The Thing Called Love

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The Thing Called Love

PG-13

Released Jul 16, 1993

1h 56m

Drama

Romance

Music

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Popcornmeter

59%

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22 Reviews

48%

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5,000+ Ratings

Hoping to become a country music star, Miranda Presley (Samantha Mathis) moves from New York to Nashville, Tenn. She gets a job waiting tables at the renowned Bluebird Cafe, where she meets other would-be singer-songwriters, including James Wright (River Phoenix) and Kyle Davidson (Dermot Mulroney), the two men who will battle for her heart. Linda Lue Linden (Sandra Bullock) offers female friendship as they all struggle to achieve fame -- or at least respectability.

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Critics Consensus

The last film River Phoenix completed before his death, The Thing Called Love doesn't have much new to say about show business, but it's energetic and well acted.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Perhaps there's not much new to say about the dues and disappointments involved in breaking into the country music scene, but the scenes are fresh and the emotions real in Peter Bogdanovich's tune-laden, mixed-mood drama.

Mar 26, 2009

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Fernando F. Croce

Slant Magazine

The Thing Called Love charms and touches.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 11, 2006

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Bogdanovich's modest staging is occasionally awkward -- his kids still watch John Wayne movies at the drive-in -- but there's a convincing sense of what Nashville's like and how country music works.

Feb 9, 2006

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...familiar subject matter that is, for the most part, employed to watchable, affable effect by Bogdanovich...

Rated: 3/4

Oct 1, 2025

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Randy White

Common Sense Media

A star is born in Nashville.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 2, 2011

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TV Guide

Peter Bogdanovich brings conviction but little else to this upbeat response to Robert Altman's Nashville.

Rated: 2/4

Jun 14, 2009

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Audience Member

The late Peter Bogdanovich directs Samantha Mathis, a young Sandra Bullock, Dermott Mulroney, and the late River Phoenix Miranda Presley (no relation to Elvis as she makes it quite clear) goes from the big apple to Nashville, Tennessee to become a successful musician Working at a diner she meets James and Kyle, two other songwriters Linda is also one of the people auditioning she runs into she befriends James and Kyle are fighting for Miranda's affection but if she can't achieve her dream making it big she can at least get the respect Breaking into the scene of country music is tough no doubt The actors have lively performances yet I was expecting some more melodrama This isn't one of Bogdanovich's finest efforts Maybe more melodramatic moments would've made it stand out more yet this does capture the life of struggling talents

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/27/23

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steve d

Ok film because of the cast.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

River was amazing in this movie. Such an underrated little gem.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Peter Bogdanovich

Director

River Phoenix

James Wright

Samantha Mathis

Miranda Presley

Dermot Mulroney

Kyle Davidson

Sandra Bullock

Linda Lue Linden

K.T. Oslin

Lucy

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Synopsis

Hoping to become a country music star, Miranda Presley (Samantha Mathis) moves from New York to Nashville, Tenn. She gets a job waiting tables at the renowned Bluebird Cafe, where she meets other would-be singer-songwriters, including James Wright (River Phoenix) and Kyle Davidson (Dermot Mulroney), the two men who will battle for her heart. Linda Lue Linden (Sandra Bullock) offers female friendship as they all struggle to achieve fame -- or at least respectability.

Director: Peter Bogdanovich
Producer: John Davis
Screenwriter: Carol Heikkinen
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Davis Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Some Language)
Genre: Drama, Romance, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 16, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $872.4K
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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