I was so surprised to learn that this movie literally went straight to cable, and only achieved one tiny award for a small supporting actor role. Whatever happened to it? Why hasn't it recieved more public exposure? Would a re-release be a good idea?
I would by far rate it as the best movie I've seen this year, miles more appealing than overrated movies that are trying too hard, such as The Fountain for instance.
I totally agree. I can't get enough of this movie. I have it on TIVO and watch it all of the time. The story is so moving and the acting is so authentic, that I almost forget that Griffin and Phoenix are characters, not real people. I heard that the DVD may be available in May, 2007. I've been checking on Gold Circle Films' website and the release date just says "coming soon". I hope the DVD comes out around May, because I am eager to see the deleted scenes. Glad to hear there are others out there still enjoying and pulling for this movie.
do you guys work for the produciton company or something? Who has ever heard of thil film?
shareNo, I'm a university student:)
I "heard of" this film when i was browsing the work of Amanda Peet, wanting to see more of her acting after watching the "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" series and "Igby Goes Down".
There's a lot of crap in that list, that's for sure.
do you guys work for the produciton company or something? Who has ever heard of thil film?
I know this dates me but I remember as a young boy seeing the original on TV with Peter Falk and Jill Clayburgh. Please no spoilers but I hope in the remake they don't mess with the ending.
No, I'm just a big Dermot Mulroney fan and therefore, I watch everything I can with him in it. This movie was on Lifetime a few times and will be shown again on May 18th at 2pm. Maybe you can catch-it and compare the ending with the original. The DVD is also for sale through barnes&noble.com.
shareFaith - did the scene where he first kisses her on the street just get to you, or what?
The movie was so well acted and such a great story. I am so surprised this went straight to cable. I saw it then and will buy the DVD now.
JoAnn
***Spoiler***
JoAnn - that is a great scene! I swear he could teach a Master's class in kissing. I also love the scene towards the end, when they are in bed together (before Phoenix goes to the hospital) and Griffin tells her that he likes her as well as loves her. I cry almost everytime I watch it.
I am hoping the DVD will have some deleted scenes, because I cannot get enough of Griffin and Phoenix.
Faith
This title will be released on DVD 9/11/2007
I too was surprised I only found out about it via the net and some bittorrent channel. I've just seen it yesterday evening, and it's one of the best love-stories I've ever seen portrayed on film, if not the best one.
Even if some aspects are not something I can relate with (I'm not dying anytime soon, I hope), the acting had me flabbergasted in how true to life it was. Brilliantly performed by both of them, really outstanding. And I agree, this is one of the most grabbing movies I've seen in a long time.
what a lovely movie.. one of the best love stories iv seen in years!
I didn't actually know this movie was rare. My mum was given a pirated copy of the DVD and we watched it and cried together. Until I came here I didn't know it wasn't really big.
Don't judge me, Jesus says not to!
My wife and I just saw it for the first time last night, and I must say I am flabbergasted how both of us feel so completely different from those posting in this board. We both equally felt this was a badly-acted, very unrealistic portrayal of a love story, with a weak, unsatisfying script and no chemistry between between the leads. There is almost no development of their relationship or what draws them together. Mulroney seems half asleep through the beginning, no sense that he is someone in the grip of very bad news. Those are only two specific criticisms, I could mention many more. So, in answer to the question that starts these posts, it looks and feels like a well-intentioned story that does not have the right tools to make it standout or masterful enough to have a large critical appeal, so it gets sold to TV and written off as a loss. Obviously, a lot of very bad movies are out in theaters making money, but they appeal to a specific demographic who doesn't care, as long as it has enough action, or gore, or T & A, or broad humor. The crowds that see those films would never go to this flick to begin with.
shareIt's a small movie that probably plays better on tv. Of course the original was a tv movie.
shareThe movie, now on DVD, is very well acted; the weaknesses are actually in the script which is a tad unbelieveable at times. Nonetheless the acting and chemistry are on a very high level. Dermot Mulroney is nuanced and subtle therefore his relaxed style is occasionally mistaken for empty or stiff. Nothing could be further from the truth. He is extremely real and moving as an actor. Even the critcs that blasted the script, director, and movie as a whole, gave strong praise to the two leads. Well deserved indeed because they save the movie IMO and make up for any other weaknesses, lifting the entire viewing experience to dowright lovely, in fact.
I have watched this film numerous times and it gets better each time. Every movie should be watched more than once, just like a song must be repeated to be understood.
I live in new zealand and also work in a video shop and we only got Griffin & Phoenix in, and it can't have been a very big release. we only got 4 coppies of it but a great movie, i cryed so much in it.
shareWow Crazy casey. I'm in NZ as well and I just rented this movie out because I'm a huge Dermot Mulroney fan and I cried for ages after the movie finished. It hit a few raw moments for me in my own life and I was so moved by it.
Mulroney= Amazingly talented and underrated actor. Also the fact that I find him insanely gorgeous in that distingished kinda way really helps too.
Amanda Peet surprised me as well with how good she was int he movie. The scene with him int he shower and she finds the books, omg I had to go back and watch it again because I was crying so much through out the whole bit and the following bit on the street.