Zauber der Liebe (2007) Online

Bradley (Greg Kinnear) owns a coffee shop in Portland, Oregon called Jitters. He has been married for six years to Kathryn (Selma Blair), a tomboy-type who loves softball. Bradley introduces her, after a game, to his favorite customer, Harry (Morgan Freeman), a professor who is temporarily on leave from his job, due to the death of a child. Harry, a very intuitive and wise man, married to a loving lady (Jane Alexander), sees immediately that Kathryn has eyes for another female softball player. In short order, Kathryn calls it quits with Bradley, leaving him very despondent. However, a beautiful real estate agent named Diana (Radha Mitchell) soon warms his heart again. But, alas, she is having a secret affair with a married man named David (Billy Burke), even though she becomes quite close to Bradley as well. Then, too, Bradley has two young employees, Chloe and Oscar, who soon fall in love and move in together. But, Oscar's abusive father, The Bat (Fred Ward, very scary), makes things difficult for them from time to time. In fact, how strong are the chances for happiness among these fine people of Portland? If you saw the trailers, you might think this was a romantic comedy. Not so, not by far. It is a romantic drama with some comic elements but a great deal of in-your-face depressing reality, too. That is not to say it is not worthwhile, for it is, but no one will be humming a tune when he or she exits the theater. All of the principal players are quite good, bringing depth to a story that could be dismissed, at times, as being overly melodramatic. As for the Portland scenery, it is lovely, as are the costumes and camera work. Benton, the director, has not been at the helm of a film for quite some time but he clearly shows he has not lost his touch. On the other hand, this film is rated R and for good reason, as it definitely has some sexually-charged scenes. In brief, if you are drawn to films that include romantic drama and sharp character studies, this movie might do for you. Also, fans of the cast will want to see it, too. But, be forewarned that some tears might fall and that the experience overall will be bittersweet.

Greetings again from the darkness. Director Robert Benton has only made 11 movies in 35 years. What is consistent with each of his films is the way he peels back the layers of humanity. He really explores the different personalities in people. Think of the Hoffman/Streep split in "Kramer vs. Kramer" and you will see the similarities with the break-up here of Greg Kinnear and Selma Blair. The number of intimate moments and personal insecurities are too many to count ... just like real life.

Rarely do you see one partner slap the other in the midst of an affair when the one slapping is trying to lecture the soon-to-be-married other one that her morals need to be straightened out before she weds. In other words ... do as I say, not as I do. Another good story line involved two young broken people who try to accept that life and love can be good. Played well by Toby Hemingway and a stunning Alexa Davalos, the two lovers have overcome much in their lives and certainly appreciate the bond they have.

The best story line in the film is the magic of Morgan Freeman and Jane Alexander, playing the oldest interracial couple I can remember seeing on film. They are both hurting deeply from the loss of a son, yet the strength of their relationship allows them to deal with grief in separate ways, while still being there for each other. Two excellent performances.

The center of the film is the lovable, clueless, hopeless-romantic played by underrated actor Greg Kinnear. We see two relationships (Selma Blair and Radha Mitchell) end badly for him, yet he clings to his belief that LOVE is what it's all about.

I like how the only kids involved in this real world mess are old enough to make their own decisions. It would have been easy to toss in a kid or two to tug even harder at the tear ducts, but this remained an adult story for adults ... and there are far too few of these. Be forewarned , this is no light-hearted chick flick. It could be termed a romantic drama but more accurately a human drama.

My wife an I saw this a few days ago, a late show on a Friday which we thought might be crowded. But, only two other people were in the theater. That does not bode well for the box office for this film. We both enjoyed it. Once again Morgan Freemen does a great job as the wise old man knowing just what to say and do. He always is a joy to watch. The story is a indeed a feast of love, with multiple types of love unfolding among all the characters. The character of Diana (Radha Mitchell) is particularly well done if not very sympathetic. And Greg Kinnear plays his likable "I'm just a dupe of love" character equally well. A well done movie on relationships and their complexity, but without the non-stop action young fans want in films this will likely only get a niche audience in theaters with most folks waiting for the DVD or cable to check this one out.

