Rating:  -
I must admit, I was very surprised by this film. When you see the previews for P.S. it looks as if it is nothing more than a simple romantic comedy of sorts that hints more towards originality than refurbished Hollywood. While there are elements of humor and greatness in this film, the preview can be a bit dissecting. This is a tragedy of sorts. It is the story of a woman still searching for her true self and cannot do that because of tragedy that has constantly fallen upon her during her life. It reminds me of It's A Wonderful Life when George Bailey finally realizes that perhaps he isn't needed anymore in town and decides to end his life. This is where our story somewhat begins with Louise (Laura Linney). While it isn't as dramatic as Jimmy Stewart on a bridge, Linney does give off this aura of depression and pensiveness. Where is her life, why does she continue with this repetitive routine at work, and what is her relationship with others around her are simple questions that become much larger as the film progresses.
What really captured me with this film was the utterly beautiful chemistry between Topher Grace and Laura Linney. They really embraced this sense of adventure, comfortability, and fear of the unknown exceptionally well. From the moment that they shared screen time together until the rather poignant ending, I thought that the two of them made an award-winning pair. Topher is growing up quickly in Hollywood and this film should prove that he has the "chops" to play with the bigger boys. The same can be said for Linney that continues to prove that she can make movies that redefine the roles of both women in film and involved in film. While I think that her role in this film should have garnered her with an Oscar nomination over the over-hyped lackluster Kinsey. I am still honored to see her getting the praise that she deserves. Her emotions are so raw and real that you can literally get lost in her words and actions while forgetting that you are actually watching a film. I would be hard pressed to be able to name another actress that could do that with the material that she does.
The rest of the cast in this film supported our two characters with the greatest of ease. This film is the perfect example of small parts making a huge impact on a film. Gabriel Byrne is outstanding in a role that could have been very one-dimensional. He brings depth and almost a bit of "evil" to his character that he only helps give Linney that extra push into her climactic ending. The same can be said for Paul Rudd and Marcia Gay Harden whom may seem miscast or at least oddly cast in this film, but both prove with the greatest of ease why they continue to work in Hollywood. It was the strength of the cast that really brought this character study out of the ultimate fate of several others of the same nature. The characters/actors brought this story to life and gave it this unglazed vision of the real world where people struggle with past histories and long for the opportunity to see what life would be like if only one thing would have been different.
This leads me into my favorite part of the story which was the subtle themes and story that was happening behind the characters/actors. There was more than just one element happening to our characters which helped give so much depth to the story and people. It wasn't just Louise looking for love, but also the chance of a "what if" encounter that normally would never happen in your average person's life. I loved all the elements from Byrne's secret, to Harden's indiscretions, to Rudd's dual life that really built a strong point for this story. I felt as if these characters were real and that the elements that were facing them were not built by Hollywood, but instead crafted by the truth of another. That is what made this story work. There wasn't this all-powerful run to the airport at the end, but instead a somber moment that made you reflect back on the rest of the film, dreaming of another chance to watch.
Overall, I really liked this movie. I felt that director Dylan Kidd did a very wonderful and bold job with this film proving that he can handle everything from simple themes to multi-layered moments that will reign supreme in your mind. Linney and Grace's chemistry was outstanding. I watched this film with the words, "I didn't think it would go this far..." dripping from my mouth. It was different than the previews and overall better. I suggest it to all and hope that you will be able to see the vivid reality that Kidd has painted with his film, P.S.
Grade: ***** out of *****
Rating:  -
I don't know what I was expecting when I picked up this film. I was impressed, primarily, by the cast list, having seen all but Topher Grace in action many times, and I know how talented and capable the entire ensemble is. But the huge talents of professionals like Lois Smith and Marcia Gay Harden are pretty much wasted here. What I got was your basic chick-flick, which, in itself, is fine, but so many of the scenes comprised little more than Linney and Grace making soulful goo-goo eyes at each other with a gratuitous steamy sex scene. The premise of the story is pretty well-used. (Remember "Chances Are," with Cybill Shepherd and Robert Downey?) This is a pithier version on the same theme and the only thing that saves the wreckage is the solid performances turned in by the woefully misused cast. Of course, I will devour anything with Linney in it so I can't say it was time or money ill-spent, but the vehicle, the script, and the over-the-top direction combine to make this a somewhat disappointing package.
Rating: -
p.s., based on a novel by Helen Schulman and adapted for the screen by Director Dylan Kidd, is a surprisingly good film that deals tangentially with the feasibility/possibility of reincarnation. If another go round like THE OTHER or the Shyamalan films is what you're expecting, then look elsewhere. This is more a story about falling in love and the past needs and memories such an event can surface.
