Review of Love Liza (2002) by Cory T — 05 Jul 2008

Gordy Hoffman wrote a screenplay that created a character his brother comfortably embodied, at the expense of a necessary story. Philip Seymour Hoffman, as I have said, is the best character actor working in film today. I sincerely hope "Love Liza" is the worst film I ever see him take part in, for that would solidify my last sentence. Thus, this is not a bad film; nay, it is a rather morbidly interesting character study into the unstable life of a man unsure of what to do with himself after his wife's suicide.

The premise to this film is powerful, the chances for greatness are large, but the execution of this material grew tiring and left me weary... very quickly. I am assuming his wife killed herself by enclosed inhalation of car fumes, but I may be mistaken. At any rate, Wilson begins to inhale gasoline himself, enducing a sort of stupor and daze that makes the day bearable. If I am right about his wife's death, then Wilson's self-torture is sort of poetic and meaningful... the first time he did it. Nearly every chance he gets, though, we see him trying to drown his sorrows nasally. It quickly loses poignancy and becomes pathetic.

Kathy Bates does a fine job playing the difficult role of Wilson's mother-in-law, maintaining her composure until they both explode in a scene of anger and frustration that is perfectly executed.

All in all, however, the audience is left at a distance from this man. This is not Hoffman's fault (either of them, I suppose) but the fact remains that we grow restless watching this man painfully drudge through life, not looking for closure or peace.

For anyone who lights up at the thought of Philip Seymour Hoffman delving into a new character, I say see this film. For the average filmgoer, who may not care either way, ask me and I'll suggest film's he has made that can change your life.