I was down from Maine last week and was lucky enough to attend a screening of Feast of Love in New York City. I can't stop thinking about this film. It raises so many questions. What makes us fall in love with someone? If you love a person enough can you make them fall in love with you? With all the people who cross your path why do you fall in love with one but not the others? What is it that makes you fall in love with someone at first sight? How could you be married to someone and not have any idea that that person no longer loves you back? In the end the film gives hope to all of us who have loved and lost that we can find love again, and that that love can come in many different forms and configurations. The movie made me laugh and made me cry. The acting was wonderful and I felt the characters heartbreak as well as their blind optimism. The nude scenes, although explicit, were a natural as part of the relationships of the characters. If you're looking for a film to make you laugh, make you cry and make you think then this would be a good film for you. One of the best movies I've seen in a long time.

It is always puzzling when films of the caliber of FEAST OF LOVE are short-lived in the theaters, usually scantily attended in the shadows of the big, mean, noisy blockbusters. And when film buffs begin to believe that the meaningful movies only come from foreign sources, out pops the DVD release of a jewel like this film, a story so well written (Allison Burnett), directed (Robert Benton), and acted by a gifted cast to show under scrutiny that it is the equal of the best of the 'sensitive films'.

Based on a novel by Charles Baxter (and adapted by Allison Burnett, another extraordinary writer of his own novels CHRISTOPHER: A TALE OF SEDUCTION and THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL), the story takes place in Portland, Oregon and examines the lives and love stories of myriad characters, each of whom is connected in some way to the father confessor of the town, one elderly professor Harry Stevenson (Morgan Freeman) who not only narrates the threads of the people's lives that round out this film, but also plays a significant role as a father of an only son who died in the recent past from a heroin overdose, a man bruised and experienced in the vagaries of life, supported by his wife Esther (Jane Alexander), both of whom cope with their loss by extending their love to young people.

Bradley Thomas (Greg Kinnear) is an artist and an optimist who own Jitters, a coffee shop, and is married to Kathryn (Selma Blair) who loves sports...and leaves him for a woman who awakens her lesbian longings. A young recovering drug abuser Oscar (Toby Hemingway) works in Bradley's shop and in a magic moment falls in love with a sensitive free spirit named Chloe (Alexa Davalos) and is hired by Bradley on a whim. Bradley doesn't understand the complications of love: he is an optimistic romantic, but with an indomitable spirit that allows him to progress through marriages like a hero! Searching for a place to live after his marriage fails, he meets real estate agent Diana (Rhadha Mitchell) who despite the fact that she is having an extended love affair with married David (Billy Burke), a relationship consisting solely of 'nooners' with wine and sex, sees the rare vulnerable goodness in Bradley and once again Bradley is in love, headed toward marriage. Meanwhile Oscar and Chloe share dreams for a perfect future despite a problem with Oscar's alcoholic abusive father Bat (Fred Ward) and some ominous warnings from palmist/card reader (Margo Martindale). At the heart of each of these affairs of the heart is the supportive Professor Harry, a wise man who observes reality and yet retains the courage to offer advice and love to all of the characters. In a short time Bradley's marriage to Diana fails as Diana returns to the now available David, and in a moment of angst Bradley wounds himself, is taken to a Dr. Vikashi (Erika Marozsán) for treatment and ends up falling in love yet again - and this time the feeling is wholly mutual. And just when the playing field of love seems even, a major tragedy occurs which bonds all of the players surrounding the wise Harry and Esther and the resolution of all of the aspects of the feast of love come round.

What makes this film so very successful is the gentle manner in which it is written and directed and acted. There is not a weak element here in this survey of the power and force of love. Some may find the generous scenes of lovemaking a problem, but these scenes are in integral part of the story and never border on the superfluous or gratuitous level. The cast is excellent: the pleasure of seeing actors of this wide age range work together in such a fine ensemble manner is doubtless due in large part to not only the individual actors of quality but also to the director. This is a beautiful film, happy and sad, tender and enriching, and hopefully will be seen by a large audience now that it is available on DVD. Highly recommended.

