Living Out Loud

Living Out Loud
Under the lofty shadows of success and the picture perfect façade of the Manhattan skyline failed relationships and new beginnings bring unlikely characters together in the most unlikely places. 1998s Living Out Loud, directed by Richard LaGravenese, is about love. Unrequited, lost and new.
The film emphasizes character development as it follows the main character in and out of relationships. Judith Nelson, played by Holly Hunter is a nurse that knows how to help everyone but herself. She is the wife of a well-respected doctor, Robert Nelson (Martin Donovan,) who has left her for a younger woman. Bob completely denies everything and has blamed their demise on her desire to have kids and his lack thereof. He leaves her the penthouse apartment and she struggles to pick up the pieces of her life and relationships.
A love of jazz brings Judith away from her comforts to the rough meatpacking district of New York. It’s here that Liz (Queen Latifah) performs sultry songs and Judith receives an unexpected kiss from a chance stranger. The man was expecting his ex wife, but found a commonality with Judith. The film blurs the line of reality and fiction after this point and at times makes it difficult to know what really happened and what Judith is imagining. After this chance encounter Judith notices Pat (Danny Devito) who is her elevator man. Pat has a list of problems including the recent loss of his daughter and a gambling addiction that has him borrowing money from Judith in order to pay his debt.
Judith hopes to bring back the excitement of her stranger connection and heads back for the jazz club. After several martinis she realizes she has been stood up. In her drunken state she heckles a karaoke performer bringing her the chance to meet Liz. Their shared relationship qualms bring the two together in friendship and eventually Liz, Pat, and Judith all “live out loud” and try to move on from their past.
The story is hard to follow mostly because Judith is always imagining events in her mind. At one point she is at a lesbian bar and in total ecstasy from apparently letting go of everything. The crowd dances alongside her and she is the leader powerful and strong. This section of the film is a poor choice and does not go along with the rest of the film. It is random and confusing.
The relationship between Pat and Judith is another frustrating part of the movie. She has no interest in him more than a friend and he insinuates possibilities that aren’t possible for her. His pushing for more is tedious and he can never be a real friend without wanting more. His gambling habit defines him and we never find out why he owes money or how much.
Overall this film is a good effort, but the characters are difficult to define making them unbelievable. Everything is so fantasy like it makes it unrelatable for the audience. Holly Hunter is a great actress, but even her talent couldn’t save this film.