The Face of Love

Stars Annette Bening as a widow who grieves for her dead husband (Ed Harris). We briefly see them as a happy couple vacationing in Mexico and then he dies. Flash forward 5 years and she's settled into her dull life until one day she visits a museum. And there she spies a dead ringer for her dead husband (Harris again). She's jarred from her fugue state and before she knows it she's back at the museum on a daily basis, hoping to catch a glimpse of the look-alike.

The story then takes on a journey not unlike that in VERTIGO, whereby Bening stalks and befriends Harris and tries to re-create him in the manner of her dead husband. As she descends more and more into this fantasy, she gets derailed by her grown daughter and a nosy neighbor. How can she explain this? How can they accept this? She flees to Mexico with Harris but is undone by an old photograph.

The VERTIGO connection is deliberate and even the music echoes Bernard Herrmann's. Had never heard of this film, but it was a good find.

Overall I loved this movie. Annette Bening is so poised and a natural who makes the story believable. Ed Harris does a decent job as well. For the most part it is a drama but there were some funny parts in it too. Yes the story is a bit far-fetched but for me it worked and it left me thinking which is always a good thing. There are themes of love, loss, grief, healing, second chances and renewal of lost passion. Loved the house she lived in! The use of artistry served as a wonderful backdrop for their relationship. I watched this twice and really enjoyed it. So good to see Annette Bening again! I wish she made more movies. Give this movie a chance. My mom liked it too.

Along with 'The Angriest Man In Brooklin' this is an example of a film that Robin Williams made late in his life that was released straight to DVD (in the UK at least).

I think it is one that is well worth seeking out though because although Robin only plays a supporting role, he says so much through his lovely characterisation and facial expressions that you really believe in his character of Roger.

Annette Benning and Ed Harris are the ones that really carry the film though and although the ending is perhaps a little rushed, the rest of the film is an engaging and interesting love story.

So overall although the cover of the DVD (I can only vouch for the UK edition) will lead you to believe that Robin Williams is in it a lot more than he is, the film itself is well worth watching.

I found the premise interesting but was quite surprised at just how engaging the film was. Without giving anything away, be prepared to be drawn into the anticipation in this film. Great cast, excellent acting and kudos to the director as he kept Bening right on point with how she looked at Ed Harris...you could really feel the depth of her gaze. Don't be put off by the film warnings as they were so minimal compared with most films online today and that made this film so refreshing to watch.

The Face of Love (2013)

There is a terrific movie in here somewhere, but it misses on several subtle points here and there and ends up being good, totally watchable, and a nice view on Ed Harris (as Tom) and Annette Bening (as Nikki), the leading actors.

At its best, the movie dug into the nature of mourning and loss, and in love. The two main actors were struggling with losses, each, and ran into each other and some confused sparks flew. But the hook to the movie, and the problem really, is a quirk. Nikki sees Tom and he looks exactly like her dead husband (Garrett). So she has a weird attachment to him, and leads him on (a little like Vertigo in the second half). It's a fun idea, but it doesn't quite fly.

So really the movie follows this couple in their 50s falling in love. With the constant worry that the woman's psychosis will screw things up. You'll have to see. Warm, with perturbations.

Oh, and Robins Williams has one of his last roles here. He's nice and sympathetic, and maybe not quite enough for the role, which is the third leg to the whole thing in theory.