I got the DVD because I wanted to see more Amanda Peet after watching 'Something's Got To Give'. I must say it was worth the cost. I was mesmerized by Amanda as the repressed and depressed Sarah Phoenix.

Sarah Phoenix has been dumped by her previous lover and is now facing her death without much emotional support from anyone. She talks to her mother on the telephone, but has obviously not revealed how precarious is her health.

Dermot Mulroney really came across as the workaholic Griffin who has to face his approaching death without the support of the family he ignored too long. Dermot managed to convey his inner turmoil with nothing more than his expressions and body language.

Griffin and Phoenix meet at a college lecture on death and dying and they feel an immediate attraction. Phoenix tries to dismiss Griffin's advances, but eventually starts to allow him into her heart. Part of her reluctance is the pain of her previous romantic breakup, but more pressing is her depression at her declining health.

It was amazing to watch the personal growth of Griffin as he emerged from his shell to cherish his new love through the difficult and painful experience of her terminal illness. We get to see the new couple find a way to live the best days of their lives during the most difficult and painful experience they will ever face. Even in the midst of his own problems Griffin can reach out to support someone else in time of need.

One thing puzzled me in the film. Phoenix has had a sudden decline in her health and is admitted to the hospital for probably her final few days of life. Where is her mother? Surely, Sarah would not keep her mother in the dark at such a difficult time in her life.

The film finale just tore at my emotions. I have grown to know and admire Phoenix. The early Christmas Griffin provides Phoenix is at once precious and painful to watch. The love between these two dying people is made so real that I hated to watch the view fade out to the screen credits.

This TV movie was far superior to many higher budget efforts that actually received theater screening. The two lead actors really surpassed anything else I have seen them in. I never tire of watching this film.

I have to admit that I am somewhat biased about this film. I have an incurable form of leukemia and I found this film so touching. Everyone deals with this stuff differently and I really resounded with how the 2 leads dealt with this part of their life. The film was appropriately funny in spots and at the same time, dealt honestly with the other side of that coin. Well done. Great casting, chemistry and writing.

Griffin (Dermot Mulroney) has just received a second opinion on his lung cancer. The news is worse. He definitely has only months to live and there are no experimental treatments that can extend his existence. On top of that, Griffin, an insurance salesman, lives in a small, Manhattan apartment, furnished with cast-offs, as his wife and two sons got the suburban house when the divorce went down. Realizing his that his days are short, Griffin makes a huge pass at beautiful Phoenix (Amanda Peet) during a chance meeting at Columbia University. She is extremely reluctant to accept his dinner proposal, giving the impression that she is not "available" in the love market. Nevertheless, she shows up at the restaurant anyway when Griffin extends an open invitation. The date lasts the entire night, with the duo getting kicked out of a cinema for incessant talking and watching the sunrise together in a riverfront park. But, Phoenix still seems reluctant, in part because Griffin asks very few questions about who she really is. Could she be hiding something, too? In fact, she is, for she is also terminally ill with ovarian cancer. Will these two bring joy to each other in their waning days? This movie is somewhat contrived but hangs together by the performances of Mulroney and Peet. No matter how unreal a scene might seem, the two make it work. Yes, there is some honesty here as well about how we, as human beings, react when presented with our eminent deaths. It is a certainty that most individuals would try to create some final lasting memories and that's what these two do. As to more mundane matters, the scenery, costumes, and production values are good, resulting in a nice-looking film. Also, the supporting cast, although it has a very minor role, is fine. All in all, the film would probably be beneficial to anyone who is going through their own terminal illnesses or who have friends/family in this dark situation. Cathartic it is. But, in the end, the movie is rather depressing. Anyone who chooses to watch it had better be prepared to deal with its issues and may want to follow up the view with a screening of Some Like It Hot or any other gut-busting comedy.