Customer Reviews

Where the Heart Is [VHS]

5 star:		(123)
4 star:		(49)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

Based upon the book of the same name by Billie Letts, this film was a more than pleasant surprise. It is simply a compelling absorbing, and unusual film. Well directed by television veteran Matt Williams, the movie exudes a certain folksy charm that grabs the viewer from the get go and keeps that viewer enthralled until the final scene.

The film centers around Novalee Nation (Natalie Portman), a very pregnant seventeen year old, who, with her boyfriend, lowlife Willy Jack Pickens (Dylan Bruno), pulls up to a Walmart's in Oklahoma where he abandons her. So, with virtually no money, literally barefoot and pregnant, and nowhere to go, she sets up camp in Walmart by night and explores the town by day, making friends with a number of memorable characters.

She unexpectedly has her baby at Walmart's, making her into a minor local celebrity. While at the hospital convalescing, she meets a sassy, brassy nurse, Lexie Coop (Ashley Judd), who befriends her. She is showered with gifts and her mother, Mama Lil (Sally Field), a floozie who discovers her daughter's whereabouts courtesy of the media hoopla, pays her a visit. Having abandoned her once before, she is there long enough for Novalee to be abandoned, yet again.

Along comes Thelma 'Sister' Husband (Stockard Channing), an eccentric but kindhearted recovering alcoholic who scoops Novalee and her baby up and takes her to her home. This would be the beginning of a whole new life for Novalee, one that would be enriched by the people whom she meets and the experiences, both good and bad, to which she is subjected. It becomes the story of her personal and emotional odyssey, as well as the story and growth of those with whom she most closely interacts. It is a story about life, relationships, responsibilities, love, and the ties that bind.

It is also the story of Willy Jack Pickens and the direction his life takes subsequent to his abandonment of Novalee. After some bad breaks, he gets talent agent, Ruth Meyers (Joan Cusack), to sign him on in hope of furthering a musical career. Unlike Novalee, however, he does not take well to the vicissitudes of life and begins a free fall in a downward spiral. His waterloo culminates in a dramatic meeting with Novalee after many years, a meeting that sets her free from her past, free to love the one person who loves her for herself.

Natalie Portman delivers her best performance to date. In the role of Novalee, she mixes innocence with wonder at what the world has to offer her. She adds a certain sweetness, poignancy, and determination to the role that translates into a wonderful vulnerability laced with steel. It is this quality that gives Novalee the will to go on when the odds are so against her, and that is just what Natalie Portman conveys to the viewer.

Stockard Channing is great as the eccentric and kind Thelma 'Sister' Husband, a woman who never had children of her own but is truly a mother at heart. Nurturing her garden, as well as Novalee and her baby, flowers and plants are not the only things that thrive under her care. A veritable Mother Earth, she is the kind of person who brings out the best in others, and Novalee and her baby are no exception. Stockard Channing, a great, though underrated actress, brings this home to the viewer in spades.

Ashley Judd is terrific as the wide eyed, "looking for love in all the wrong places" Lexie. She comes across as sassy and brassy but is really only looking for someone to appreciate her for who she is and not for the sex she has to offer. Judd delivers the nuances that this role demands. James Frain is sensational as the shy, sensitive, and kind Forney Hull, the town librarian's brother who befriends Novalee. He plays the role with such vulnerability and imbues him with such goodness that the viewer cannot help but care deeply for him. It is also almost hard to believe that James Frain is British, as he has an American accent so down pat.

Dylan Bruno is perfect as Willie Jack Pickens, the country good old boy who ruins his own life and almost ruins Novalee's. Joan Cusack shows her deft comedic flair in the small, but memorable role of Ruth Meyers, and Sally Field leaves her mark in her cameo role as Novalee's mother. All in all, stellar performances are given by the entire cast. This is a well directed film that should not be missed.

This movie is one of those films that you pick up from the store when there is nothing else to rent ... and you are glad you did.

While the plot sounds really contrived, the actors and actresses in this film make it almost believable. And, it is one of the most heartwarming, feel good movies I have seen in quite some time.

