Customer Reviews

Random Hearts

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(21)
1 star:		(30)

 

 

RANDOM HEARTS was my favorite movie of 1999, but it is most definitely not a movie for everyone. To enjoy RH, you must have an attention span longer than a sound bite. Everything will not be spelled out for you, and you will actually have to do a little thinking. The movie is unapologetically grim for most of its running time, which based on its plot, it should be. Life is not always beautiful, as this movie so subtlely shows. And subtle is the keyword in describing RH. Everything you need to know about the characters is in the film, but it is not always verbal or blatantly obvious. The movie is an emotional puzzle, and if you can't put together the pieces, you will dislike this film. I found putting the pieces together a refreshing challenge. In my opinion, the ending to RH is both a classic and a hair-puller. That is all I'll say.

I'm purchasing the DVD mainly for director Sydney Pollack's commentary and the deleted scenes. There are a couple of scenes in RANDOM HEARTS, the "car" one in particular, that I can't wait to hear his commentary on. I'm also intrigued to know what wound up on the cutting room floor.

I like this movie. I don't care much about what the critics said about it, nor about its failure to top box office records. I found this movie a psychologically intense drama, and I think acting was very good. Ford portrayed a clearly distraught and somewhat depressed and distracted man who lost his wife in plane crush, and who find out that his wife was cheating on him. He comes in contact with another "survivor," a Congresswoman who lost her husband in the same plane crush. A somewhat unlikely romance develops, while Ford's character continues to be haunted by his wife's betrayal. The subplot, involving a corrupt cop and murder, could be improved--it almost gets in the way of the main storyline. But if you can get beyond this, you will enjoy the movie.

If you are into non-stop action, special effects pictures, this one is not for you. But if you can enjoy a mature film with a real plot, you will do well to see "Random Hearts."

At least that's what I wondered during the first hour of watching this Harrison Ford movie. Nope, this is absolutely nothing like "Air Force One," "Patriot Games" and especially the Indiana Jones trilogy. Quick plot recap -- Ford is an Internal Affairs sergeant whose wife dies in a plane crash. He soon discovers his wife was on the plane with her lover -- the husband of a congresswoman. He obsessively tries to find out more about the affair, much to the distress (and eventually the attraction) of the congresswoman (Kristin Scott Thomas). I kept waiting for Ford to show some emotion other than looking confused, but then I realized he hit it right on the money. Put yourself in his (and her) shoes -- what would you want to know if your spouse died CHEATING on you? Would you want to know why or try to put it behind you? Charles S. Dutton is predictably good, but is absolutely wasted in his role as Ford's cop buddy as they investigate a crooked cop (Dennis Haysbert -- also wasted). Bottom line -- rent it first.

Coping with the loss of a spouse is, of course, a traumatic experience; but what would it be like to have to deal with such grief, only to have it exacerbated by the revelation that your husband / wife was having an affair? Such is the situation for two people in "Random Hearts," a drama that explores pain and suffering, despair and obsession, and the sense of isolation and need that overcomes Dutch Van Den Broeck (Harrison Ford) and Kay Chandler (Kristin Scott Thomas) in the wake of a tragic plane crash that claims, respectively, his wife and her husband. Director Sydney Pollack weaves an intricate story that begins with the hint of the indiscretion, is followed closely by the tragedy, then quickly escalates into the discovery of the affair by Van Den Broeck, who subsequently locates and contacts Chandler. In what is essentially a character study of how differently the parties involved respond to their grief, and how the knowledge of the infidelity effects them individually, Pollack very deliberately peals away the layers of emotion until the feelings of each are laid bare and exposed. Ultimately it becomes the story of their relationship; of the intimate bond formed between these total strangers who share this dark secret foisted upon them in such an unseemly manner. He is a cop; not only a cop, but an internal affairs cop in Washington, D.C. It's his job to observe people and to notice situations, to know when something is out of place or just not right. Yet his own wife was having an affair, and he didn't have a clue; and in dealing with his emotions, in sorting it all out, he becomes obsessed with finding out everything. Where did they meet, when and how; how long had it been going on? Who was he, did they have a "place" of their own. Where were they going on that fateful day? Adamant, he pushes himself to find the answers, while Kay Chandler, a congresswoman up for reelection, wants nothing to do with it. Dealing with it in her own way, she opts to pursue a more immediate form of closure on her own, choosing to suppress her feelings while declining Van Den Broeck's attempts to include her in his incessant investigation. Unlike him, to deal with the pain and confusion, she has to move on. She doesn't want to know anything about the affair between her husband and his wife, and not because she feels any less than he does; it's simply a matter of doing what she must to cope, just as he is. The difference: He has to know; she must not. Ford does a more than capable job with an emotionally charged, challenging role, using just enough restraint to make the obsession into which he's channeled his feelings effective, keeping the tone subtle rather than overblown and demonstrative. Scott Thomas is excellent as well, externalizing the predominately internal turmoil she is experiencing with clarity and precision. She succinctly conveys the depth of her emotions, placing it all just above the surface so that it leaves you with a strong sense of what is really raging just beneath. There's a definite connection established between Ford and Scott Thomas, but no real chemistry; but then again, this isn't a romantic love story, but a story of two people at loose ends helping one another cope with unique, unfathomable circumstances. The excellent supporting cast includes Charles Dutton (Alcee), Bonnie Hunt (Wendy), Dennis Haysbert (Beaufort), Sydney Pollack (Carl), Richard Jenkins (Truman), Paul Guilfoyle (Dick), Peter Coyote (Cullen), Susanna Thompson (Peyton) and Dylan Baker (Richard). "Random Hearts" is a somber film that demonstrates just how vulnerable we all are, and how life as we know it can change in an instant; a solid drama expertly delivered by Pollack and an outstanding cast that leaves the indelible impression that no matter what you think you know, the human heart will forever remain a mystery to us all.

