Music from Another Room

Plot synopsis:
The film begins with 5-year-old Danny (Jude Law) and his military father visiting a family friend's, Grace's (Brenda Blethyn), house at Thanksgiving. When Grace goes into labor, Danny's father asks him to unwrap the umbilical cord from the baby. After a successful birth, Danny decides to himself that the baby girl born, Anna (Gretchen Mol), is meant to be with him forever, and states that he will marry her.
Twenty-five years later, Danny now 30 moves back to his hometown after his father dies. Homeless and jobless, Danny finds a cheap apartment owned by a bakery shop couple who offer him little jobs delivering cakes. During his first delivery, Danny gets lost and stops at Grace's for directions. Nina (Jennifer Tilly), Anna's blind sister, opens the door and Danny sees Anna for the first time.
Anna and Nina's family order a cake from the bakery and Danny immediately leaves to deliver it, hoping to see Anna, but crashes his bike into a car right outside the home, going unconscious. He awakes in Grace's house to meet Anna's entire family—her brother Billy (Jeremy Piven) and Billy's mentally distraught wife, Irene (Jane Adams), her father Richard (Bruce Jarchow), her sister Karen (Martha Plimpton), and boyfriend Eric (Jon Tenney). He is invited to stay for dinner where he is given news of Anna's recent engagement to Eric.
Danny later gets the job as a tiler/mosaic artist in a local museum. Danny soon confesses his love for Anna, asking her to run away and marry him. Anna rejects him kindly and rides away, with Danny chasing her. At a bookstore, Danny tells Eric he is in love with Anna. Grace remains ill with a bed nurse. Anna later becomes jealous of the love between Nina and her new boyfriend Jesus, and rushes to Danny's home. The two then sleep together. At Billy's house, Irene screams at Billy and points a gun at him because she believes he is having an affair. She quickly shoots at Billy, hitting his foot, and laughs as he tumbles in pain.
Nina and Jesus have an informal elopement during the night. After Nina returns home to tell her mother gleefully, Grace passes away in Richard's arms. Anna leaves Danny's apartment to tell her mother about her relationship with Danny only to find that she has died. At Grace's funeral, Anna says she already told Eric about their affair. Danny tells Anna he is leaving in a couple of days and says goodbye. That night, Eric announces he and Anna are going to Paris to get married. The next day, Nina tells Anna that she loves Danny, not Eric, and advises her to go after Danny.
At the train station, Anna chases down Danny and begs him to take her with him. Danny says that it won't last. She holds up a regular coin and says if it lands heads, she may go with him. Without looking, he claims it is heads and the two kiss.

Tags: romantic, flashback

Review:
Music From Another Room is the story of Danny (Jude Law), returning to his US hometown after spending over 20 years in England with his father, who has now passed away.
Before Danny moved to England, he helped setting Anna to this world by removing the chord that was twisted around her neck during her birth, and at that point, he exclaimed a wish to marry her someday...This is first of all a romantic comedy, with Danny's chase for Anna as the main plot, and quite a lot of interesting sub-plots and characters.
Jude Law is his usual self, well-acting and beautiful, Brenda Blethyn can do no wrong on the screen, it seems, and Gretchen Mol shows that she is more than just a pretty face.
A great cast all together.The film has a few flaws, the most notable being a rather predictable story, but excellent acting and witty writing more than make up for that.
Overall, Music From Another Room is a highly recommendable romantic comedy, far better than most straight-on-video stuff..
The overall feeling of the film is a bit like a condensed John Irving novel (Hotel New Hampshire):  a sprawling storyline concerning an eccentric family with delightful sub-plots involving the births, deaths and loves of the various members.
However, thanks to an absolutely inspired bit of casting, with the likes of Jeniffer Tilly and Brenda Blethyn as the dying mother, the film works extremely well.
And of course the chemistry between the two leads, Jude Law and Gretchen Mol, is undeniable and provides much of the appeal of the film.
Unfortunately there is a failure in the execution as "director" Charlie Peters drops the ball in his casting decisions and in his efforts to extract the necessary performances from the two leads, Jude Law (Danny) and Gretchen Mol (Anna).
But there is no indication in the screenplay that the grown-up Danny has come to town for this purpose, on the contrary he came to be with another woman who he has fallen in love with but who dumps him and moves away shortly after his arrival.Peters should get credit for a great title, as "Music From Another Room" is a metaphor Danny uses to illustrate how he has felt in the past when he was in love.
