Perfect casting, Lili shines as the innocent, yet strong, music lover and burgeoning song writer. River is terrific also, as the young man trying to work out where he fits in, like all 18 year old's when in a confusing and confronting time. Set in arguably one of the greatest times of change during the past century, the sixties, with the sexual revolution, the Vietnam War, when radios played Bob Dylan who made everyone sit up and listen to his powerful poetry delivered in music form, particularly the sensitive ones, all the time trying to find their way in a world. Young men behaving selfishly, who had a sense, if not yet confirmed, they were being used as political fodder in a war, as it turned out, they could not win, let alone how they would be received when and if they came home, throwing the dice one last time, behaving in a cynical and fickle manner. In the middle of this heady time, innocent love is discovered, like all true love, it appears when you least expect it, but it seems to always arrive at the perfect time. Tender film, with the perfect ending and the perfect soundtrack to top it off

This movie benefits from its sweet and sensitive approach and mainly from Lili Taylor's incredibly likable performance. I absolutely root for this girl and wish I could have a real-life friend like her. The enthusiasm by which she talks about most things, her aspirations in life, even the music she listened to where reasons to fall in love with this character. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about River Phoenix's character, a character I felt unable to empathize with as you do not get a true explanation as to why he'd previously behaved so callously, you do not get a big enough insight into his character, something to show his humanity, his fears, ambitions or insecurities. And I think that is because while Rose is such a driven and opinionated young girl, Eddie's character is the exact opposite, a guy frustrated with his situation for a reason he himself can't really explain. This makes their romance believable however, as you can see Eddie's attraction towards this girl's optimistic and at the same time strong aura. When their date comes to an end however, Eddie seems to choose to forget about this encounter and return to his previous life of bullshit-loaded tomfoolery, in a way a protective mechanism when entering the world of blood and horror that was Vietnam back then. He returns from war, having potentially lost his mates, seeming somewhat changed (if that) and enters Rose's café to see Rose again, hugging her and remembering that one night of pure sincerity in an otherwise bullshit-filled way of living.

While the characters that were created for Taylor and Phoenix to play were (IMHO) two-dimensional, the performances by both took these roles above and beyond and turned them into something that, while at times bordered on cliché phrases used by either a girl into the music of the 60's, or a jarhead, as it were, were utterly believable and seemingly natural.Also, on a different note, I was taken aback by how River slipped into this role so seamlessly. It was great to have seen some movies of his and to think I had a sort of grasp on potential roles, being type-cast, but then to see him in this and see how he truly made the role his own, and how he came across, no, he was, so very genuine.

First, pardon for my English. A good movie. An impact topic that I leave myself restless per years, this movie, like we change, we lie, or we make some or another bad action, to adapt to a group. When growing, when living, when transmuting; Lying and becoming wretches comforted opportunists. Those opportunists that it is denied by right the happiness, the love, the favorable and true caress of the life. Becoming in who we are not, if not in a character, list that he/she plays us to live. As well as me lost, as well as they transmuted many around to my. Who one lies intimately, today and until their deaths, about the love pseudo-love that you/they possess. 2do. Matter: which the song is and do interpret of the end of the movie, that of the hug of Phoenix and its love, that of the titles? To you. salt-lu-2. -