Grady Harp

A movie that manages to be genuine while making you laugh and cry at the fates of the characters in it. I usually go for romantic comedies rather than drama, but this mix of drama, romance and comedy really did it for me. It did not go overboard in trying to make the viewers cry, like so many dramas tend to do and it managed to mix sad comedy with funny comedy - the way they mix in real life as well.

Morgan Freeman is the veritable pillar that holds the whole thing together. One of his better roles (as opposed to many movies that he's been hired to be "the grave guy") and reflects the wisdom of old age very well.

This movie was like a good book, one that you can curl up with and enjoy from start to finish.

There were strong multiple stories, especially the characters who were in situations that they knew were hurting themselves as well as others.

As usual the narration of Morgan Freeman is worth the price of admission. For most of the movie he hides his own pain, but at the same time is able to reach out to help those who need it.

Perhaps it's not a movie for everyone, but if you've been around for a while, you can certainly identify with some of the characters and their stories.

This is one of the better pictures I've seen this year (albeit there weren't very many good pictures this year) and I would highly recommend it.

Great writing, great acting,(not a weak performance in the movie) a believable story line. Yes, it is a story of changing relationships and how we adjust to them. Someone in here mentioned gratuitous sex. No...the sex scenes were a necessary part of this movie it is nice to see that they were left in and not cut out making the movie jumpy. Is it just me, or do you too also want Morgan Freeman to be your next door neighbor after seeing this movie? Greg Kinnear once again shows his very strong acting range. Selma Blair...oh my is she a gem or what? Not enough of her in the movie would probably be my only complaint. It would have been interesting to see how her relationship actually progressed.

I don't write typical reviews because I'm not really smart enough. I'll leave that for those willing to be bright enough to cover all the dimensions of a film. That being said, this movie appeals to your heart and makes you feel something. A little about love, a little about loss, and a little about how important honesty is in relationships and in life in general. It tells you that most importantly, you need to be honest with yourself, but also you really need to find out what to look for in this great journey of life.

I believe Morgan Freeman led a excellent cast of actors, but what I noticed more in the narrative was his distinct voice of reason that Mr. Freeman is so exceptional with in every film he does. So, if you decide to take my advice and spend a couple hours away from your routine to take in this wonderful little film, try to view it from a perspective that its message of thoughtfulness, courage, and heart might endure long after its over.

I also enjoyed some great acting efforts from the always good Greg Kinnear and the Aussie Radha Mitchell, which I think are worth mentioning separately, but the whole cast was good. The film basically follows five distinct relationships (six if you count Morgan Freeman's marriage) as they fall in love, stay in love, or fall out of love. The story line is a little chaotic and improbable at times, but like I said in the beginning, sometimes you have to spare the analysis, and let the experience just gobble you up and let you go. The better films will do that. Happy viewing!

*Spoilers*: There are a few nuggets of wisdom to extrapolate from this film full of tired, retread formulas, clichéd characters and ridiculous, nonsensical twists and harbinger outcomes; the apex of this film is when Freeman gives his narration or he and Kinnear interact. Some of the preceding writing is pretty decent, unfortunately, the rest of the movie is buried amongst tired plot conventions and impractical character motivations. No better way to underscore this than in the ending where all the now sugary characters of shattered, debauched relationships come together to try to rescue the life of one of their crew. It is one of the most insipid and uninspired things I've seen in a movie in quite a while (you could see this 'surprise' coming a mile away, and why didn't they wait for an ambulance, as a football game had just ended with spectators walking around everywhere before trying to drive through it?). Overall, if you want to see a movie that writer/director Robert Benton made that was truly good, if not great, check out 1979's 'Kramer Vs. Kramer', or 1994's 'Nobody's Fool' with Paul Newman. For now, this feast has me bloated.

