Personal Effects

Despite never making it to cinemas, Personal Effects is a touching film with performances that display emotional depth.

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When the young wrestler Walter (Ashton Kutcher) learns of his twin sister's death, he puts his life on hold, returning home to help his mother and niece as the trial of the accused murderer proceeds. While attending grief counselling sessions with his mother, he meets Linda (Michelle Pfeiffer), who is awaiting the verdict in the trial of her husband's killer and dealing with her deaf son Clay's (Spencer Hudson) anger problems. Walter and Linda prove invaluable to each other as they deal with their respective grief, and over time, their relationship becomes romantic. Kutcher delivers a commendable performance as a quiet, emotionally stunted wrestler, successfully vacillating between rage at the lack of closure in his sister's murder (as well as the defence lawyer's suggestion that his sister brought her ugly death upon herself), and profound helplessness at his inability to right the wrongs that have affected those around him. Pfeiffer gives a compelling performance as a vulnerable woman who is overwhelmed by sadness. Linda's situation isn't helped by her son's violent tendencies, but she is gradually brought back to life through her relationship with Walter and his positive impact on her struggling son. Personal Effects never made it to cinemas. But nevermind; it is a touching movie in which each character displays an emotional depth with which viewers can sympathise.