Natalie Portman is excellent as Novalee Nation, the girl who has the Walmart baby. While you know what is going to happen, the actions leading up to the moment are a gem. Keeping a very exacting record of what she owes the Walmart adds to the situation, making you like Novalee even more.

Of course, this is a film about the downtrodden. Novalee is in her situation due to her no good boyfriend dumping her on his way to a Country Music career. The rest of the characters in the film share in this misery. From Forney Hall, a brilliant dreamer stuck in a library to Sister Husband (Stockhard Channing), who fornicates a lot, and finally Lexie Coop (Ashley Judd), who has too many children by bad men, the humanity of the "lower rungs" of society shines through.

Contrasted to the majority of films that highlight lower income families, displaying them as criminal victims, this film is refreshing in its humanity.

The only weak point is the love story that between Novalee and Forney. Throughout most of the movie it is not much more than a convenient plot device. At some times, it is downright distracting. However, in the end, it show the difference between Novalee and her ex-boyfriend.

If you would like to see a film that will make you feel good about America, this is it. At times it is a bit Pollyannic, but it is a bit more believable.

This film was an extraordinarily wonderful surprise. The writing was excellent, managing a perfect balance throughout between tear-jerking scenes and comedic moments. Every time it teetered close to the edge of cliche, it pulled back to safety and perfection.

The performances by Natalie Portman, Ashley Judd and Stockard Channing were phenomenal. This film had me crying rivers, laughing, and clapping. It left me feeling better than I had felt after the last 10 movies I'd seen combined. It is also exceptional for how unlike other Hollywood movies it is; it tells a story about women with a truthfulness and reality that would not even have been possible to get put on film even a couple decades ago. Indeed, it's still a remarkable abberation.

I can't recommend this film too strongly. For anyone with a heart, buy it and treasure it.

I just saw this movie for the first time a couple of days ago after my friend forced me to watch it. She was appalled that I hadn't seen the "Wal-Mart Movie" as she calls it. After seeing it, I have to say it was one of the best movies I've seen in a while. First of all, it was realistic. Although, I can't safely say that I've heard of this happening to somebody, you never know, it could happen. Second of all, I was able to hate Willy Jack. I was so happy when he got punched, I nearly applauded. It's not often that you come across a movie where you can actually feel that way about a character. Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd were great in the movie too. Overall, I think that this is one of the best movies. It's great for the family or if you are the sappy romantic type.

This is one of those movies that one would have to be heartless not to like. Made from the novel of the same name by the author Billie Letts, this is the story of Novalee Nation, a 17 year old pregnant teenager who has nothing and gains everything when she is stranded in a small Oklahoma town by her self-centered boyfriend.

Novalee has had a hard life. Abandoned by her mother as a child, she became a foster child and then, reared mostly in poverty, fell into that pattern that unfortunately, so many poor and uneducated young women seem to find. She is a high school drop-out and pregnant at 17 with a guy who at best can be described as selfish and abusive. They make a fine pair as they set off for the dreamland of California. Unbeknownst to Novalee, her boyfriend has no intention of delivering her to the West Coast. He abandons her in a Wal-Mart parking lot after she goes inside to buy shoes to replace the ones that fell through the floor of the "rustbucket" they are driving to California.

Rather than panic, Novalee makes the best of her situation and eventually takes up residence in the store. She eats their food and uses a sleeping bag from the camping department to sleep in. She avoids the night crew and manages to keep a roof over her head until she has her baby. Novalee becomes an instant celebrity when the birth is announced all over TV and the fact that Wal-Mart offers her a job shows the compassion of such a large organization. She eventually meets up with the mother who abandoned her years before and things seem to gel; well, that doesn'tt happen and Novalee finds herself alone again.

Through the good will of Sister Husband, played with incredible sensitivity, humor and caring by Stockard Channing, Novalee again has a roof over her head. She takes the job at Wal-Mart and attempts to reconstruct her life. In the process, she meets many people who have nothing but a positive effect on her life. There is Forney Hall, the "too well educated" dreamer who serves as de facto librarian while caring for his alcoholic older sister, and there is also Lexie Coop, played to perfection by Ashley Judd. Lexie is another of the downtrodden; she sleeps with men too easily and winds up with far too many children as a result of her lack of planning.