The idea being that love is like listening to a favorite song playing in the distance and coming back on the same beat of the song when it has been periodically drowned out by closer noises.He should also get credit for the originality of the two-headed coin flip sequence; which sets up the film's resolution according to the flip of a regular coin.
Even with its flaws it is better than average but this does leave you regretting that Peters did not recognize his limitations as a director and bring in someone who could have better executed the ambitious vision of his screenplay.The problem is that the quirky and original elements, which make the screenplay so good, require exceptional performances from the lead characters who must non-verbally convey a whole lot of character motivation as well as several moments of profound revelation.
The failure to fill in the blanks with behavioral information combined with elements that were deleted in the editing process introduces an element of incoherence that ultimate undermines an excellent story.Law (who has certainly demonstrated acting ability in most of his films)has stated that he regrets doing "Music From Another Room" and that he let himself be talked into the part.
The interesting thing is that the part actually has more potential than roles he has chosen and into which he has thrown a lot of energy.Brenda Blethyn and Jane Adams turn in great performances and one can only wish that Adams and Mol had traded parts.Then again, what do I know?
OK, if you're in the mood for a slightly nutty romantic comedy, go for this one.The subplot, with Jennifer Tilly's performance as a shy, sheltered blind girl, reluctantly coming out of her shell, is totally luminous (sorry 'bout the cliche, but no other word fits), without resorting to the corniness of "A Patch of Blue."  To me, it was actually a more affecting story than the main plotline.The other actors do a great job, especially Brenda Blethyn (what do they teach in British acting class?), Martha Plimpton, and Jayne Adams.
The story moves along nicely, and one event seems to flow naturally into another.My guess is, if there had been an A-List Hollywood star on board, like, eg, Bruce Willis, this little film might have gotten quite a bit more recognition.
However, the title actually made me watch the film, along with the promise of well-known actors Jude Law, Jennifer Tilly and Brenda Blethyn.The film is funny at times and lovable in the way we expect from romantic comedies - the opening scenes of young Danny's participation in a baby's birth is a good example, full of sweetness and humanity from Brenda Blethyn and young actor Cory Buck.
Jude Law is a beautiful creature, and made this film worth my time, since I had never heard of it prior.
Jude Law's engaging performance as the lovestruck Danny itself makes the film worth seeing.
Jennifer Tilly (Anna's blind sister, Nina), Vincent Laresca (Jesus, Anna's boyfriend/husband), Martha Plimpton (Karen, Anna's feminist sister), Jane Adams (Anna's gun-toting sister in law) also deliver wonderful performances in their offbeat supporting roles.
Other than Gretchen Mol, there are some good performances, but the screenplay fails time and again to latch onto a real emotion or life-situation.
I really like Jude Law but I think he was supposed to have turned this part down when it was offered.However, the movie was made for me by Vincent Laresca, who played Jesus.
Jude Law makes the film a very sweet romance overall.
As a film, it rates an eight but as a romantic movie it should get a ten.Jude Law is absolutely adorable as Danny, the love sick artist/delivery boy who never forgot about his first true love Anna, whom he spotted when he helped deliver her as a baby in an emergency as a child.Gretchen Moll plays down as Anna, the safe and boring caretaker of her blind sister.
Anna is young but acts like an old lady, having no dreams or fantasies, acting like she has no life or future.Anna is so dull that her blind sister Nina, played by Jennifer Tilly and her unexpected romantic partner Jesus (Vincent Laresca) completely steal the romance of the film.Brenda Blethyn is their ill mother, who tries to help Anna and her sisters find the secret to a happy life.Danny spends all his time trying to win her attention and love, but to no avail.
Yet as a light love story it is fast moving despite diversions in the plot and in general gives some fine actors good screen time.Danny (Jude Law) as a five-year-old lad assisted in the complicated birth of his friend Grace Swan's (Brenda Blethyn) child Anna (Gretchen Mol) and at that moment declared he would marry Anna someday.
The family is a dysfunctional one: Anna's sister Nina (Jennifer Tilly) is blind and dependent on Anna; brother Billy (Jeremy Piven) is married to suicidal Irene (Jane Adams); cynical feminist sister Karen (Martha Plimpton) is a man-eater; and the father cares for Grace as she is stricken with a terminal illness.
