you feeling glad to be in love, or at least willing to fall again.