Love Liza
Encyclopedia
Love Liza is a 2002 tragicomedy
film directed by Todd Louiso
and starring Philip Seymour Hoffman
, Kathy Bates
, Jack Kehler
, Wayne Duvall
, Sarah Koskoff and Stephen Tobolowsky
. The film inspired the song "Benzin
" by Rammstein
.
) wife Liza (Annie Morgan) has, for an unexplained reason, committed suicide. Wilson one night discovers a sealed letter from his wife, which he believes to be her suicide note. In his grief-stricken state and with the added stress of finding the letter, which he cannot bring himself to open and read, he forms an addiction to inhaling gasoline
fumes (“huffing”).
In order to hide his addiction from a work colleague, he informs her that the petrol smell in his house is from his hobby of flying remote controlled planes. To try to engage an ever-distant Wilson, she asks her brother-in-law Denny (Jack Kehler
), a radio control
(RC) hobbyist, to visit Wilson. With the knowledge of an impending visit from Denny, Wilson heads down to the local RC hobbyist shop to buy himself a plane. He also stocks up on some RC fuel to fill his plane and feed his addiction. Out of this lie, a very unusual friendship forms between Wilson and an energetic Denny.
His mother-in-law (Kathy Bates
) tries her best to help Wilson and deal with her own loss at the same time. She becomes increasingly anxious to know the contents of the letter.
Tragicomedy
Tragicomedy is fictional work that blends aspects of the genres of tragedy and comedy. In English literature, from Shakespeare's time to the nineteenth century, tragicomedy referred to a serious play with either a happy ending or enough jokes throughout the play to lighten the mood.-Classical...
film directed by Todd Louiso
Todd Louiso
Todd Louiso is an American film actor and film director best known for his role as timid record store clerk Dick in High Fidelity, opposite Jack Black and John Cusack. Other supporting roles include School For Scoundrels. Louiso directed his first film in 2002, the acclaimed Love Liza with Philip...
and starring Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman is an American actor and director. Hoffman began acting in television in 1991, and the following year started to appear in films...
, Kathy Bates
Kathy Bates
Kathleen Doyle "Kathy" Bates is an American actress and director.After several small roles in film and television, Bates rose to prominence with her performance in Misery , for which she won both the Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe...
, Jack Kehler
Jack Kehler
Jack Kehler is an actor. He is sometimes credited as Jack Keeler.Jack has appeared in over 60 feature films, including Men in Black II. One of his most memorable performances was in film Love Liza as Denny, an energetic radio control hobbyist trying to help Philip Seymour Hoffman's character come...
, Wayne Duvall
Wayne Duvall
Wayne Duvall is an American actor, known for playing Homer Stokes in O Brother Where Art Thou?, Coach Ferguson in "Leatherheads" and Ned Guston in "Duplicity". On television he is best known for playing Sgt. Phil Brander on The District . In 2002, he married Denise Guillet...
, Sarah Koskoff and Stephen Tobolowsky
Stephen Tobolowsky
Stephen Harold Tobolowsky is an American actor. He is well known for his role as Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day, as well as portraying Commissioner Hugo Jarry in Deadwood for nine episodes and Bob Bishop in Heroes for eleven episodes over the second and third seasons...
. The film inspired the song "Benzin
Benzin
"Benzin" is a song by German industrial metal band Rammstein, released as the first single from their album Rosenrot.In Germany, gasoline is called Benzin . Till has confirmed in an interview that the song Benzin is about the rising gas prices...
" by Rammstein
Rammstein
Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte band from Berlin, formed in 1994. The band consists of members Till Lindemann , Richard Z. Kruspe , Paul H. Landers , Oliver "Ollie" Riedel , Christoph "Doom" Schneider and Christian "Flake" Lorenz...
.
Plot summary
Wilson Joel's (Philip Seymour HoffmanPhilip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman is an American actor and director. Hoffman began acting in television in 1991, and the following year started to appear in films...
) wife Liza (Annie Morgan) has, for an unexplained reason, committed suicide. Wilson one night discovers a sealed letter from his wife, which he believes to be her suicide note. In his grief-stricken state and with the added stress of finding the letter, which he cannot bring himself to open and read, he forms an addiction to inhaling gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
fumes (“huffing”).
In order to hide his addiction from a work colleague, he informs her that the petrol smell in his house is from his hobby of flying remote controlled planes. To try to engage an ever-distant Wilson, she asks her brother-in-law Denny (Jack Kehler
Jack Kehler
Jack Kehler is an actor. He is sometimes credited as Jack Keeler.Jack has appeared in over 60 feature films, including Men in Black II. One of his most memorable performances was in film Love Liza as Denny, an energetic radio control hobbyist trying to help Philip Seymour Hoffman's character come...
), a radio control
Radio control
Radio control is the use of radio signals to remotely control a device. The term is used frequently to refer to the control of model vehicles from a hand-held radio transmitter...
