Random Hearts
BB.5
(out of 5)
Valiant but unfortunately disastrous effort to bring out the more serious side of Harrison Ford, with director Sydney Pollack also trying to recapture the mellow romanticism of his stunning Out of Africa with minimal results. Ford’s wife dies in a tragic plane accident, the aftermath revealing that the man she was sitting beside was her longtime lover. Meeting with the lover’s wife (Kristin Scott Thomas) brings Ford a turbulent but necessary friendship that courts possible romance but is doubtful of reaching full fruition in that regard. The bulk of the film’s massive running time is spent watching Ford wander from place to place discovering new and more volatile information about his wife, but with so little dynamism in his face that experience is pretty flat. Supporting performances by Charles S. Dutton and Edie Falco look to be going somewhere and then never come full circle in this film based on the celebrated novel, a project Ford pursued for years and sadly became one of his worst critically-rated fiascoes. On the plus side, there is gorgeous photography, first-rate production design and the magnificent Scott Thomas, who wipes up the floor with her co-star.
USA, 1999
Directed by Sydney Pollack
Screenplay by Kurt Luedtke, adaptation by Darryl Ponicsan, based on the novel by Warren Adler
Cinematography by Philippe Rousselot
Produced by Sydney Pollack, Marykay Powell
Music by Dave Grusin
Production Design by Barbara Ling
Costume Design by Bernie Pollack
Film Editing by William Steinkamp
Cast Tags: Aasif Mandvi, Alan D. Purwin, Andy Fowle, Ariana Thomas, Barbara Gulan, Becky Veduccio, Bill Cobbs, Bonnie Hunt, Brian Schwary, Brooke Smith, C.S. Lee, Charles S. Dutton,Christina Chang, Davenia McFadden, Deirdre Lovejoy, Dennis Haysbert, Dina Napoli, Don Scott, Dylan Baker, Edie Falco, Ellen Foley, Fenton Lawless, Harrison Ford, Jack Gilpin, Jan Austell, Jenna Stern, John Carter, Jordan Lage, Judith Knight Young, Judy Jamison,Kate Mara, Ken Kay, Kristin Scott Thomas, Liam Craig, Lynette DuPree, Lynne Thigpen, Mark Zeisler, Michelle Hurd, Molly Price, Nelson Landrieu, Paul Guilfoyle, Peter Coyote, Priscilla Shanks, Raymond Anthony Thomas, Reiko Aylesworth,Richard Jenkins, Robert ‘Bobby Z’ Zajonc, Roy R. Taylor Jr., S. Epatha Merkerson, Steven Mark Friedman, Susan Allenback, Susan Floyd, Susan Hatfield, Susanna Thompson, Terry Serpico, Thomas J. McCarthy, Todd Malta, Tracey Neale, Will Thomas