This movie had touched me so much, that I had to share it. I had never watched that kind of movie ever! It's completely original and it keeps your mind and sight on it. It's not like the other love stories, when the guy is heartbroken and the movie shows how miserable he is and than suddenly he finds the girl on his dreams and they live happily ever after. In life doesn't happen like that, you met a lot more, before the right one and the movie shows it too.

I'd never liked so much Morgan Freeman till now. Maybe because I'd never seen him in this genre. He acts like a wise man, which had been trough a lot and he gives real and sensible advices. I especially liked the end; it just fits so right to the whole movie. It shows that there are bad people, but if we stick to the good ones we can be happy.

Saw this movie last night in a preview. Had high hopes from the cast and the director. Hopes were dashed on the rocks of cinematic stupidity. At the core of this movie is the story of three couples and their loves, losses, toils and tears.

Morgan Freeman and Jane Alexander play the older, wiser couple who are suffering a heartbreak which is revealed about 1/3 of the way through the movie. Of the three couples, they are the most interesting and the least explored. Here we have an inter-racial couple in their late sixties facing their mortality with a deep abiding love. I could have watched them for 1.5 hours! Couple their interesting story with the fine acting that these pro's deliver and you'd have a great movie.

Greg Kinnear and X are the second "middle-aged" couple. I say X because Greg goes through several women in the movie.

Toby Hemingway and Alexa Davalos are the young couple. Romeo and Juliet, young love, yada yada yada.

What annoyed me about the movie were the constant coincidences. I think only 10 people live in Portland and they all sleep together. On scene involves Greg Kinnear and his new wife Radha Mitchell (who just ended a long affair with a married man, but kept his shirt). Greg and Radha jaunt off to a party with Radha wear the aforementioned shirt. Guess who is at the party? Yup - married man and wife who Radha the real estate agent sold a house to years ago (which started the affair). Of course wife recognizes Radha the Realtor and has to say hello where she of course recognizes the shirt since it happened to be a birthday gift from her to her cheatin' husband. And of course that shirt was missing a tell-tale button which eliminated any possibility of a duplicate. Thus drama ensued...

Another scene that stretched my credulity followed quickly afterward when Greg Kinnear's character decides his body must feel the same pain as his heart and slices off the tip of his finger. Rushed to the hospital by wise and kindly Morgan Freeman who continuously admonishes him to stop telling people he did it himself, Greg falls in love with the Doctor who stitches him up. What was amazing was the Doctor falls in love with the crazy guy who just chopped his finger off.

Oh and the movie had way too much nudity. I'm not a prude but I'm not a fan of excessive nudity for the sake of nudity. Same with some of the coarse language.

Overall rating: I wouldn't pay an airline $3 for the headphones to hear this movie!

Shrewd marketing meant that Feast of Love's release here was to coincide with the extremely commercial Valentine's Day celebrations, but sometimes I wonder the value of such a move, because do you really want to spend that day dedicated to declarations of undying love, in a darkened cinema hall, involved in what is essentially a solitary activity, at least until the lights come on.

But to those who decide to do so, Feast of Love lives up to its namesake. Based on the novel by Charles Baxter, almost every conceivable notion of the modern relationship gets worked into the entire story. And it helps too with an ensemble cast filled with beautiful leads, from young upstarts to wisely veterans. As with most movies with a huge cast, everyone's connected to one another through the inevitable six degrees of separation, naturally for convenience, but in this aspect, it played to the early monologue and we take on the role of the Greek Gods, who introduced the notion of love and see how each of our human creations scuttle around trying to make sense of it, and through their individual journeys, succeed or fail, laugh or cry, get spurned on to heights unimaginable, or get thrown into the depths of heartbroken despair.

Morgan Freeman can almost sleepwalk through any wise, sagely character roles. After all, he's played the most powerful man on Earth before, and even God himself, twice. Here, he's Harry Stevenson, a university lecturer on a leave of absence who together with his wife Esther Stevenson (Jane Alexander), are grieving the lost of their only son. His best friend is a coffee joint owner Bradley Thomas (Greg Kinnear), who is just about the most unlucky bloke when it comes to affairs of the heart, with his female engagements being Selma Blair, Radha Mitchell and Erika Marozsan, who enter at different points of his life. Then there's Bradley's employee Oscar the baristas, whom we follow in a tale of young, passionate love at first sight with Chloe (Alexa Davalos).