(RC) hobbyist, to visit Wilson. With the knowledge of an impending visit from Denny, Wilson heads down to the local RC hobbyist shop to buy himself a plane. He also stocks up on some RC fuel to fill his plane and feed his addiction. Out of this lie, a very unusual friendship forms between Wilson and an energetic Denny.
His mother-in-law (Kathy Bates
Kathy Bates
Kathleen Doyle "Kathy" Bates is an American actress and director.After several small roles in film and television, Bates rose to prominence with her performance in Misery , for which she won both the Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe...
) tries her best to help Wilson and deal with her own loss at the same time. She becomes increasingly anxious to know the contents of the letter.
Cast
In Order Of Appearance| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Philip Seymour Hoffman Philip Seymour Hoffman Philip Seymour Hoffman is an American actor and director. Hoffman began acting in television in 1991, and the following year started to appear in films... |
Wilson Joel |
| JD Walsh | Bern |
| Jimmy Raskin | Pad |
| Kathy Bates Kathy Bates Kathleen Doyle "Kathy" Bates is an American actress and director.After several small roles in film and television, Bates rose to prominence with her performance in Misery , for which she won both the Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe... |
Mary Ann Bankhead |
| Erika Alexander Erika Alexander Erika Alexander is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Pam Tucker on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show, and as Maxine Shaw on the FOX sitcom Living Single. She has won numerous awards for her work on Living Single, including two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a... |
Brenda |
| Sarah Koskoff | Maura |
| Mark Hannibal | Waiter with Drink |
| Jim Wise Jim Wise Jim Wise is an American actor, voice actor, writer and composer. He is perhaps best known for his recurring role as Coach Tugnut in the Disney Channel Original Series Even Stevens.... |
Bland Man |
| Trace Turville | Bland Woman |
| Wayne Duvall Wayne Duvall Wayne Duvall is an American actor, known for playing Homer Stokes in O Brother Where Art Thou?, Coach Ferguson in "Leatherheads" and Ned Guston in "Duplicity". On television he is best known for playing Sgt. Phil Brander on The District . In 2002, he married Denise Guillet... |
Gas Station |
| Stephen Tobolowsky Stephen Tobolowsky Stephen Harold Tobolowsky is an American actor. He is well known for his role as Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day, as well as portraying Commissioner Hugo Jarry in Deadwood for nine episodes and Bob Bishop in Heroes for eleven episodes over the second and third seasons... |
Tom Bailey |
| Kevin Breznahan | Jim |
| Jennifer Keddy | Lynne |
| David Lenthal | Hobbytown USA Clerk |
| Jack Kehler Jack Kehler Jack Kehler is an actor. He is sometimes credited as Jack Keeler.Jack has appeared in over 60 feature films, including Men in Black II. One of his most memorable performances was in film Love Liza as Denny, an energetic radio control hobbyist trying to help Philip Seymour Hoffman's character come... |
Denny |
| Pauline Boyd | Zoo |
| Ernest Perry Jr | Trucker |
| Cullen Douglas Cullen Douglas Cullen Douglas is an American film and television actor.He is best known for his television guest appearances on shows such as Prison Break, Kenan & Kel, CSI, Private Practice, and, most notably, as Mr. Arnold, "The Birdman," on Grey's Anatomy... |
Cashire at Pancake House |
| Joanne Pankow | Grandma Clerk |
| Dan Klaas | Officer Escort |
| Chris Ellis Chris Ellis (actor) Chris Ellis is an American film and television actor who was born April 14, 1956 in Dallas, Texas.Ellis always wanted to be an actor because of television... |
Patriot Model Aeronautics Clerk |
| George Mills George Mills George Mills may refer to:*George Mills , English footballer*George Mills , British Air Chief Marshal*George Mills , a 1982 novel by U.S... |
Pickup Truck Driver |
| Julia Lashae | Breakfast Woman |
| Don Hood Don Hood Donald Harris Hood , was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1973-1983. He played for the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, and Kansas City Royals.-External links:... |
Good Morning Man |
| John McConnell John McConnell (actor) John "Spud" McConnell , is an American actor and radio personality based in New Orleans, Louisiana.McConnell is a character actor who has appeared in more than 40 films, ranging from obscure independent films to major cinematic release movies John "Spud" McConnell (born November 13, 1958), is an... |
High School Principal #1 |
| Terry Loughlin | High School Principal #2 |
| Maggie Valentine | Girl on Front Porch |
| Teegan Eley | Jenn |
| Morgan Jarrett | Stacy |
| Daniel Farber | Huffer Boy |
| Kelli Garner Kelli Garner Kelli Brianne Garner is an American actress. Her credits include Man of the House, The Aviator, Bully and Thumbsucker. She appeared in two Green Day music videos "Jesus of Suburbia" and the unreleased ""... |
Huffer Girl |
| Shannon Holt | Angela Ryan from Bailey Federation |
| Ann Morgan | Liza |