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      The Thing Called Love

      PG-13 Released Jul 16, 1993 1 hr. 56 min. Drama Romance Music List
      57% 21 Reviews Tomatometer 55% 5,000+ Ratings Audience Score 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. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Nov 29 Buy Now

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      The Thing Called Love

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      The Thing Called Love

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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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      Audience Reviews

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      Amy G I think the movie is fun. River Phoenix plays a hopeful country music singer who falls in love with Miranda Presley, no relation. People say Phoenix's acting is a bit flat. It's supposed to be. That's part of his character. It's not the best movie, but it is a fun movie. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/04/23 Full Review 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 Full Review steve d Ok film because of the cast. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member River was amazing in this movie. Such an underrated little gem. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Thing Called Love

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (21) Critics Reviews
      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 Full Review Fernando F. Croce Slant Magazine The Thing Called Love charms and touches. Rated: 3/4 Mar 11, 2006 Full Review 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 Full Review Randy White Common Sense Media A star is born in Nashville. Rated: 4/5 Jan 2, 2011 Full Review TV Guide Peter Bogdanovich brings conviction but little else to this upbeat response to Robert Altman's Nashville. Rated: 2/4 Jun 14, 2009 Full Review Eric D. Snider EricDSnider.com It's good enough to watch, but not good enough to re-watch. Rated: B- Apr 8, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      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
      Executive Producer
      George Folsey Jr.
      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
      Sound Mix
      Surround, Stereo
      Aspect Ratio
      Flat (1.85:1)
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