Love Liza Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)January 24th, 2003
LOVE LIZA
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2003 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): **
Todd Louiso's LOVE LIZA is a depressing and fairly pointless movie about Wilson Joel (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a man who develops a severe drug addiction after his wife, Liza, commits suicide. Although he's willing to huff gasoline if that's all that's available, Wilson's poison of choice is remote-controlled model airplane fuel. He's a generous guy who's willing to share whatever flammables he has with the local teenage huffers.
Basically a one-person vehicle, the movie wastes Kathy Bates (ABOUT SCHMIDT) in a throwaway supporting role as Liza's mom. Hoffman, who was so terrific recently in 25TH HOUR, which should win him a supporting actor nomination if the Academy has half a brain, isn't able to do anything with his character this time.
The only significant subplot concerns a suicide letter that Liza left for Wilson. He spends most of the movie carrying it conspicuously while refusing to open it. When, eventually, he does read it, it is as big a letdown as is the rest of the story.
LOVE LIZA runs 1:33. It is rated R for "drug use, language and brief nudity" and would be acceptable for older teenagers.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, January 31, 2003. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the Camera Cinemas.
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Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
