Post by StevePulaski on Aug 27, 2010 22:51:45 GMT -5
Natalie Portman in Where the Heart Is.
Rating: ★★★½
Where the Heart Is is definitely one of the sadder movies I've seen and it's also one of the more "true to life stories". Emotionally effective teen girls, teen pregnancy, lost hope, and lack of parental support is sadly a part of today's society and this movie shows life isn't A-OK all the time. There are downsides, upsides, and even a zig-zagging path that comes along in life. This movie shows that something good can lead to something bad in a heartbeat, and while tragic, the movie sometimes eases up, but you can tell simultaneously really wants to have a good story and scenes that stay true to life's unpredictable set up.
Natalie Portman is amazing in this. No other female actress could portray a role of gratitude, emotion, and bring life to the character in a way she did on screen in this. Her acting skills flow fluently throughout this movie and it makes you cringe at points when stuff goes unexpectedly. Its a sad movie. But it's a beautiful sad movie, not like a movie that is so miserable its unenjoyable. Where the Heart Is also doesn't establish a droning effect which most movies include now. Its fluent and highly realistic.
Novalee Nation (Portman) is a pregnant 17 year old fleeing with her boyfriend from Tennessee to California. When Novalee stops at Wal-Mart, her boyfriend abandons her and leaves her stranded. Novalee makes Wal-Mart her shelter after being locked in after closing when going in the bathroom because of sickness due to her pregnancy. She lives undetected for an unbelievable six weeks. Novalee meets a young man named Forney (James Frain) who's life was in jeopardy because of his alcohol addiction and his choice to dropout of college.
Novalee goes into labor and gives birth in the Wal-Mart and becomes a celebrity for her actions of sheltering in the store. Novalee wakes up in the hospital where she names her baby Americus showing she is a strong women of many talents. Much to her surprised, Novalee gets an unexpected visit from her mother (Sally Field) who agrees to hold to the $500 given to Novalee from the president of Wal-Mart and to have them both share an apartment. However after agreeing to pick her up the next day, the mother flees with the $500 leaving Novalee and Americus stranded.
The events go on and on to the point that its hard to leave off on just one without spoiling something else. Its definitely a movie with twists and turns of the many, but the twists and turns never go the way you'd expect. For an underrated, solemn drama it has great potential which it lives up too. It also goes on the record for being one of the saddest movies I've seen next to Bicentennial Man and My Girl. Where the Heart Is has a heart and it's not afraid to use it at all in this film.
Starring: Natalie Portman, Ashley Judd, Stockard Channing, Sally Field, and Joan Cusack.