SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

GurlyIamBeach Instant Favorite.

SpunkySelfTwitter It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

mrb1980 Peter Falk and Jill Clayburgh certainly don't sound like the typical romantic couple. In fact, it's hard to envision them as being a couple at all…until you watch "Griffin and Phoenix: A Love Story". The story is the old "two dying people fall in love" one, but it's done with such grace and believability that the film is really irresistible.Griffin (Falk) is told by his doctor that his cancer has spread and he only has a short time to live, so he decides to take a college class instead of moping around at home. There he meets Phoenix (Clayburgh) a fun-loving, carefree woman to whom he is instantly attracted. The two naturally fall in love, sharing many emotional, sweet, and poignant scenes together. Griffin accidentally discovers Phoenix's secret, though: she too is dying of cancer, and also wants to live a little before the end comes. The two make an unbreakable agreement: when one knows it's the time to leave and face death, the other cannot follow, but must remain behind and not interfere. One day Griffin comes home to find a note from Phoenix stating that she has left, and reminding him of their agreement not to search for her. Griffin cannot say goodbye so easily, and frantically searches until he finds Phoenix in a hospital, on life support and clearly close to the end of her life. Although she is upset that he has found her like this, the two lovers embrace one last time before Phoenix passes away. Griffin then slowly walks down a street, staring blankly ahead while smashing car windows, as the film ends.I saw this film at its premiere over 32 years ago and I have often thought of its message. If you just review the film's plot and cast, you'd think that there's no way this film would be any good. Logic suggests that Falk should be badly miscast as the male lead in a poignant, romantic movie like this; however, he is absolutely excellent as Griffin. Clayburgh is wonderful as always as Phoenix, bringing a cheerful yet rational approach to her doomed character. The two lovers' final scene together is truly tearful and emotional, and makes you feel as though you are there sharing their love and pain. The two leads turn what could be a mawkish, maudlin story into one that is uplifting yet very sad at the same time. It's just a wonderful film with great acting—a stunningly superb TV movie.

johnnylinehan In the 70s, I worked offshore in the North Sea and I got to run the projector when we viewed films after coming off shift.Of the many different films we watched, only two caused the men to linger behind and talk about them. One was 'Over the Cuckoo's Nest' and the other was 'Griffin and Phoenix'.'Cuckoo's Nest' had an obvious appeal to the mad, bad and sad men who lived and worked on an offshore construction site. It was essential to be mad to work there. We were Cajuns, Texans, Spanish, Lebanese and men from all over the world. We worked a minimum of 12 hrs a day for months at a time building platforms and somehow surviving each other as well as the job and the sea and the weather.'Griffin and Phoenix' touched us all for one reason: It was real. On one plane, it is a straightforward love story with moments of deep sadness and even humour. However, the Reality we were affected by was not the story itself or how it was filmed. The thing that got through to all of us, was Peter Falk's anguish. The very things that made the world warm to Columbo; the rumpledness, the ordinary-ness, the hidden cleverness - Were all there in this film.It made us really feel that it was ourselves up on that screen; That it was our agony; our dilemma; our fate.I don't know why it is not shown more often, although I suspect it may be that it would 'interfere' with the Columbo image.Whatever the reason, I recommend that you seek it out if you want to see acting that transcends acting and becomes universal truth. No bullshit: Some of us cried. We didn't cry when friends got killed in horrible accidents or even when a few of us got the worst news you can get from homeBut, some of us cried over this film.

Christopher Pike This movie does not strike a single false note. Every touch is right on target. Unfortunately it's almost never shown, so do not miss a chance to see it. Except for the fashions and locations, Griffin and Phoenix has not aged a day. Very beautiful, moving and funny.

Jeannot ... that is a love story with a very grown-up attitude toward death. Falk and Clayburg are excellent together. A TV movie classic that has been repeated a number of times--but, alas, not lately (to my limited knowledge)Both are dying, but neither knows the other is, and some dramatic misunderstandings are the result. I won't say any more--except to note that the ending is a classic.