Griffin & Phoenix

I have to admit that I am somewhat biased about this film. I have an incurable form of leukemia and I found this film so touching. Everyone deals with this stuff differently and I really resounded with how the 2 leads dealt with this part of their life. The film was appropriately funny in spots and at the same time, dealt honestly with the other side of that coin. Well done. Great casting, chemistry and writing.

First, I want a DVD or the chance to tape this movie. Two actors that are not "super" stars but both very capable and respected. It's a story about life, not death. Amanda Peet and Dermot Mulroney will make you laugh and break your heart. Have the big box of tissue ready, but you'll be a better person for having watched it. The movie hooked me in the first five minutes. I couldn't stop watching, the chemistry just felt so real between the two of them. When I was in high school I read a short story written by a student, "How High the Moon". I know no one knows it but this story is like that. You think no one else in this world understands what you are thinking right at this moment or what you are going through and you couldn't be more wrong. I only saw it this afternoon and here I am writing my thoughts on it. If you haven't seen it make every effort to. If you're the type that doesn't cry at a movie guess what, there is a first time for everything.

Everyone knows someone like this, they face something awful and turn out better people because of tragedy and not triumph. I am not talking about people you are out of control, but rather about people who are just what they present. I love the male lead in this role because he is someone who is putting himself aside to be there for this amazing woman. Right away, you might think that two people meeting under these circumstances is contrived. But the human probability of the story is very high, and I wonder it this kind of plot doesn't help people to think about the reality of their lives, how we might treat each other and feel about the time that we have had to live. I challenge you to watch this to decide.

This movie needs more advertising.

I feel that this movie has not gotten the credit it deserves. I saw it at the Toronto film festival and was blown away by its thoughtful plot and realism. It's character relationship is unmatched in many films I see today and its capacity to deal with cancer in a real and supportive fashion should be commended. This is a love story of our era and one that all should see.

The director was able to take a difficult subject and turn it into a light hearted, real story that allowed the audience to both feel the characters frustration, upset and sorrow as well as laugh and understand their humanity.

Amanda

I enjoyed this movie a lot. I don't have much to add about the movie itself which other reviewers haven't covered already; I'm doing a review only because of the polarity of the existing reviews. Most are 8-10 stars; a few are 1 star. Nothing much in between. Well...

There are a few points where we can criticize the plot or the editing for not showing this or that. OK. If that bothers you then you should ding it a point or two for those failures. However, it's absurd to rate this a 1/10 for that. The reviews saying this is the worst rom-com ever, etc., are nonsense. The characters, however incomplete their depiction might be within what is in this film, are warm and sympathetic -- and flawed. Yes, they are imperfect people, and some of their own choices have created some of their problems. Perhaps the movie should have spent more time pointing that out and making it a more central element of the storytelling? You think that would make it a good film, from 1 star to... what? Mulroney and Peet give excellent performances here and they have good on-screen chemistry. The things which are shown tell a story, and it's a story worth seeing. It's not the whole story of either of their lives, but hello, this is one movie. Get real.

I don't think "Griffin and Phoenix" quite rates the 10 that many are giving it, because it does have a few flaws, but IMO those flaws are secondary to the high quality of what is shown and of what we feel with these two suffering lovers. There is a lot of success here. Don't let the boo-birds distract you from the treasure.

I'll close by saying that I've been a fan of Amanda Peet for a long time, and she's as good here as in anything I've seen from her. Those beautiful eyes of hers are so expressive; she doesn't have to work too hard to hook me in, but it's nice when she does anyway. :-)