Playing by Heart

Plot

Among the characters are an older couple about to renew their wedding vows (Sean Connery and Gena Rowlands); a woman (Gillian Anderson) who accepts a date from a stranger (Jon Stewart); a gay man dying of AIDS (Jay Mohr) and his mother (Ellen Burstyn) who has struggled to accept him; two young people who meet in a nightclub (Ryan Phillippe and Angelina Jolie); a couple having an affair (Anthony Edwards and Madeleine Stowe) and a man (Dennis Quaid) who tells his tragic life story to a woman he meets in a bar (Patricia Clarkson), but seems to have a strange connection to another mysterious woman. As the film continues and the stories evolve, the connections between the characters become evident.

Kellie Waymire, Nastassja Kinski, Alec Mapa, Amanda Peet and Michael Emerson also have roles in the film.

Cast

Reception

Playing by Heart received mixed to positive reviews from critics and currently holds a 60% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 53 reviews. The consensus summarizes: "It's overly talky, but Playing by Heart benefits from witty insights into modern relationships and strong performances from an esteemed cast."