Several young adults attempt to find success in the country music industry in Nashville: Miranda Presley (Samantha Mathis), recently arrived from New York City; Kyle, a cowboy from Connecticut (Dermot Mulroney); Linda Lue (Sandra Bullock), who is somewhat ditzy but seems genuine and comes from the South; and James Wright (River Phoenix), brimming with creative energy and self-assurance. "The Thing Called Love," released in 1993, didn't do well at the box office, but it’s a fairly decent drama centered on the music business in Nashville. It doesn't rely on stereotypes or caricatures (though there’s nothing wrong with that), and the characters are generally genuine and likable, even if they can be frustrating at times. The movie has a contemporary feel and features newer country music from 1993. Beyond their aspirations for musical careers, the story primarily focuses on Kyle's and James' attraction to Miranda and the resulting competition between them. The film avoids any mean-spiritedness, despite one fight scene. It gives the impression that these are talented people who will remain friends regardless of what happens. There were a couple of things I found particularly worthwhile about this movie. One is River Phoenix’s captivating performance; he was 22 during filming. His appearance bears a resemblance to Quorthon of Bathory (when he was in his twenties), for those familiar with that obscure metal band. He possesses a brooding charisma reminiscent of Marlon Brando, but different. Sadly, just three and a half months after the film's release, River was found dead outside an L.A. nightclub from an overdose. He was only 23. Samantha Mathis (Miranda) was his girlfriend at that time. Speaking of her, Samantha is another highlight of this movie, where she even surpasses Sandra Bullock. It’s worth remembering that this film came out the year before Bullock's breakthrough role in "Speed." Samantha’s beauty is effectively captured in a few scenes, such as around the 40-minute mark when Linda Lue's boyfriend is passed out on the bed. It’s unfortunate she didn’t achieve wider recognition like Sandra did; her most well-known film is probably “Broken Arrow” (1996), after which she largely disappeared from feature films. A few country music stars make brief appearances, including Trisha Yearwood and Pam Tillis. "The Thing Called Love" may not be a classic country movie like "Coal Miner's Daughter" (1980), but it’s pretty good and stands out because of River Phoenix’s brooding charisma. He was excellent, and it’s such a shame that he died so young. The film has a running time of 1 hour and 56 minutes; the Director's Cut is just a few minutes longer. Filming primarily took place in Nashville, with one scene at Graceland in Memphis and another in Santa Clarita, California (the bus stop / cafe sequence where Miranda writes a song). GRADE: B-/B

Source on TMDB