OK, I know that this movie is based on a play, but still, does the main idea expressed by Peter Gallagher need to directly reflect a line said by John Cage on Ally McBeal 3 years later? Gallagher's character says that while he experiences this "fantasy", he is happy, happier than he is in the real world. John Cage tells Ally that you can't find happiness in the real world, and that is why she is only happy in her imaginary world. Hmmmmmmmm.... This seems a little redundant to me, but as long as we don't see the ghost of Happy Boyle on Ally McBeal, I can forgive DEK.

As for the overall movie, I give this movie an 8 out of 10 stars.

In opening up the play Mr. Kelley has lost some of the intimacy which in turn does not allow the fullest expression of grief. Mr. Gallagher and Ms. Danes seem to know this and so are a bit labored in their otherwise good and consistent performances. Michelle Pfiefer (Mrs. Kelley) seems to be mis-cast and appears also not to be giving her all to her performance of the late Gillian. It would be interesting to know how she might of played it with different direction or what another actress may have been able to do with the role. Still it is an excellent portrait of the ways loss and grief influence our lives and become part of who we are. Supporting cast is fine.

There's a pivotal scene in this movie in which a sexy teenager tries to seduce an older, family friend. She says he's the type who always looks but never acts on his impulses. She's right, because he refuses her advances. Too bad. This movie needed some excitement. The characters are so whiny, so self-absorbed that you just want to slap them and say, "get over it." The main character is a widowed man, played by Peter Gallagher. His wife (Michelle Pfeiffer) died in a boating accident, but she appears to him on the beach. Can you say, "Ghost"? Unfortunately, there's no Whoopi Golberg to provide comic relief. There's no whoopi at all. There is Claire Danes. I love Claire. She's going to win a few Oscars over her career, but not if she keeps picking weepy stories like this one. Claire also walks along the beach in a thong bikini, and I'd like to thank her, and the producers for those moments. I think that's why the slo-mo button was invented for VCRs. That's it for the spice. Then everyone starts whining again, and you start checking your watch to see how much longer you have to endure these annoying people.