Anna resists Danny, but Danny's influence on the family is like 'music from another room', and results in positive changes in each of the family members: Nina finds love with Jesus (Vincent Laresca), a kitchen worker who introduces Nina to dancing, love, and independence; Grace opens her longing for Anna to experience passion instead of just caring for everyone; and the concept of fate and love and passion is stirred vigorously.Jude Law is his usual appealing self and makes his role credible.
There are many problems with the film, the most significant one being Gretchen Mol who doesn't take her character beyond paper doll and certainly doesn't seem an adequate reason for Jude Law's unswerving attention.
Sporting a fine cast, this dreamy film about a motley family and birth and death and love offers a fun scene to scene linear flow, keeps the sentimentality in check, builds its predictable love story, and manages several subplots all the while holding interest and easing a somewhat difficult buy-in resulting in a good all around romantic flick.
I love this kind of film: funny, touching, and oh, so romantic.
I wish this movie let me love it a little bit more.The story is very simple and popular.
So, when you already know what is gonna happen and how, complete attention falls on things like cinematography and compelling conversations.This movie has wonderful moments.
And some side plots that are meant to add humor--Martha Plimpton and her gun, for instance--are simply annoying.Jude Law plays a scrawny bakery delivery boy who doesn't know when to shut up, and Gretchen Mol is the uptight sophisticate of her family who is already engaged to a man who is perfect for her.
What happened later was not.The best and most believable characters in the film were the mother, well acted by Brenda Blethyn, and the blind sister (Meg Tilly) and her boyfriend, Jesus.
One last comment--whoever chose the music for this film should be shot--there's one really bad top-40 pop song that cues in more than once when Jude and Gretchen go for the kiss, and it cheapens the scenes..
This movie is poorly acted with the exceptions of Martha Plimpton Jane Adam, and Brenda Blethyn, they are the reasons that i gave this film a 3/10 as opposed to 1/10.
This was a perfectly sweet film, without the usual American / Hollywood over-the-top treatment.Other than the waste of Brenda Blethyn the cast were well balanced and just about believable.This one really is a movie you can take a date to..
The movie starts out as if Jude Law's character will be focal point of the story, but actually it's Gretchen Mol's character that the story revolves around.
Overall, a disappointment, since I thought this movie had the necessary elements to be a good romantic drama/comedy..
The story was paper-thin, and Jude Law was good, and so was Brenda Blethyn, but...
The basic problem of the film is the script that writer/director Charlie Peters created as the basis of the movie.The acting is uneven at best.
Jude Law plays Danny who is in love with Anna, the young woman he helped bring into the world.
Rail-thin, greasy-haired Jude Law falls for rail-thin, bizarrely-coiffed and made up Gretchen Mol in this uneven romantic comedy about a guy down on his luck who meets a gal from an eccentric family -- and decides he's going to marry her.
Stories about fate tend to be overdone and cheesy, but with the help of actors like Jude Law, Gretchen Mol, and Jennifer Tilly (who offers a brilliant performance) the familiar storyline becomes moving while also hilarious at times.
The supporting characters help to make this movie one that you can look back on and laugh for years- and it still remains a beautiful love story..
The target audience for this film is most likely to be women from the ages of 20-40, and young fans of Jude Law and Gretchen Mol.
I thought this film had a lot going for it, an interesting story and good actors as well.
It's not a big screen film, as is just as good watched on video, but I still recommend it for those rainy days, when all you want is something light and entertaining to pass the time.
One scene in particular seemed completely out of place: Jude Law (Danny), in front of the entire family tells everyone about how he felt falling in love.
Jude Law and Gretchen Mol look so perfect together  I was enraptured just watching them.
I hadn't heard about this movie till I saw it in our tv guide a couple of days ago and even then the only reason it caught my eye was the fact that Jude Law (one of my favourite actors) was in it.
For anyone who enjoys a good romantic comedy - I definitely recommend this movie..
If you think Gretchen Mol is beautiful and you're a guy, you'll fit right into Jude Law's shoes for this movie.
I believe that Gretchen Moll is one of the most beautiful women alive, and when I saw her name, decided to record the film off HBO.)It is witty, sexy, romantic, and very, very captivating.
I love this movie so much, though I have to admit one of the reasons is because Jude Law is one of my absolute favorite actors.
This movie is so romantic, and how Jude's character pursues Gretchen Moll's character is so touching and wonderful!
