Living out Loud Review

A simple, quiet and mature study of adult relationships forms the heart of writer and director Richard LaGravenese’s 1998 feature Living out Loud. The film stars Holly Hunter as Judith Moore, a freshly divorced and emotionally vulnerable woman with an penchant for day dreams, who strikes up an unlikely relationship with Pat Francato, a short, lonely doorman who is struggling with his own recent tragedies. These two very different individuals attempt to help each other heal and develop a sense of meaning to their lives, but lingering emotional baggage threatens to destroy their quest for a life filled with balance and clarity.

For some, Living out Loud will be a trying experience because it is far more of a character study than a plot driven film. Basically the screenplay gives us the basic predicaments that the two main characters are faced with and observes the behavior of these characters as they attempt to sort through the trials and tribulations of modern living in urban America. The story line, if there is such a thing in the film, is a meandering mess, with the viewer simply observing Hunter cruise through town and attempt to sort through her damaged past and attack her future with new resolve. Some of her attempts to start anew have a real sense of purpose and heart, such as her chance meeting with Pat, who is played by Danny Devito, in a rare dramatic turn. Their scenes together have a quiet yet affecting chemistry to them and the two characters develop a very interesting and even moving friendship. Less effective are various disjointed scenes which seem to exist only to show Judith trying to “find herself” or “heal”. These scenes include Judith getting an erotic massage from a chiseled hunk, and a ridiculous sequence where Judith drops some form of ecstasy and then winds up at a warehouse lesbian club where a sporadic and surreal dance number is staged and Judith ends up connecting with her former “self”. 

For all its narrative shortcomings, Living out Loud is still a worthwhile film for several reasons. First, the performances of Devito and Hunter are consistently excellent and they help keep the film moving forward despite the fact that there really isn’t a story line to push the action. Unfortunately, Hunter’s character, Judith, is really the only character who is allowed to have a full story arc, and is the only character who seems to really change throughout the film. Devito is not given enough screen time to give a completely realized performance. We don’t get a true sense of the man and what he hopes to get out of life. 

The film also provides an interesting and truthful depiction of just how frustrating life and relationships can truly be. The film treats its characters with respect but is unwavering in its depiction of how sad it can be when a major life event or relationship has come to an end and individuals are forced to start again. It is an excellent point to make and something that everyone needs to remember and respect. Life is full of hellos and goodbyes, of starts and ends. It is easy to despair if a particular aspect of life does not pan out, but it is never to late to strive again for true happiness.