Living Out Loud

Opening with an intense discussion between a couple about their relationship and honing in questions of being faithful, “Living Out Loud” paints a portrait true to a failing marriage right off the bat. Then the viewer gets to listen in on inner monologue, kicking off the present day scene. The (ex)wife sits eating cereal, consumed in the worries of terrorists, crack babies and the sinking reality of not being able to do a thing about the crumbling world, and the scene manages to be incredibly relatable—even in a pre-9/11 New York City setting.

Holly Hunter plays a recently divorced upper class woman in her 40's living in New York City, dealing with the fact her husband left her for a younger doctor, while she's only a nurse. While she focused her past life on getting her ex husband through medical school, she realizes she's now left with no children, friends, love interest, or fulfilling career as she is also constantly aging—she becomes hopeless. In reality her life is just fresh for the molding. Then comes Danny Devito's character, the big idea, gambling door man with a heart of gold and the looks of an Italian troll. Finally out of her haze of a wasted life she notices him and their unlikely friendship takes off. They share nasty ex stories, good times, life advice, and even a drugged kiss, all of which leads to Devito's character having more feelings for Hunter than she him. We never want what we need—self destructive little buggers we are. The writing is true to this. Her inner monologue is often alluding to the many terrors in a world of blatant miss-communication, showing how it's easy to get frustrated and up in your head.

Written and directed by Richard LaGravenese, the melancholy sappy mastermind that brought us “PS I Love You” and “The Little Princess”, “Living Out Loud” was sure to boast both in depth self examination and the most bittersweet moments we face in life. I mean Jesus, I've cried with no shame at movements in both of the aforementioned films. Although “Living” lacked in the tear jerker department, it made up for it with a true to life glimpse into an unlikely pair's friendship and a random dance scene—say what??

Several times throughout the film, the protagonist reading Edith Wharton's“The House of Mirth”, the book of which the film slightly mirrors. Both feature a female lead whose life comes to shambles as she tumbles down the upper class social ladder, and has to choose between a life of security in a relationship with love and respect or the thrills and adventure of a single life—where anything can lie beyond that door. And whoa, it just happens to be a random man packing a passionate kiss in the shadows. Perhaps my cynicism clouded the surprise make-out scene's charm but I thought it was one of the silly farfetched quirks that be-bopped through the film.

Overall “Living” shows many of life's little nuggets of happiness that show through even in the dreariest of times. Some would consider the ending a bummer, but I didn't. Life happens and the decisions you make take you places, even if it's not the storybook ending it's still someplace new and you're probably a bigger person for it, just as Hunter's character seemed in the end. Many moments, like the apparent eye contact that characters held proved to speak so much for the overall feel. Nowadays, (since the movie was made in 1998) many of us are lost in the digital world. “Living” captured many shots with believably intimate moments through holding of the gaze. Despite its couple flaws: an awkward and long dance scene, unlikely closet romance encounter, partially confusing alternate scenario cuts, and high demand for Queen Latifah that it left me with, I would still add this title to my DVD collection. Now you're all like, wait say whaaaa', Latifa was in that movie ? I feel ya on that one; her character development throughout the film left so much to be desired. Even so, it's worth digging up if ya got the means and feel like having a true and honest look at life—in all of its exciting uncertainties and possibilities.