Review of Love Liza (2002) by James H — 14 Feb 2004

Love Liza, starring the incomparable Phillip Seymore Hoffman as recently widowed Wilson, was a bit of a disappointment. Three of the characters in particular were very interesting, Wilson, Denny, and Wilson's female boss, but none of them evolved, not even the protagonist. Even in the end, when Wilson finally reads his wife's suicide note and sheds a few tears, we don't really know if it has changed his perspective on her death or his life because the movie ends.

The plot went no where, either. Certain scenes were intriguing and funny, but it all didn't add up to a compelling whole. I must admit I laughed out loud several times at Denny's nerd-like enthusiasm for remote-control vehicles, and Hoffman's facial expressions when in a gasoline-induced stupor, but I would only recommend this film to fans of Seymore Hoffman, and people who like really off-beat, quirky films that meander without reaching a satisfying destination.