Love Letters

My wife and I did not realize that this movie was made in 1999 since we had never seen it come to theaters. Because we are fans of Laura Linney, we had an interest in viewing it. We were not disappointed and thoroughly enjoyed the acting and the story line which proved to be very engaging. This is a movie for thinking adults who love the theater and do not need for a movie to have stunts, special effects and noise. The movie's message is timeless and realistically represents situations many of our age group have encountered. The actors work very hard to keep the viewers interest in a setting that is quite challenging. Hollywood rarely takes risks but I'm glad they did on this movie.

I was staying in a hotel in Beijing and found only one English channel. This movie was on and I watched until the end.

My pillow was wet.

Most made for TV movies don't appeal to me. They are usually too dramatic. Especially the ones about someone with a terminal illness.They milk the sympathy as much as possible to the point where you can hardly wait for the sick person in question to hurry up and die. Sounds terrible, but they fill the entire three hours with as much sap as they possibly can.

Love Letters was NOT one of those movies. It was just a remarkably poignant movie about Love and friendship that pulls those heartstrings in a completely non-manipulative way.

It was surprisingly beautiful, but I never knew what it was called until now. I just remembered the guy from Wings.

I've searched for a few years and finally found it here.

Now if only I could see it again.

I stumbled across Love Letters on TV one morning and was immediately struck by the clever way in which its done. Re-reading all their old letters, delving into their past, reliving their history. How many of us havent done that? I was spellbound and stayed glued to the screen to the end. The film is so clever. It does stay in one place, rarely straying from the room, and some will find this boring, but have we lost all imagination that we have to have endless action and moving about to stay entertained? The story and the way the two characters relate to one another, weaving in and out of each others lives, is a masterpiece; and I am disappointed it never made it to the big screens (too boring hah?);- I would like to have bought it on video. (and DVD) I suppose in a sense it is like Steel Magnolias, but whereas that *can* be slow, and certainly sentimental, Love Letters, is sharp and unfussy. I only wish the years didnt pass by so quickly. Laura Linney is now my favourite actress, and I leap to record Love Letters each time it appears on TV (just in case!);- even the most unemotional of viewers will find something to appreciate.

This movie was very well done. The history of the life long affair and correspondence of Melissa and Andrew was involved and captured my attention from the start. The movie reminded me of the power of words in a relationship. It brought tears to my eyes by the end of movie. It was wonderful and I hope that it is released on video for purchase, as I forgot to start my VCR.

I saw this movie as a morning feature on private cable, and to inform myself I read the comments on IMDB, which do not serve the movie well. True, it is a bit quirky at times, which one can obviously trace back to it being made for cable, but all in all it was damn capturing and very innovative. The way the whole love- and life story of the two very different characters unfolds in the single room of a private office, is quite unusual and striking at times. Laura Linney, one of the best and most subtle actresses working at the moment, portrays all the guilt and shame and anger of a life gone awry, of pain drenched in alcohol, while Steven Weber, a little pale next to her boosting energy, does quite well in showing a man who has to keep his life in control, even though his heart cries out for his life-long best friend and the love of his life. I mean, this really is not a waste of time! And its not like watching a play on TV, its like watching a relationship, unfolding in all its little twists and turns and complications, changing and dwindling in time. Absolutely recommendable.