It's also honest-something people avoid if things might get messy. People cheat-it happens every day. The lighting, music and slow pacing only accentuate the melacholy mood of the film. I love depressing movies-music too. There's no escaping the truth for these characters. It's painful. Betrayal always is-eventually. If you don't like depressing stuff, this movie will turn you off-even if you like the leads. Pollack's direction is perfect for the material-something I imagine he did on purpose. This is adult material-it's just that adults don't usually like to deal with difficult issues.

The two weak points of the film are the side story and the romance. The friendship between the two leads is believable-the romance is not. However, the film is so dreary that even these two items don't take away from the film's power. Marrying someone is no guarantee of fidelity. There is a darkness about humans that lies in their desire to please themselves-even at the cost of hurting the one they love most. That, and you will never really know the darkest recesses of the one you love 'til they rip your heart out and leave you "in the shadow of the light from a black sun".

I love to watch both Harrison Ford and Kristin Scott Thomas in feature movies. So when I found out they would be in a movie together, I thought it would be fantastic. While I wasn't jumping for joy in the aisle at the movie theater, I did still like the film. It's the kind of movie that you have to see more than once to really appreciate. You have to give both of these actors credit. Both of them did a great job with the material they had to work with. Harrison Ford never seems to be afraid of being disliked as a main character. I particularly enjoyed the way his character and Kristin's approoach the same situation with different emotions for thier grieving process. It just goes to show that people really do grieve in different ways, not all of them are very obvious. Like Kristin Scott Thomas' character. Kristen always seems to play the repressed or emotionally complex characters the best. She says one thing through dialouge, but tells you how she really feels with her eyes and body language. Now that's a great actress! The whole time she's telling Dutch that she's "done with them", she's really saying that she just doesn't want to grieve in the same painful public way that he is. It fits the character since Kay is supposed to be this public figure that can't show her real emotions on the surface, lest she cause a political scandal. Finally, I really think Syndey Pollack didn't take advantage of the editing and soundtrack. My biggest complaint is with the soundtrack. David Grusin was used throughout most of the film. While I generally like Dave Grusin as a jazz artist, his soundtrack recordings have not been the best. I mean, I loved the music on its own. But in my opinion, he set the mood of the film. He also did the soundtrack for "The Fabulous Baker Boys", which I also liked. But he set a depressing mood for that film also. But then again, both movies dealt with depressing subject matter. So what do we expect? I think that mainstream America is way too concerned with explosions and a WWF mentality when it comes to movies nowadays. Everything is so emotionally shallow, or it's just a grossed-out movie that's supposed to pass for comedy. I'm almost too afraid to waste my time any more. Everything is so fake! I think people don't want anything that's close to real life anymore, like this underrated, unappreciated movie. Everytime I see it, I like it more and more. It's better than the alternative out there!

I loved this movie with its reflective ambience. The music was beautiful, the acting excellent, and I appreciate its subtleties more each time I watch it. I also thought the script was well-written and interesting, and with an added "action" dimension, as Ford's character simultaneously pursues his duties as an internal-affairs cop.

To Harrison, Kristen, and Sidney: ignore the jaded critics and impatient whiners clamoring for their next adrenaline fix - you have produced a marvelous work.

Unfortunately, the box-office scorecard (aka: $$) rules when it comes to sequels.

(I own the DVD and have also bought the soundtrack CD)

Critically lambasted and widely ignored upon its release in 1999, "Random Hearts", a Harrison Ford-Kristin Scott Thomas vehicle, is really not that bad. It's less than stellar and the pieces don't always fit very well, but the performances are actually quite nice, Scott Thomas's especially. While I would not consider this film a masterpiece by any means, fans of these two actors might enjoy renting it some Saturday night.

Random Hearts will get mixed reviews from nearly everyone who watches it...While a romance is the core of the film, it isn't the focus of much of the story; most of the film involves Harrison Ford, as a police detective, trying to juggle an investigation he's running on a crooked cop, while putting together the pieces of his wife's affair with a politician's husband, which comes to light after the couple are killed in a plane crash. While the film tends to drag, and never quite meshes together, Ford's performance is one of the finest of his career. With his patented 'hang-dog' expression, his spikey gray hair, and his increasing sense of bewilderment over the failure of his 'perfect' marriage, he delivers a beautifully defined portrayal of a man cut adrift, and was certainly worthy of Oscar consideration.

As the other betrayed spouse, Kristen Scott Thomas is less successful, partially because she never seems as romantically involved with her husband (Peter Cayote), to begin with. She struggles with a role that has far less emotional depth than she had in 'The Horse Whisperer', and ultimately, she falls back on mannerisms to fill in what the script lacks. There isn't a lot of chemistry between the leads, either; a scene in her car, when she and Ford explosively embrace, is the only sexually-charged scene they share; their subsequent love scenes seems flat, and by-the-numbers, which strains the credibility of their attraction.

In supporting roles, director Sidney Pollack, Charles Dutton, and Bonnie Hunt are very good; Hunt's restaurant scene with Thomas, when she acknowledges her affair with the husband, is a high point in the film.

While Random Hearts will not be everyone's 'cup of tea', if you're a Harrison Ford fan, this film should definitely be in your collection!

I really liked the movie and I don't understand why some people didn't like it. It shows the true emotions inside us and how we can be moved by extraordinary events in life. Harrison Ford is a gem of an actor. I also liked the acting of others. I think I'll watch it again.