P.S. [DVD]

I liked this movie a lot. Laura Linney is just a grade A actress, with such depth in her face. I liked how the story wasn't predictable, wasn't made up of some grandiose romantic notion, but just flowed along like normal life, where things are a little odd and awkward but have a lot of heart if you let them. I liked Louise's character - a child-free woman of 39, working at Columbia U. (admissions? instructor? Wasn't sure). The way she followed her sexuality, the way she was very herself, even though she was totally imperfect, was super enjoyable to watch. The only criticism I have, and it's really a subjective thing, is that I felt her family was really hard to take, and it was confusing how she was somehow blamed for everything, even her ex-husband's issues. Perhaps the director wanted there to be issues there, and complex relationships, but I think it could have been softer for her, more love in her life. Either that, or fleshed out those relationships more. It might have filled out the setting, to enrich those characters. I do recommend this movie, it was my second time watching it.

On paper, Kidd's earlier film Roger Dodger, about a snide Lothario (played to Oscar quality by Campbell Scott) and his attempts to "mentor" his nephew, seems the lesser of P.S., about an August/ April romance between an admissions officer at a Columbia art department and a young applicant who stuns her by looking like an old departed boyfriend. But Roger Dodger feels tight, finished, and driven by a wild logic of its own, while P.S. is riddled with incompletenesses. Laura Linney is such a fine and affecting actress that she could convince me she had erotic chemistry with a bookcase, but despite her talents, the alleged electricity between her character and her young paramour in P.S., played by Topher Grace, required frequent suspensions of my disbelief. Grace here has such a hard time leaving his arch, "That 70s Show" schtick behind that he plays this film as though it were a bizarre dream sequence from his TV program. He often looks impatient and half-in-character, as if he expects Laura Propane, his redheaded gal pal from the TV show, to rustle him awake so he can say, "That was the weirdest dream" and proceed in the comfortable universe of avocado and harvest gold situation comedy. Also, the script for this film is half-baked. Many oddities of character and plot, in addition to abrupt and mechanical statements of intentions by characters throughout the film, suggest an outline rather than a finished screenplay. Nonetheless, Linney gives a beautiful performance and there are still many things to like along this film's awkward way.

It's about identifying with the main character and coming to terms with the fact that life is on us and us alone. Your life is what you make of it, it's not dependent on what someone else thinks, does, or doesn't do to you or for you. It's about lessons being cut short, but therein lies the lesson itself. It's about taking responsibility for your own actions and how they impact another person. It was an average movie, yet an insightful movie if you're open to self reflection.

I really enjoyed everything about "P.S." I am flummoxed by the reviews that describe this film as a "dark comedy" or call it "disgusting" or only worth a negative star rating if one was possible. It was none of those things for me. Rather it was a rich, well-told story of how a small group of 30 or 40-something adults muddle through an extraordinary situation. "P.S." has all the requisites for a good film: a talented cast, Laura Linney, Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden; a mysterious premise; dialog that rings true; good cinematography and music score and a plot twist or two on the way to a satisfying ending. The weak link for me in "P.S." was Topher Grace as character F. Scott. His acting was not necessarily bad. It could have been the way his character was scripted or directed, or perhaps his performance could have been simply overshadowed by the intense Laura Linney. Semi spoiler. As I mentioned in the headline: a doppelganger of a deceased high school boyfriend enters the life of his recently divorced girlfriend twenty years later.

It was ok. Fascinating premise but didn't go anywhere. Would have actually been a great idea for some sic fi plot but instead it was really nothing more than, "oh this young man looks like someone I use to know." One of those movies you wish they had just done more with. Of course the good side of that is it gives you a lot to think about, as in where all you might have developed the plot line further. Good casting. The sex scene made me uncomfortable, but I don't like that kind of stuff in a movie anyway. I think it is gratuitous to grab a buck (sex sells). I feel like a perv peeping Tom when I see sex scenes in a movie. I prefer clean, wholesome movies and that is more in line with my faith. Just reporting this in the event that others would like to be forewarned if they have similar preferences.

Love Laura Linney. Great actress. But the story is not believable. And, of course,it had no ending or future. An admissions directort doesn't dress like that wheninterviewing a student for the first time. A student doesn't come dressed like that.A student doesn't call the Admissions director by her first name.I get the idea of the story. It could have beeen more interesting and realistic, but it wasn't.

is Fran really the ex-dead boyfrrend? Isnt he too young to be? If I were Louise I'd have goneback to her husband who is obviously handling his sex addiction and way better looking than the Fran kid.Recommend.

very good

とにかく私の好きなシチュエーション満載!ローラ・リニーはいつも知的な役が多いのですが、今回は素顔の泣き顔が可愛らしかったです。でもやはり特筆すべきはトファー・グレイス様。年上の相手にも知性を持っての接し方がとても素敵なのでした。年下の男の子との恋を描いた映画の中で上位ランキングに必ず入る作品です。

Terrible movie dont waiste your money