As I mentioned earlier, every conceivable aspect of love get played on the big screen. You have the young love at first sight, the tried and tested bonds between the elderly who fear about impending departure from one another through death, you have ugly divorces, and worse, if it's for a member of the same sex, you have adultery and the exploration what makes it worse - knowing that you're cheating on your spouse, or cheating on a potential spouse because you've led them to believe that you're in exclusivity, and of course, parental love and guidance given towards a child.

Come to think of it, there're quite a number of negative emotions that get played through the movie, but ultimately, it's still provides a positive effect through the lessons learnt from succinct encounters that the characters go through. Such as whether you'll find the courage to go through hardship and difficulties with the other half, knowing the consequence of it all, finding little happiness and blessings in your daily life despite setbacks that take a stab through your heart, and what I thought was a very, very apt reminder and an important lesson to be learnt, is to always open your eyes and not be blindsided by love just because of the endorphins that course through your entire body make it seem that you can tolerate shortcomings for the longer term.

It's a reminder that in relationships, one has to be first honest with oneself, before seeking out that somebody else. Ditch those baggage, and fear not to break away amicably should you realize that things aren't working out right. Never give up hope, and to keep to your vows should you already have made them. Love is in the air, but pragmatism should sometimes prevail or be considered in tandem.

*contains spoilers*

My friends and I were in the mood for a light-hearted comedy, as the previews seemed to indicate. It looks like one of those stories where guy gets dumped, meets nice girl, pulls himself up by the bootstraps, gets his dog back, and heals his heart. WRONG! The plot goes more along the lines of guy gets dumped, lots of people have sex or walk around naked, guy pathetically buys dog from nephew, plot goes nowhere. I have no idea how it ends because after an hour, we gave up and walked out. It was that bad.

Weak storyline, predictable and uninspired dialogue, unimaginative (and excessive) nudity and sex for its R rating. Even if you view the movie as a drama instead of a potential romantic comedy, it still lacks depth and doesn't tie you to any of the characters. I found myself watching the scenes in the hope that just maybe the dog would be on camera- at least he was likable and interesting. No such luck. Watch some of the rainy scenes- you can see the sunshine in the background even in the big storm scenes. Altogether awful awful movie.

Don't waste your time, money, or spot in your rental queue. Worst movie I've seen in years.

OK, let me just start off by saying that if you aren't 15 and madly in love or in a mid-life crisis, this movie will seem extremely extremely cheesy...

By cheesy, I mean "I wanted to feel in my body as much pain as I feel in my heart" (get over yourself)... and the actor is meant to say this without laughing. Seriously though i found some parts of the dialog excruciating. As well, who talks about their recently turned lesbian ex-wife to a complete stranger?

Also the story itself seems to have been written by either a 15 year old or a midlife criser. It's just so cliché... the young couple with a tragic end, the alcoholic father, the cutely naive 40 year old who gets his heart stomped on over and over again, and above all, the wise old black man. I think it's about time for Morgan Freeman to find other parts to play... It's also cliché in that everyone falls in love at first sight, somehow confusing lust for love.

The acting was overall OK, though sometimes Kinnear makes you raise an eyebrow. Truly, I think the producers noticed the movie wouldn't have cut it, so they decided to throw in a few naked chicks and I guess it works, I mean i stayed till the end. The only reason i stayed though was for Alexa Davalos (bom chicka wah wah).

This could have been a really really good soap opera.

I have always enjoyed the wise-man roles of Morgan Freeman. He does just another fine job, in this movie too. Also, I liked Greg Kinnear, and his average-guy roles. But in this one- he takes a real bad emotional beating from two spouses....in a row! But, being the non-vindictive nice-guy, he holds no resentments to his exes. What a guy! The young characters Oscar, and Chloe really hit a soft spot in me. Only because I have witnessed some truly tragic love-at-first sight romances myself.

