P.S. (2004)

Spoiler Alert

When I read on the internet that the Dylan Kidd directed fable "p.s." wasn't entirely true to the Helen Schulman novel of the same name I wasn't pleased. Not just because we didn't get "our" F. Scott wrapped in a towel. (or aka page 76). Please, I'm not that shallow. "p.s." to me is a coming of age film not just for the thirty something Louise Harrington ("Love Actually", "Kinsey") but also the young and hip F. Scott Feinstadt (played winningly by Topher Grace). Dylan Kidd should be commended here. Even when scenes from the book were changed. Such as: Louise and F. Scott's conversation towards the end of the film. In the novel, he cut his foot and if I'm not mistaken it was daytime. In the movie there is no cut and it's night. And the Chinatown date was omitted for an ordinary local sports bar setting. Marcia Gay Harden ("Mystic River", "Mona Lisa Smile") is absolutely delicious as Missy. I like how in the beginning you only hear Missy's voice during mostly self-serving telephone conversations to her supposed best friend since high school Louise. It is clear that Louise is half oblivious and jealous of Missy-who has good hair days and despite being married with kids wants to screw anything with a dick. Topher Grace is fabulous as F. Scott Feinstadt,the man with the eerily similar name, the face, and the artist persona. He shows all the sides of F. Scott (despite having several of pages of the novels dialog deleted!) from his humorous phone call with Louise-who sets up the mock interview because she wants to see this F. Scott face to face. From the stained and holed artists "uniform". To his amazement of his first time with Louise. Which has to be the most graphic non-graphic sex scene ever put on film. It was almost uncomfortable watching on the second theater viewing. (and I'm certainly no prude.) His hurt and confusion over the first Scott and Louise's ex- husband Peter (the former who died in a tragic car accident). He broke up with Louise in high school and dated Missy before he died. So, Louise settles for a ten-year marriage with her older college professor. To his lashing out of the ex when he thinks F. Scott is someone to call the cops over. If "Traffic" proved that Topher is more than Eric Forman on FOX' "That '70s Show", then "p.s." proves he can handle a movie on his own. And although in interviews an admission about preferring ensemble pieces can be found. Make no mistake, if Topher Grace gets to headline a movie you will be in for a treat. What was blah in Schulman's novel, but is great in the film and might go overlooked outside of his regular fan base is Paul Rudd who is great as Louise's out of rehab brother and keeper of Peter's secrets, Sammy. Louise shouldn't have been less jealous of the pies and things their mom (Lois Smith) bakes for him. Her mother loves them both. And I agree with Sammy's quote: The universe doesn't care. Louise like in the novel shines when she gets to be assertive and is at her worst when she's an insecure, jealous mess. There's a little of that Louise insecurity in all of us. Which is what makes you want to slap her and say, "snap out of it!" Even Missy showed that she had a somewhat of a heart and told her to go and make it right. Even if I don't see their friendship as real and true. I'd call them obligatory Christmas card list, party attendees, rather than frien

Fmovies: all the elements - casting, acting, lighting, sound, photography, costumes, locations, writing, you name it, really come together in this Dylan Kidd film.

the writing in particular and the story from the novel tell a nuanced, complex yet not overly layered movie. the acting is simply superb - laura linney wows again with her completely truthful and complete portrayal, and topher surprisingly handles drama as well as comedy and everything in between. Gabriel Byrne, Paul Rudd and the actress playing the mother (sorry, can't remember her name but she's perfectly cast!) all are excellent. Marcia gay harden's character draws you in - watching her abhorrent sad character is like not being able to turn away from the plastic surgery reality shows - awful but fascinating!

i really enjoyed this film - there are some confusing moments, but i surrendered myself to the story, trusting that it would unfold in time and it did. hopefully laura linney will get the Oscar nod that she deserves, instead of another star doing mediocre 'already seen that' work.

Topher Grace steals the show in this movie...he really owns the screen and has a confident charm to him that you will see for years to come. I'm a HUGE Laura Linney fan, and this is a fine performance for her, but nothing you haven't seen before, as you grow to expect brilliance from her. The acting was fine all around, but I do agree the second half of the movie starts to drag and I think the relationship between Linney and Marcia Gay Harden takes the movie off track...it's not appealing. It's almost hard to buy the Gay Harden character all together.

Good Indie flick...a definite rental. This flick has more artistic value to it than Roger Dodger...more to it, but not as enjoyable interesting enough.

