Dancing About Architecture. What? The former title of Playing by Heart seems to make no sense, until one hears the opening lines of the movie. Similarly, the plot also does not configure well unless one watches the entire film.

First, an explanation of the old title. The movie starts by introducing each of the characters, beginning with Joan, played by Angelina Jolie. She is sitting at a table in a nightclub sipping a martini with three olives and sporting spiked pink hair. From her ever so famous lips she utters the movie's most notable line. "Definitely, most definitely, talking about love is like dancing about architecture, so I don't know, he may be right, but it's not gonna stop me from trying."

Suddenly there is a new scene, new character, new plot. Dennis Quaid as Hugh, stumbles into a bar and proceeds to tell the disturbing but mesmerizing story of his wife's death to a lonely woman at a booth. Again the scene is cut short and a new character in a different setting is introduced. This proceeds until all nine of the major players have been given a glance. After introductions, the movie continues like this. It jumps from scene to scene of six apparently unrelated storylines. This accounts for part two of why this movie does not make sense. But don't give up hope. In the end everyone comes together, the tension flies away, and the plot becomes crystal clear.

This technique puts a new spin on the typical romantic comedy and is a great decision on the part of writer/director Willard Carroll. It also leaves room for many scenario twists and surprises at the finale when the parallels of the characters bend together into a single point. Yet, the movie is carried by the cast, which consists of actors who have starred in their own movies, but are humble enough to take smaller roles to balance this film. The first path the film takes to develop is the love story between Jolie and Ryan Phillippe. The heartfelt way characters express the cheesy lines redeem them. Tears cannot be held back when Phillippe tells Jolie, "I won't let you love me because . . . because I love you."

Saturday Night Live actor Jay Mohr plays son to Ellen Burstyn. Mohr takes a more serious role than his usual comedic performances, due to his character's struggle to cope with death, AIDS and the realization that he knows little about his mother. It is a surprising relationship and deals with emotional aspects not usually touched upon. Burston's transition from a mother in denial to a friend dealing with consequences is striking.

Madeleine Stowe and ER's favorite doctor, Anthony Edwards, debate whether or not to continue their affair, seeing as both are married to other people. Together the two actors keep this negative situation humorous with their resistance to reality.

The movie also stars Gillian Anderson of X-Files fame, Jon Stewart, Gena Rowlands, Sean Connery and Quaid.

Taking place in three separate major U.S. cities, it seems unnatural that any of these stories relate, yet once the puzzle is pieced together, you'll find yourself letting out a big "oh I get it." Even though it may take a while to come to this realization, the developments of the diverse relationships portrayed by the outstanding cast will captivate you.