I was mesmerized by Radha Mitchell's appearance in Man On Fire, and Silent Hill...but was very impressed by her baring all(what a stunner!) in this film. She has that ultra-sexy, Mariel Hemingway-like look to her that leaves me breathless. She will definitely have a following after this movie, now. I think there is no comparison between her, and Naomi Watts.

This is a movie I really wanted to like. Not only was it filmed in Portland, OR where I live, but I was also an extra in it. So, I went into the movie theater expecting a film that was if at least not award-worthy, was a thought-provoking & well-made picture. Plus, it had Greg Kinnear & Morgan Freeman- both Oscar winners- what could go wrong? Everything.

I have not read the book on which this was based, but I cannot imagine it had the simplistic, contrived, and corny plot that the movie contained. The pacing was so painfully slow and quiet, I could hear our crowded theater straining in their seats to stay awake during the long shots of Greg Kinnear's glossy eyes trying to convey his disbelief at why another woman has left him (dude maybe it IS you!)

Even harder to explain is why the director felt it was necessary to have so many sex scenes. 'Feast of Flesh' would have been a better title. Didn't gratuitous nudity go out of style after 'Basic Instinct'? I like a passionate love scene as much as the next, but when you have EVERY sexual encounter involve the woman grinding away on top of the man (who of course isn't showing any of HIS private parts!) it becomes very tacky and cheap. Okay Rhada Mitchell is HOT, we get it! Can she have a conversation with a bra on at least? Nudity does not convey intimacy- emotions convey intimacy.

So, if you want to bored senseless for long stretches of time, by all means see this movie. You can then decide if this movies suffers from: 1. a lack of music/score (I could have heard a pin drop at times), 2. trying to mish-mash multiple plot lines poorly, 3. not developing characters enough so we don't connect or relate, or 4. theme about the "mystery of love" is a very cliché & tired concept.

This movie does not prove a thing about the wonder of love- just because the girl knew her boyfriend would die but married him anyway- is probably the 100th movie to do this (see 'Love Story', 'Dying Young', or 'My Life'). I got what the director was trying to show us, but it wasn't original, didn't explore anything new, or move me. All this movie proves is that good directors can make bad movies!

The title and poster of this movie is deceptive, making you think of "Love actually". "Feast of love" (a book-adapted movie) is more pensive, and at times sad, although there is of course the lighter side. I often think that it's a sign of laziness when a film critic quotes dialogues, but when two of the most widely-read critics do the same, there should be some meaning to it.

It's like this. The movie starts with Morgan Freeman playing a retired philosophy professor, sleepless in Portland (close enough to Seattle), walks pensively from his house, with voice over of his thoughts, something to the effect of: The Greek gods were bored, invented humans, still bored, invented love (which was not boring), tried it themselves and invented laughter so they could stand it. That sets the tone of the movie.

And while we are on philosophical thoughts, one question that is asked repeatedly in the movie is whether love is just something to ensure the creation of new babies. This vaguely echoes Shaw's "Man and superman" (what he himself calls "a comedy and a philosophy"), the "Life Force" that brings a man and a women together in a "supreme moment", and all that.

With considerable simplification, one could say that the movie builds on the stories of three couples. Freeman and Jane Alexander play a couple who has recently lost their son to drug addiction and the deepest tragedy it that they never knew the truth until it was too late, seeing their son only as what appears on the surface, a successful doctor. In the second story we witness how a young couple meet (played by Toby Hemingway and Alexa Blair) , fall in love and dream about a wonderful future when they, leaving their poverty behind, build a beautiful family with lots of kids.

The third story (which is in fact the main plot) is about a man's relationship with three women, no, not simultaneously but successively. Greg Kinnear plays an otherwise undistinguished man with Snow White simplicity and purity. Surely, he doesn't deserve the agony of losing his first wife to her randomly-encountered lesbian lover, and his second wife to her formal adultery lover. Still, he finds true love and happiness when he encounters a doctor who does appreciate him. Here, it's the second relationship that take the spotlight, with Radha Mitchell portraying an attractive women who is driven essentially by her reckless passion.