As the movie progresses, we watch Novalee mature and her daughter, Americus grow up. Along the way, Forney falls for her and Lexie has more children. Sister Husband is the cement that binds them all together. As we begin to hope that Novalee will finally find some degree of happiness, tragedy strikes and she finds herself alone again. A benefactor emerges and Novalee is able to have a home for herself and her daughter.

Novalee's ex also moves along with his life and he finds an agent for his budding C&W career. Over the five years since he deserted Novalee, he has never once contacted her or inquired about the child they had. He is the epitome of selfishness and he seems to have learned nothing.

This is one of those movies that have elements of predictability to it and yet, the touching nature of the relationships between Novalee, Sister Husband, Forney, Moses Whitecotton and others is what makes this movie work. While it is depressing in points, it does its best not to pander to the poorer people at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder in America. Neither does it show them as people without hope, who resort to criminality to make their way in the world.

This is a heartwarming movie because it shows that Americans, especially those in the mid-west and south are incredibly caring and giving people. There is no nobility in poverty and yet, there is still charity. These people are folks who would give you the last food in their fridge, the coat off their backs and their bed to sleep in. And Novalee is not one to take advantage. She gives as much as she gets and she is there for her friends when they need her.

This is a movie about the giving nature that we find in our hearts. It is a movie about love and generosity, giving and maturing and it is also a movie about forgiveness. If you want to see a movie that will genuinely leave you feeling good when it ends, then you must see this movie. The author Billie Letts captured the spirit and essence of these poor but loving Oklahomans to a tee. It is to the actor's, producer's and director's credit that all that Letts wrote about in her fine novel transitioned so well to the screen.

I knew when I saw this movie in the theaters last year that I would buy this movie for my collection. Well, I have and I recommend it without reservation to all who aspire to know "where the heart is."

Paul Connors

I can't help it. I love this film. I want it to be true that good people who don't succumb to bitterness, revenge or despair triumph and rotten people who try to trample them get their come-uppins in this life. The performances of the entire cast are riveting and haunting.

This is simply a very pleasant movie to watch. You love all the characters immediately. It has humor, despair, love, tragedy and unrequited love. Stockard Channing is fantastic in her roll as is Ashley Judd. You must watch this film and I guarantee you will feel good when it is over. I gave this movie 5 stars because it is such an entertaining film. You don't have to close your eyes or grab your ears once throughout the whole thing. A very pleasant change. You'll love the method Ashley Judd uses to come up with names for her children. Try this movie.

I really enjoyed this movie just as I did the book. This girl grows up so much we actually see Novelle mature and blossom into a confadent and knowledgeable young woman infront of our eyes. Nattale Portman is exalent in her role as the uneducated pregnant teen-aged girl to a grown-up, confadent, loving mother. Along with an out of this world supporting cast, 'Where The Heart Is' is deffently worth your time!

At times this movie is so outragious I felt like it HAD to be writtin from life, since many outragious things have really happened to me in my own life. These happinings made the movie seem like a true story, to me, or at least based on truth. I just wonder who Novalee and the 'Wal-Mart baby' really are?

I absolutely loved this movie. I kept putting it off and putting it off, but when I finally saw it, I was glad I did. I cried, I laughed; it was the best movie I had seen in a long time. Ashley Judd and Natalie Portman both excelled in their roles. I would recommend this movie to everyone.

My daughter and I rented this. i watched it. Simply, I fell in love. I bought it. Natalie Portman is precious in this movie, her acting devine. Stockard Channing is absolutely delightful as Sister Husband. Ashley Judd is now one of my favorite actresses. It all seemed so effortless for her. The story is funny, sweet, sad, all rolled into one. I watch this movie when I need to feel good about something and to laugh a little. Nothing deep here, just a feel good movie that I think most of us can relate to. It's great, really.