Por Amor

PERSONAL EFFECTS is a solid little film written by director David Hollander and the fine novelist Rick Moody. The premise is a study of how the traumatic deaths of people affect those left behind. The story is well told, allows the audience to explore the group therapy approach offered to families of violently killed people - the various means of responding to loss, the differing reactions from those who cannot let go of the hate they have for losing a loved one, and introduces an interesting concept of having one of the characters who narrates the film be a deaf mute young man!

Gloria (Kathy Bates) is the mother of twins - the girl was been brutalized and murdered and the boy Andrew (Ashton Kuchter) has left his career as a wrestler to return to the scene of the crime to mourn his sister and to demand the perpetrator be convicted and imprisoned: his career has been put on hold and he ekes out a living dressed as a chicken for a fast food chicken restaurant. During the ongoing twin's trial, Andrew meets Linda (Michelle Pfeiffer) whose alcoholic husband has been killed and she is left to support her teenage deaf mute son Clay (Spencer Hudson). Through series of grieving meetings and periods of isolation on the part of each of the characters, each finds ways to support the other and a love affair develops between the older Linda and the younger Andrew as he agrees to accompany her to her various weddings for which she serves a planner. How these characters comes to grips with resolution of their losses is well tied together by film's end.

This is not a great movie, but the performances by the leads are quite fine. This is a movie with a message, one that delves into territory with which many are not familiar, and for that reason alone it is well worth watching. Grady Harp

This movie was well written and the acting was far beyond my expectations.

Not that the whole cast isn't already great, but Ashton K was really much better than I expected him to be at acting without words... I'm used to enjoying comedy and far out roles for him...but his take on an ordinary character with problems was unexpectedly deep and rang true.

The ending and the overall message that the movie left was also a pleasant surprise. I first thought this movie was going to be a study in the gloom of sudden loss. I think viewers will smile if they watch thru to the last frame ...there's a nice little twist if you look close.

I recently viewed this movie and found it to very well acted and the story line to be a bit different from the normal everyday run of the mill Holleywood knock off film with just a different twist. More of a testament to how people can change one another's lives for the better just by being there for each other. It's about coming to terms with one's own thoughts and hatred and grieving for the loss of a loved one and then moving on with your life. It's about how love can bridge the gaps of time to bring two people together even in the most solemn of times. I would have to say that this is definitely one of the better films that I have seen for awhile. Very worth the time to watch.

Stars ashton kutcher and and michelle pfeiffer. Younger man, older cougar. And the cougar's deaf son. They have both recently lost family members, so they at least have that in common. They are both still pretty messed up emotionally, so they lean on each other. Co-stars kathy bates and spencer hudson. It feels like someone's actual life story, but it's pretty good. Gets quite serious. Directed by david hollander. Appears to be his first full length director debut. Based on a short story by rick moody. One of his two projects turned into film.

I have to admit, I started with a prejudice against Ashton Kutcher. I should have learned from my initial unsubstantiated dislike of Brad Pitt. He is one of those handsome young men whose movie credentials haven't been impressive. I wonder if perhaps that stems from lack of opportunity. I see a film like this as a transitional one where we can see his acting ability. He does a nice job with the angst and anger brought about by the utter unfairness of life. Bad things happen and justice isn't done and we shouldn't pass judgment on a life if we don't have some real knowledge of that person. I liked the chemistry between the two leads. The relationship with the deaf son was a bit of a reach. There's no reason they communicated so badly. There is written speech, lip reading, and other forms of communication; even the most basic elements of sign language. It makes Kutcher's character seem rather shallow to think that he would spend so much time with this boy and still not literally understand him. Things do get a bit contrived at the end (I won't spoil it), but if you want to take away a single thing from this film. realize the pain that is life and the possibilities that those painful things can hand you.