In a way, this movie suffers in not fitting neatly into a niche (as "Love actually" does) and therefore not pleasing some people. But although it does not have the depth of serious dramas, this move has its moments. And despite the opening quote, this movie has a wider scope than mere romantic love, as we find in the end. There is also a positive message, however cliché, that with the tragedies that bring so much sorrow, life goes on and if we make the best of it, we'll see the blessings.

The performances will not bring Oscar nominations, as one critic puts it. But I would add that the acting from a rather large cast is uniformly above being mere competence.

This is the first movie (I won't even dignify it by calling it a film) I have walked out on in a long time. I left after 50 minutes. The joke of the whole thing is how the writer/director has tried to glamorize the idea that every one is falling in and out of love with everyone they meet at random. It is a sad state of affairs and no wonder this country is in the shape it's in today if this is what people think is reality, because this is what Hollywood continues to propagate. So, if gratuitous sex (there were 6 or 7 sex scenes in the first 50 minutes)and adultery both heterosexual and homosexual is your idea of a great movie; then this is for you. I hope that people don't really believe that this is how relationships are supposed to work, or worse yet how relationships really are, because it's not. Save your money and your valuable time for a more worthy movie outing!

OK I need to say right off that since I'm actually in the movie, I might be a little biased. That being said I'll still tell you what I thought.

Hi!, I'm Bradley(apparently). At times I felt like I was watching my life unfold before my eyes as an unauthorized biography, I Kept flinching as the plot kept changing. OK the acting was very well done, I felt the director coaxed every little bit of just the right emotions out of pretty much all the actors in this dynamic and wide ranging ensemble. Kudo's to the screenwriter Allison Burnett! She gave us an excellent working translation of the book from which this film is based upon.

I laughed at many points, cried at even more times and loved as much as the characters loved. I was allowed the chance to "Join" the actors in their lives as we glimpsed short snippets of each of their lives in turn. I was blessed and cursed at the same time. Sometimes a movie... usually a very "smart" movie will seem to 'hit too close to home'. This leaves the watcher with a bitter sweet taste in their mouth. Well I think I will do as Bradley would and choose to taste the sweet and possibly close my eyes to the bitter, allowing me to remember this film for the obvious love that went into each performance and care in selecting every frame filmed!

I loved it.. You must go see it for yourself... as everyone will have this movie come at them in a different way and touch them, forever opening their eyes! ( I sincerely hope).

P.S. Cheating spouses beware! you may get well deserved rotten food thrown at you on the way out!

I would have to say as a young person seeing this film changed everything for me. For all of those who left thinking it was a bad movie well in the end you did waste your time. This is one of the best movies I have seen. I fell in love with all the characters and even though it takes some time to start it was good. In all It really does make you think about your life and it does give you hope. Though their were a couple of sex scenes that didn't need to be included it wasn't like in other movies were they exploit more then needed. It was simple and not to graphic. It was a great movie and if you couldn't stay and watch then it wasn't the right movie for you. Other then that this was a great director and he does portray life the way it really is. He doesn't give us bull stories that we would like to see but only what we don't. Not everyone can understand that.

This is a movie that features the always enjoyable Morgan Freeman and a decent amount of female nudity. Those are pretty much the only real selling points.

Feast of Love focuses on a small group of people and the romantic contortions in which they engage. Harry (Morgan Freeman) is a college professor in Portland still coming to terms with a family tragedy. Harry is friends with Bradley (Greg Kinnear), a man who deeply needs to love but is so oblivious to the people he loves he doesn't notice his first wife (Selma Blair) is a lesbian and his second wife is an adulterous bitch. That second wife, Diana (Rhada Mitchell), lets herself be romanced by Bradley because he's so unobjectionable, even though she's really in angry, unhealthy love with another woman's husband. Bradley owns a coffee shop where Oscar (Tobey Hemingway) works, and Oscar falls in love at first sight with Chloe (Alexa Davalos), a coupling not approved of by Oscar's angry and violent father (Fred Ward).