Louise (Laura Linney in yet another sensitive, multifaceted, mesmerizing performance) is a 39 year old admissions worker for Columbia University, a divorced woman whose best friends are still her ex-husband Peter (Gabriel Byrne) and her old high school chum Missy (Marcia Gay Harden), and whose job it is to mail catalogues and respond to admission inquiries for the art department. It is in this last capacity that she encounters an application from a young man F. Scott Feinstadt (Topher Grace) whose name coincidentally happens to be the same as her first and unforgettable love in high school, a boy whose affections were stolen from her by Missy just prior to his accidental death.
Overstepping her menial bounds, Louise telephones F. Scott, makes an appointment with him for an 'interview', and on meeting him finds he not only bears the same name as her lost love, but also physically resembles him and paints like him. Louise throws caution to the wind and leaps at the chance to revive what seems to be a lost love affair. The much younger F. Scott reciprocates and the two begin what appears to be an impossible romance.
Louise is warned against her impetuous affair by Peter (who confesses an 'addiction' to her that throws Louise into insecure terror) and she turns to Missy (living in California but in need of breaking out of her claustrophobic marriage, a fact she relates to Louise in daily telephone conversations). Missy appears in New York, finds F. Scott, and once again is an intrusive obstruction to Louise's increasingly dependent love role with F.Scott. This triggers a big reality check on the whole chain of events and how that is resolved forms the ending of the film.
Added to the DVD are five 'deleted scenes' each of which is superb in writing and in acting and the movie would have been even better had the scenes been included. The actors are all terrific and the relationship examination between Louise and 'F. Scott' point out many fine questions about what constitutes love, is love between an older woman and a younger man viable, can we trust anyone when our eyes are clouded with need and desire, etc. It is a shame Laura Linney wasn't nominated for her work in this film as she is extraordinarily fine. Well worth a concentrated viewing. Grady Harp, February 2005
Rating:  -
Although the movie has some flaws, the actors in P.S. keep you interested in the characters, and you stay hooked from the time it starts until the credits. The movie was directed by Dylan Kidd, who also wrote the screenplay, and is based on the novel by Helen Schulman. It stars Laura Linney, who also starred in You Can Count on Me, as Louise who holds a position in admissions to the Art program at Columbia University. Linney plays the character in a very subtle way which adds to drawing the viewer into her world. She appears to have a good life with a good job, but at the same time her life seems to be lacking something. She is middle-aged, divorced, and has no love life. Her world is turned upside down when she receives an admissions request from a hopeful artist played by Topher Grace, of Traffic and That 70's Show, who has the same name, appearance, and artistic talent of Linney's first love in high school. You quickly learn that the high school love died and Louise never really got over him. From there, the movie focuses on Linnery's pursuit of this new artist and their quick romance.
Unfortunately this is where some of the movie's flaws begin to develop. Grace's character is never really fully explored nor is the character of the lost love he represents. The two quickly fall in love and there is no consideration for the consequences of that love. Also, Grace tends to come off as annoying instead of charming, and continues to act the same way in every role he takes. Other characters, such as the high school friend played by Marcia Gay Harden, Mystic River, and the ex-husband played by the great Gabriel Byrne become just side aspects of the plot. We learn Harden's character, now a married bored housewife, also had an a relationship with the dead high school artist, but not much more. Byrne admits to having an sexual addiction and cheating on Linney while they were married, but that isn't further explored. Paul Rudd plays Linney's brother, also a recovering addict, but he is more of a phone-in performance than a real character.
The movie does make up for its flaws with the solid performance by Linney who continues to impress with each role she takes. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a good romance or even a pretty good drama. It is slow and it does have some holes in the plot, but the performances more than make up for what it lacks.
The movie is sort of bare bones when it comes to special features. They consist of the theatrical trailer for the film, previews for Head In the Clouds and House of the Flying Daggers. It also has five deleted scenes that do a better job of adding to the relationship between Linney and Grace. They have optional commentary from the director. A couple could have been left on the cutting room floor, such as a pool game in the bar where Linney meets some of Grace's friends, but there are two that do a good job of showing the relationship taking form and exploring Linney's life.
Again, the movie isn't the greatest love story ever told, but it is definitely worth watching.
Rating:  -
I got a free pass to see this just a few months and was excited about it by just the cast alone, and though it wasn't a bad movie it never quite delivered on the premise that it was promising.
The whole movie the main character dates a young kid (Topher Grace) that looks and acts like her dead lover. So the question is, Why? Is he reincarnated? Duping her? Stragely this question is never answered. We have some great acting in the movie and some good character interplay but that's about it.
I'd like to know if they cut some stuff out of the movie and took the conclusion with it or if they just had a script that never followed through.
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