Review of Love Liza (2002) by Jon F — 31 Mar 2012

Until death did them part.

It's a love story of completely different kind...

The Story: When Wilson Joel's wife commits suicide, his own life spirals out of control as he becomes addicted to huffing gasoline fumes. It's a fairly simple story, and it's told in a slightly schizophrenic way. You might find yourself asking "Is this the same day?" or wondering how much time has passed. Maybe it's meant to be a little disorienting due to the nature of Wilson's growing addiction, I really couldn't tell you. It's got a strong script and a truly gritty style that will make anyone swear this could be real. At times you won't feel like just another viewer, you'll feel as though you're actually there, sitting with Wilson, crying with him, or even riding in the car with him. It's a fairly unsettling experience, but it's one of the best character studies I've ever seen.

The Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman... Phillip Seymour Hoffman is Wilson Joel, a man slowly dying of a broken heart. You'll watch as his mind deteriorates with each passing huff, this is one of films more tragic characters. You can't help but feel sorry for him as he becomes more and more pathetic. It's hard to imagine this character done by anyone else, not saying that he looks like someone that would huff gasoline but saying that he manages to look as though he's truly damned. As in Capote (which came out long after this), he gives a performance that fails to be anything less than perfect. Yeah, he's that good.

One to Five Scale: 5.

Strong script, strong character, and great acting make this one a new favorite. My highest recommendations for anyone that's a fan of drama or even a fan of dark humor. Rent it, buy it, do whatever you need to, just make sure you see it.

Tyler.