Playing by Heart
Playing by Heart is a 1998 romantic dramedy featuring an All-Star Cast. The film follows a number of characters living in Los Angeles and their relationships.
Tropes used in Playing by Heart include:
- All-Star Cast: Angelina Jolie, Ryan Philippe, Jon Stewart, Gillian Anderson, Sean Connery, Gena Rowlands, Dennis Quaid, Madeline Stowe, Anthony Edwards, Jay Mohr and Ellen Burstyn.
- Anguished Declaration of Love: Joan makes one for Keenan after he reveals he's got HIV.
- Dark Secret: Keenan avoids getting too close to Joan, until he reveals that he was infected with HIV by his last girlfriend.
- Drink Order:
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Joan: [to waitress] I'll have a vodka martini, very dry, straight up. Three olives, and... my sullen friend here will have... |
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- Faux Yay: Hugh attempts this at a gay bar, but the Drag Queen he's chatting to sees through the ruse.
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Lana: Lana may be three sheets to the preverbial wind, but I don't believe a single word coming out of your pretty, straight, little mouth. |
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- Fiery Redhead: Joan. Meredith has the red hair, but not the personality.
- The First Cut Is the Deepest: For Keenan, with devestating consequences.
- Happily Married: Paul and Hannah. Averted with Gracie and Hugh.
- Hyperlink Story: The final scenes of the film reveal how the characters are linked- Joan, Meredith and Gracie are Paul and Hannah's daughters; Hugh is Gracie's husband and Roger is the celebrant who is presiding over Paul and Hannah's renewal of their vows. A couple of scenes earlier, Mark is revealed to be Meredith's ex.
- Silly Rabbit, Romance Is for Kids: Meredith's view of relationships- after getting hurt one too many times she's reluctant to get involved with Trent.
- Single Woman Seeks Good Man: Joan
- You Gotta Have Blue Hair: Keenan
- Your Cheating Heart: Played straight with Gracie who is cheating on Hugh with Roger who is also cheating on his spouse.
- Keenan's first girlfriend cheated on him, and consequently infected him with HIV.
- Averted with Paul, who admits to Hannah that he toyed with having an affair with a former co-star in the past, but resisted temptation.