The Thing Called Love (1993)

Taglines: Stand by your dream.

The Thing Called Love movie synopsis. Young Miranda Presley, an aspiring Country-singer/writer, comes to Nashville, Tennessee, to enter the weekly singer contest held at “The Bluebird Cafe”. There she meets James Wright, an energetic, but somewhat chaotic young man, Kyle Davidson, a more laid-back kind of guy and Linda Lue Linden, who’s career may not necessarily be in Country… When both James and Kyle get attracted to Miranda, she makes a decision.

The Thing Called Love is a 1993 American comedy-drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich and starring Samantha Mathis, River Phoenix, Dermot Mulroney and Sandra Bullock. While the film involves a love triangle and various complications in Miranda’s route to success, it provides a sweetened glimpse at the lives of aspiring songwriters in Nashville. Its tagline is: “Stand by your dream”.

The film was Phoenix’s final complete screen performance before his death. A “making of” documentary is available on the film’s DVD release, titled The Thing Called Love: A Look Back.

The Thing Called Love (1993) - Samantha Mathis — The Thing Called Love (1993) – Samantha Mathis

About the Story

Miranda Presley is an aspiring singer/songwriter from New York City who loves country music and decides to take her chances in Nashville, Tennessee, where she hopes to become a star. After arriving in Music City after a long bus ride, Miranda makes her way to the Bluebird Cafe, a local watering hole with a reputation as a showcase for new talent. The bar’s owner, Lucy, takes a shine to the plucky newcomer and gives her a job as a waitress.

Before long, Miranda has gotten to know a number of other Nashville transplants who are looking to land a gig or sell a song, including sweet and open-hearted Kyle Davidson, moody but talented James Wright, and spunky Linda Lue Linden. As the four friends struggle to find their place in the competitive Nashville music scene, both Kyle and James display a romantic interest in Miranda, but she is drawn to James in spite of his moody temperament.

Miranda pursues James, and they end up getting married, but they soon realize marriage takes work. James leaves Miranda behind to make his album, what he always wanted to do, but realizes he left his heart with her. He comes back to the Bluebird Cafe but discovers that Miranda has left town. Miranda returns and sings a new song, before tentatively reuniting with James. Kyle joins them as Linda Lue leaves for New York, and the remaining three discuss writing a song together.