Cartas de Amor

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 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.

This movie was so intriguing from the moment I began to watch it, as I lay in bed trying to fall asleep, that I could not close my eyes. The method used in telling this story was new and unusual and it grabbed me from the start, and I could not turn it off. I was captivated. I wanted to see how it all came about and where it would end. I began to wonder how many others would relate to this story especially with the advent of email letters. I know there are those who live by and are attached to another's consistent words. It certainly hit home to me as to how a love can be so far removed from our own daily life, and how easy we can eliminate those you probably should have loved. Who would have thought such diverse emotions would have accompanied this movie. I have always enjoyed Laura Linney, but this movie made her a favorite for me, as well as Steven Weber. Their acting was superb. To me the movie was intense, very touching, and so eloquently done that I did not want it to end.

This is a charming film. Rather than attempting to dazzle its audience with special effects, Love Letters chooses to delve into the intricate relationship between two life-long friends and lovers (Andy and Melissa). At the same time, the script allows for an analysis of interpersonal relationships. How do our parents shape us? What part do our circumstances ultimately play in how our lives proceed? How much should one sacrifice for love? And how strong can love be?

Stanley Donen did a beautiful job of making a movie that never leaves one room span an entire world of emotions. Although there are flashbacks into different parts of the characters' lives, the true action of the movie never leaves Andy's home library. Donen peppers his set with details that are revealed throughout the course of the film. Indeed, a library seems the only possible setting once one realizes the importance of words in this film. Witty and heart-wrenching, Love Letters is a fabulous text that has been well-rendered on the small screen.

On a less critical note, I adored this movie. Now I'm in search of a copy of the play. I'd like to compare how the screenplay differed from the original play.