Living Out Loud (1998)
When Holly Hunter’s husband, Martin Donovan, admits to having an affair, they get a divorce. Holly looks for a fresh start, but she gets to keep the apartment. She’s understandably upset about her failed marriage, but her constant internal monologue during the first five minutes is really irritating. When she fantasizes about jumping out the window because she’s alone at night, and when she feels personally rejected because a lounge singer doesn’t engage her in conversation after a mere compliment, it’s clear she has real problems. This is not a woman to look up to: this is just a very lonely, emotionally problematic woman. She takes a wrong turn on the way to the ladies’ room and gets pulled into a kiss by a total stranger, who was expecting his married lover instead. It’s supposed to be a poignant scene of how two lonely souls bond, but I’ve never identified with that type of loneliness. To me, holding a complete stranger just to feel warm contact means you need therapy.
Besides Holly’s lousy personality, there’s two silver linings in the movie. Danny DeVito plays a compulsive gambler with true sorrow in his life. He accepts a job as a night-shift elevator man in Holly Hunter’s building, and soon they grow close through late-night talks. On paper, his character isn’t very fleshed out (and neither is Holly’s), but on the screen, he’s created a very realistic man. Gambling is a desperate attempt for a quick high, and (some would argue) so is falling in love. When he falls for Holly, it’s clear he’s the type of man who likes the euphoria. She’s not his one-and-only, but he feels this current passion as strongly as he does with every other in the past.
The other silver lining (and the reason I rented this movie) is Queen Latifah. She isn’t given much to do besides sing a few songs (she plays the nightclub singer) and look fantastic, but she does both of those tasks very well. What a knockout! I kept thinking Holly Hunter was going to find romance with Queenie instead – and I wouldn’t have blamed her. She looks beautiful!
This one’s a bit quirky, so make sure you like typically New York movies before you rent it. If you don’t know what I mean, you might not be ready for it. If you liked Happy Thank You More Please, you’ll love this one. I’m not one for movies about “finding yourself,” but if you do, check this one out!
More Queen Latifah movies here!
Besides Holly’s lousy personality, there’s two silver linings in the movie. Danny DeVito plays a compulsive gambler with true sorrow in his life. He accepts a job as a night-shift elevator man in Holly Hunter’s building, and soon they grow close through late-night talks. On paper, his character isn’t very fleshed out (and neither is Holly’s), but on the screen, he’s created a very realistic man. Gambling is a desperate attempt for a quick high, and (some would argue) so is falling in love. When he falls for Holly, it’s clear he’s the type of man who likes the euphoria. She’s not his one-and-only, but he feels this current passion as strongly as he does with every other in the past.
The other silver lining (and the reason I rented this movie) is Queen Latifah. She isn’t given much to do besides sing a few songs (she plays the nightclub singer) and look fantastic, but she does both of those tasks very well. What a knockout! I kept thinking Holly Hunter was going to find romance with Queenie instead – and I wouldn’t have blamed her. She looks beautiful!
This one’s a bit quirky, so make sure you like typically New York movies before you rent it. If you don’t know what I mean, you might not be ready for it. If you liked Happy Thank You More Please, you’ll love this one. I’m not one for movies about “finding yourself,” but if you do, check this one out!
More Queen Latifah movies here!