Jude Law is one of the best young actors in Hollywood today & makes it apparent in this movie.
All this movie did was tell a sweet story about a young's man determination with a young lady he believes is his "soul-mate."  And along with this pursued love interest is a crazy family and clever dialogue.
If people are interested in watching more movies about people and their stories rather than shoot-em-up movies with lousy acting, then Hollywood should start making more movies like "Music"..
This movie was predictable but had you cheering on Jude Lawe and wishing you could be the one he was in love with.
The main reason to see this cute film is Jude Law's likable performance as Danny.He out-acts everyone and steals every scene he's in.He plays a lovesick guy out to win the engaged-to-someone-else- girl he helped deliver when she was a baby and he was 5-years-old.He has quite a hurdle of obstacles.His pursuit is gentle,yet persuasive.He's very charming in it,and females will love him.My husband liked this film also and felt it is true-to-life in some ways-how a person pursues someone who could be totally wrong for them.It's not an excellent film.The choice to have Gretchen Moll as Jude's love interest was a bad one.She acts poorly,and there is a lack of chemistry.However Jude's intense stares at her and genuine obsession make the film a real treat.
Yes,there are some amusing moments I won't spoil.Another person I enjoyed in this is Martha Plimpton.Her scenes with Jude are funny,and she uses him to solve a problem of her own.The result is actually the funniest scene in the film.I think it's a flawed yet great little movie..
All the actors were amazing in it (especially Jude Law and Jennifer Tilly) it was so nice to see a movie that wasn't all soppy and typical.
Great movie, greater cast--- loved the performance of Law,Mol. The movie Music From Another Room is absolutely fabulous.
It is a great romantic comedy and I loved the performance of both Jude Law and Gretchen Mol. After seeing the movie they both became my favorite actors.
I hope that Gretchen Mol will have a great career and that I will see her in any new movies soon-- she is beautiful to watch!!!
With a fantastic cast including academy award nominees like Brenda Blethyn, Jude Law, and Jennifer Tilly, and a cast of other actors who are wonderful in thier own right, how could you go wrong.
Jude Law is wonderful as (Danny)how he is completely smitten with Anna portrayed by Gretchen Mol. She denies him at every step and yet he still proceeds, knowing that she will wake up soon and realise how much she truly loves him.
Jude Law (Danny), with his charming good looks and sweet British accent, shines in this movie.
Gretchen Mol (prior to her stint in "The Thirteenth Floor") plays an uptight, control freak who is attracted to Jude Law's character.
Interesting supporting cast with Tilly and the character of the mother....Martha Plimpton is sort of wasted in the movie though.
I began to enjoy the other stories that revolved around the love the young English artist (Law) had for the woman who's life he saved (Gretchen Mol) when he delivered her 25 years earlier.
Superb performances by Jude Law, Jennifer Tilly, and Martha Plimpton make this movie rent-worthy.
But overall I say if you are in the mood for a good romantic comedy rent "Music From Another Room" and hopefully you will enjoy the storyline and performances as much as I did!.
Ms. Blethyn and Mr. Laresca contribute strong supporting characterizations.***** Music from Another Room (4/24/98) Charlie Peters ~ Jude Law, Gretchen Mol, Jennifer Tilly.
Other than the girl's birth there are some other interesting moments in Music From Another Room, mostly to do with Brenda Blethyn's character Grace.
I would definelty recommend this movie to anyone, my main reason being Jude Law. He is a wonderful actor and completely makes this movie what it is.
It's kind of clunky, but these scenes show enough charm that you'll wish the movie had focused on those characters instead of the Judd Law and Gretchen Mol characters..
Jude Law should win an Oscar for making me believe he actually cared about her.Brenda Bethyn was great, especially in her introduction of Danny to the family and the sibling performances (Tilly, Piven and Plimpton) were all on target and delightful.It's really a cute film, just takes a major suspension of disbelief to buy into the all-too-predictable ending.Last scenes I'd like to have seen.
Maybe a bit over the top romantic but I always enjoyed this movie, it is well acted and particularly from Brenda Bethyn and Jennifer Tilly, which I felt they were the true stars that glued this story together.
Tilly's story seems to have somehow predominance over Gretchen Moll's and the latter lacks a bit of chemistry with Jude Law, but he gives his dreamer character justice.
This movie is so great at what it is - a beautiful, romantic story.