Love Liza tells the story of Wilson Joel (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a man forced into emotional turmoil following his wife's sudden suicide. As is the case with most people in this situation, the grieving process is painful. Joel's escape is rather odd. He becomes addicted to gas fumes, and before long, he finds himself inhaling them on a daily basis. Things become even more complicated when Joel finds a sealed letter left by his wife. Throughout the picture, he struggles to find the nerve to open it. Love Liza takes what is quite dark subject matter, and makes it easier to take through a light touch supplied by director Todd Louiso (who you may remember as a music store clerk in High Fidelity). And while Love Liza does show the painful truth of it's situation, it also shows there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Philip Seymour Hoffman is outstanding here as a man coping with a horrible and seemingly unexplainable loss. He carries the movie and always seems up to the challenge in a role that is offbeat, sensitive and full of heart. This is one of his very best performances. I also liked Kathy Bates as Joel's concerned mother-in-law and Jack Kehler as Wilson's strange new friend.

There are moments in Love Liza that tend to be a little too quirky for their own good, but this never takes away from the overall effect of the movie. Even when it's at it's most eccentric, Love Liza manages to ring true thanks to strong directing, and terrific performances.