First Look: “Personal Effects” with Ashton Kutcher, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Kathy Bates

When I started researching Personal Effects, which I knew nothing about, I kept finding sites that said the project would be based on Rick Moody’s story “Mansion on the Hill,” found in his collection, “Demonology.” That story, however, follows the adventures of narrator Andrew Wakefield as he tries to come to terms with his sister’s death - she was killed in a car accident just before her wedding. The preview for Personal Effects looks nothing like that story.

Personal Effects Trailer

According to the plot for Personal Effects offered on the movie page at Voltage Pictures site: Seeking vengeance for the murder of his sister, a young man arrives in town only to be sidetracked by a beautiful older woman with wounds very similar to his own. Through this bond, an unlikely and beautiful romance blooms. How do you heal a wound the world can’t see? With love.

By doing a bit of digging I also found out that Personal Effects is the story of two strangers, Linda (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Walter (Ashton Kutcher), who have both lost family members to murder. They are brought together by their court cases or by group therapy (not sure which). Linda has a deaf son, who’s become increasingly troubled since his dad was murdered, but Walter, who was once a high school wrestler helps him out – teaching him how to wrestle and how to funnel his anger through sport. David Hollander directs and Kathy Bates also stars.

I’m sure it’s a real tearjerker type of movie, but it looks like it could have potential. I still haven’t heard much about it and it doesn’t seem like Personal Effects is due to hit theaters until possibly 2009.

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Movies
Ashton Kutcher, David Hollander, Kathy Bates, Michelle Pfeiffer, Personal Effects