secondtake
The Thing Called Love (1993)Whatever happened to Peter Bogdanovich? He directed several really deeply felt, nostalgia filled, honest films in the late 60s early 70s. But he had some duds, too, and that seems to be his long term groove, as if he was more comfortable loving movies (he's a buff, an historian, an insider critic) than making them. This one has the stuff for a heart-tugging drama filled with Americana, but it is slow, downright clumsy at times, and improbable.The latter is fine, of course--it's a fiction movie--but it wants to seem real, too, not fantastic. It depends too much on pretty people, so that's false, but these pretty people are trying to make it in Nashville as singer-songwriters, which is a fantasy after all, so who knows? The marriage in the mini-super market is pretty great, I have to admit.What works best, oddly enough (but no surprise), is Sandra Bullock, who plays her part with conviction. The music is supposed to be amateur and downright bad, but it's not bad enough to laugh at (and not good enough to enjoy). A bad spot in the middle. But then there's River Phoenix. Who knew he could actually play? Ah, but some plot is in order, something beyond the obvious. It's supposed to be a dream come true or something, but it just holds no water. If you love country music, there's something here, the general scene, the background, but that's not enough.
bkoganbing
One of River Phoenix's last film roles was as part of a quartet of performer/songwriters looking to get a break in country music in Nashville. The rest of the quartet in The Thing Called Love is Samantha Mathis, Sandra Bullock, and Dermpt Mulroney. The whole thing kind of reminds me a little bit of Stage Door in the hopes and dreams and the camaraderie shared among the hopefuls.In the two hour running time of the film there are almost 20 musical numbers, so many the plot almost gets in the way. When the quartet isn't singing, they're acting out the usual angst romantic and professional that are common to the young. And several country stars do some musical bits here, chiefly Tricia Yearwood who sings her hit, She's In Love With The Boy.Tricia also figures into the plot when Mulroney and Mathis break into Yearwood's car in order to leave a cassette tape of Mulroney's latest song. It sounds like something out of I Love Lucy and it all works out in the Lucy manner with Yearwood being a good sport about it. In real life, those two would have been in court with Yearwood taking a restraining order out.The plot is pedestrian, but the music is nice, especially if you are a country and western fan.
tenthousandtattoos
I first watched this movie as a struggling writer myself and so naturally it SPOKE right to me. I used to do exactly that - traipse around in the middle of the night looking for all night coffee places and bars where I could sit and write. Come to think of it, I was having some girl-troubles at that point in my life too, so this movie became somewhat of a comfort for me.Just watched it again last night with a friend who is struggling to break into the music biz, and it spoke volumes to her too. That's what is great about this film for non-country music fans like myself and my friend-it deals with that "struggling artist" thing really well.Elvis fans may like it too as there's not a bad on-going tribute to the King throughout the film.It is also interesting to see River Phoenix's last completed role. He is obviously wasted in a few scenes of the movie...but the guy's got OBVIOUS musical talent, and it makes up for any slurred lines, which are kind of in character anyway, I thought.The country music chosen for the film is not that "country"...if u know what I mean, they've chosen a really nice selection. It's a good date movie, especially if you're a struggling artist...trust me, it'll speak to you.And last but not least, River Phoenix looks nice for the girls, and for us guys, c'mon, tell me Samantha Mathis doesn't look cute in that denim jacket, short skirt and cow-girl boots... And have a laugh at Sandra Bullock in a "one-sy". I did.Definitely not for everyone, but worth a look if you don't mind the odd "nice" movie sprinkled among the others.
scorpianchick20
I feel as though this movie was very good. I can watch this movie over and over again. I would recommend this to anyone. I love how the movie deals with country music stars such as K.T Oslin. I always try to watch this movie when it is on the TV. It seems to me that would have been a fun movie to be in. I am a huge country music lover. So this movie was perfect for me. I definitely give this 10 stars because I thought it was very good. I believe it is more of a chick flick but some guys may still like it. It is cute, funny and romantic all at the same time. I tell all my neighbors about this movie and now they want to see it too. I thought River Phoenix did a excellent job along with the rest of the cast.
AD