I think the point of this story, which was adapted from a novel, is to make you think about the utility of love. At one point, Diana says love is a trick to get people to procreate while Bradley says love is everything. Is all the pain and difficulty of seeking out and pursuing love worth it? I'm not sure the answer offered up is supported by the evidence in the movie.

The fundamental problem of this film is that it never settles on a main character. At first, you think it's going to be Harry as the center of this romantically troubled crew. But then the movie focuses on Bradley's first wife and her yearning for a love she doesn't have. But after she leaves Bradley and hooks up with another woman, the movie forgets about her. Then you think the story might focus on Bradley and his recovery from a failed marriage, but as soon as he meets Diana the story focuses almost entirely on her and Bradley becomes a supporting character, until they break-up and the focus shifts again to Bradley. Even with Oscar and Chloe, the story starts out concentrating on Oscar and his poor upbringing but then, for no particular reason, shifts to looking at the relationship from Chloe's perspective and Oscar essentially disappears. As soon as you get interested in a character and their story, the film decides it's done with that person and brings someone else to the forefront.

The other significant problem with the film is that it wants to believe that no one ever really gets that angry. It wants us to accept and even endorse a world where Bradley's first wife cheats on him with another woman and his second wife cheats on him with another man, but after his third marriage he can still be friends and pal around with his exes. But when supposedly traumatic personal events don't have any emotional consequences, they don't have any emotional significance either.

As for Feast of Love's good points…Morgan Freeman gives another fine performance and, yes, he does narrate parts of the movie. And Selma Blair, Rhada Mitchell and Alexa Davalos all look quite good naked, although there are moments when the movie is so gratuitously showing off their female forms that the only thing missing is a blinking neon sign that says "Nudes! Nudes! Nudes!"

Feast of Love isn't ultimately an aggressively bad film. It's just not good enough or perceptive enough to tell you anything about love and heartache you don't already know.

I went to see this movie with the idea that it was a light-hearted comedy...nothing could be further from the truth. It wasn't the best film I have ever seen, but far from the worst. The truth is, it made me stop and think about a few things that I wouldn't have otherwise. One is to really pay attention to the dynamics of your particular relationship and to the person that you share it with. Another is to live each day as if it were your last...life is fleeting, so enjoy it to the fullest while you can. The last thing I took away from this film is that "there is a lid for every pot"...you may not find the right person the first time around, or even the second time around, but if you don't give up on love, some day you might find that one special person that was meant for you.

Most of the above is pretty sappy, and I'm not generally a sappy person, but these are some of the feelings this movie brought out in me. I would not want to see this type of movie on a consistent basis, but once in awhile I find it refreshing to focus on human nature and how we are all fumbling through life with our own problems and ways of dealing with them.

Morgan Freeman and Jane Alexander were superb as the older couple profiled and I truly enjoyed Greg Kinnear as the guy that refused to give up on love. I would recommend this movie to anyone that has a sensitive side they want to explore...otherwise stay away!

I can't believe anyone could rate this above a 5. Even sappy people will groan at this film. The characters all seem to be mentally retarded and have the emotional depth of 10 year olds. Really, this is a painfully bad movie that I would have walked out on except that I was too lazy to reach for the remote control which had fallen on the floor.

Borderline soft-core porn is fine if you can actually believe it, but this movie was just a joke. The scene where Morgan Freeman wanders into the stadium to see two people getting it on actually made me laugh out loud, then I realized the only way to watch this film is to treat is as a joke, laugh and make Mystery Science Theatre 3000 style comments and you will have a good time.

This movie is very well acted and has a good story line. There's Morgan Freeman the "wise old man", who is friends with Greg Kinnear, who is a bit naive when it comes to love despite his bad experiences, which make his character more enjoyable. And there are the two young loves, both with hard past. The two actors who portrayed these characters, this was the first time I've seen either or them, and I hope to see them again both gave excellent performances. The only complaint is the overly graphic sex scenes. They could of been toned down a bit. It was a bit too much and it did take away from a good and interesting plot. Overall this is a good movie that is worth going to see.