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List Price: $24.95 | | Label: Sony Pictures
Salesrank: 39831
Released: May 27, 2003 |
| Our Price: $3.83 |
| Used Price: $2.96 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Following the unexplained suicide of his wife, Liza, website designer Wilson Joel (Hoffman) turns to gasoline fumes and remote control gaming while avoiding an inevitable conflict with his mother-in-law (Bates). Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman (Punch-Drunk Love, 25th Hour, Magnolia), Academy Award Winner Kathy Bates (About Schmidt, Primary Colors, Titantic).
Description of Love Liza:
A finely detailed character study, Love Liza offers yet another excellent performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Written by Hoffman's brother Gordy (who won the Best Screenplay award at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival) and directed by first-timer Todd Louiso (an actor best known for memorable roles in Jerry Maguire and High Fidelity), this poignant, offbeat drama focuses intently on Wilson Joel (Hoffman), a computer programmer whose wife has recently committed suicide, leaving Wilson a sealed note that he can't bring himself to read, despite the urgings of his grieving mother-in-law (played to perfection by Kathy Bates). As Wilson huffs gasoline fumes to numb his emotional anguish, Love Liza unfolds as a patiently measured study of grief and loss (like the similarly themed Moonlight Mile), and Louiso shows great promise as a sensitive observer of authentic human behavior. With humor and heartbreak, Love Liza taps into what Hoffman does best. --Jeff Shannon
Love Liza Reviews:
Why Can't I Give it Zero Stars? 
2008-02-23 - Philip Seymour Hoffman does his best to elevate this sorry excuse for a movie, but even an actor of his caliber can't save a script that's clichéd, maudlin and just bad. This is the kind of film that proves how nepotism works in Hollywood. If the screenwriter's brother weren't Phil Hoffman, Love Liza would never have made into a film. So in addition to being a wonderful actor, Hoffman is also a nice sibling, but that doesn't mean you should waste your time watching this wreck.
My God! If the sky was falling, it would be GOOD news!
2007-11-04 - I didn't believe it was possible. This movie made Leaving Las Vegas seem spiritually uplifting. If you have ANY psychological abnormalities - neuroses, tendencies toward depression, suicide, etc... - DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE!
I really regret the 50 cents I spent on it.
Hoffman is the best 
2007-09-12 - This was outstanding. As a person who has had many, many, many losses in their life - including 2 as a result of suicide, I can totally understand how beat down and broken this character is. ANYTHING with Philip Seymour Hoffman is worth watching...., this movie is for those who have deep sorrow and a screaming pain inside because of those sorrows.
A perfect 5 stars
2007-06-27 - If you're looking for a movie which makes you rethink your life, this is a movie for you. Philip Seymour Hoffman is phenomenal and commands compassion without sappy pity. Kathy Bates is also excellent. The sad story is counteracted with moments of humor through awkwardness or absurdity. It's a wonderful 'laughing through tears' effect. The soundtrack flawlessly steps up to say what the script can't throughout the film. Fantastic cinematography and a contemplative ending round this movie off to make it a perfect 5 stars.
A comic tragedy
2007-03-09 - As a person who has suffered some difficult losses, I can emphasize with the character. His addiction seems rather silly but don't most? Philip Seymor Hoffman perfectly encarnates Wilson Joel who can't seem to recover from his wife's shocking suicide.
This is a great film because we really want to know what will happen to this fine man who is being destroyed by his own demons. How will he get a new life and with whom will he share it? As we see his encounters with other characters in the story, we are always wondering if he will connect with someone. I won't give away the ending but what is important is the excellent acting all around and the fine direction.
Great film for mature audiences who are prepared for the subject matter.
