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''Playing by Heart'' is a 1998 romantic dramedy film written and directed by Willard Carroll, featuring an AllStarCast including Creator/GillianAnderson, Creator/EllenBurstyn, Creator/SeanConnery, Creator/AnthonyEdwards, Creator/AngelinaJolie, Creator/JayMohr, Creator/RyanPhillippe, Creator/DennisQuaid, Creator/GenaRowlands, Creator/JonStewart, and Creator/MadeleineStowe.

The film follows a number of characters living in UsefulNotes/LosAngeles and their relationships.

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!!Examples:

* TheAlcoholic: Joan seems to be edging around this. At their first meeting Keenan notices how quickly she gulps down her martini, and later comments on her drinking. [[spoiler:She stops drinking at this point, but her parents are clearly (pleasantly) surprised by this, so it wasn't just in Keenan's head.]]
* AmbiguousEnding: [[spoiler: Although most of the couples seem to have reached some measure of happiness by the end, it's not clear what the future holds for Hugh and Gracie.]]
* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: Joan makes one for Keenan after he reveals [[spoiler: he's got HIV]].
* DarkSecret: Keenan avoids getting too close to Joan, until he reveals [[spoiler: that he was infected with HIV by his last girlfriend]].
* FauxYay: Hugh attempts this at a gay bar, but the DragQueen he's chatting to sees through the ruse.
-->'''Lana:''' Lana may be three sheets to the proverbial wind, but I don't believe a single word coming out of your pretty, straight, little mouth.
* FieryRedhead: Joan. Meredith has the red hair, but not the personality.
* TheFirstCutIsTheDeepest: For Keenan, with devastating consequences.
* HappilyMarried: Paul and Hannah.
* HyperlinkStory: The final scenes of the film reveal how the characters are linked- [[spoiler: Joan, Meredith and Gracie are Paul and Hannah's daughters; Hugh is Gracie's husband and Roger is the celebrant who is presiding over Paul and Hannah's renewal of their vows. A couple of scenes earlier, Mark is revealed to be Meredith's ex.]]
* SillyRabbitRomanceIsForKids: Meredith's view of relationships- after getting hurt one too many times she's reluctant to get involved with Trent.
* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: Joan.

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