6.5/10

P.S. fmovies. I think Laura Linney is an exceptional actress. I rented this movie based on her ability to carry a plot. The plot synopsis sounded like it had a bit of the supernatural, which I tend not to like, but I thought the acting may be able to overcome a marginal plot line.

As it turns out, I think the synopsis overstates the reincarnation angle. It's really about relationships; the realism of adult relationships and the idealism of adolescent relationships. It's also about how some people struggle to overcome the emotional immaturity of their teens. It's about rivalry; love found and love stolen, but it does so in a way that isn't cliché.

The characters have a nice arc to them. Laura Linney's acting was up to my very high expectations. Gabriel Byrne turns in a solid supporting performance. Topher Grace also does an OK job, but seeing him work next to actors of greater stature, the contrast was evident.

If you enjoy character-driven plots, with good acting and few clichés, then you will enjoy this movie as much as I did.

P.S. (2004) *** Laura Linney, Topher Grace, Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, Lois Smith, Paul Rudd. (Dir: Dylan Kidd) Familiar Face of Love Past What would you make of a supreme case of déjà vu in the form of someone reminding you of your first – and only – true love? That's the question that troubles 39 year old Columbia Art School admissions officer Louise Harrington (Linney making a truly complex role seem so natural) an unhappy with life divorcée who stumbles upon one last letter of her daily sorting with the return address of an F. Scott Feinstadt, which triggers her recollection of her late high school boyfriend with virtually the same moniker.

Provoked to her curiosity she calls the applicant on the phone and as a ploy sets up an interview where with baited breath she must face the inevitable: it may really be her reincarnated love nearly 20 years past.

Feinstadt (Grace proving to be his generation's Tom Hanks) is an easy-going very comfortable in his old skin type who plunks down to the proceedings unaware of the special needs scrutiny he's experiencing as Louise is overcome by how uncanny he is and clumsily asks him out leading to a frankly adult encounter – they have sex back at her apartment – which unleashes a newly unbridled Louise to accept the unbelievable and the two begin to fall for one another, only with Louise on guard with the weird encounter giving her pause to reflect upon the failure of her marriage to her best friend Peter (the underplayed rumpled Byrne) who she discovers after the fact that he had cheated on her during their time together leading her to believe her entire life has been a lie. On top of this her only confidantes – her retired caring mother (Smith) and her girlhood pal (and competition) Missy Goldberg (Harden) who lives on the West Coast, married with children and equally miserable- have grown weary of her doldrums. Adding to the mix is her younger ne'er-do-well brother Sammy fresh out of rehab and seemingly up to his old tricks.

Director Kidd, who helmed the indie gem 'ROGER DODGER', adapted the story by Helen Schulman's novel, has his work cut out for him in equalizing the main character's plight and the budding love affair into a solid relationship without it becoming a Lifetime Original Movie which at times it teeters into, yet injecting it with some humor and heart. But the solid acting of Linney – who I admit has taken some time to admit she's a fine actress – and surprising chops of Grace raise the level from a one-note What If scenario to a sweet, sexy romance meant to be. Linney's Louise feels like a second cousin to her breakthrough role in 'YOU CAN COUNT ON ME' in the sense that both women are at an emotional crossroads in their lives that could lead to even more dire lanes of despair but the chosen path they endeavor in fact strengthens them with newfound confidence and self-worth. Don't we all aspire to just that?

p.s.(lower case!) is the title of an fine independent film that casts Laura Linney as a thirty-something Columbia University School of Fine Arts admissions officer who gets into a relationship with an admissions candidate played by Topher Grace, who is 15 or so years younger than she is. Their days together and the complications following make up this film. There is an ex-husband, her mother on Long Island, her difficult brother and the best friend from California (a show-stopper performance by Marcia Gay Hardin)--all in there to complicate the story. The film is fun, a good story, well-acted, a great star-turn by Laura Linney and more proof that Dylan Kidd is a fine director.

Special note should be made of Laura Linney and the exceptional nuances she brings to the character she plays. She shows that she has one of the best acting abilities out there today--a kind of intuitive ability to inhabit a role from the inside and be free with it. Her chemistry with Topher Grace was special, though it must be said that some of this should be credited to his abilities and auger well for his future in film.

Any questions about Laura Linney, please return to You Can Count On Me and see it or see it again! Okay?