Where the Heart Is

Rating:
Summary: The Book Is Better... By A Longshot
Review: It's not that I didn't enjoy this film, but after finishing the book, I'd have to say that people who've seen the movie and haven't read the book have lucked out. I've never read such a heart-warming story that really makes you think about life and how much there is to appreciate. But, after I read the book I was curious as to how the movie measured up, and I'm sorry to say that the movie didn't. The book has so much more going for it and really explains what goes on, not to mention, things that seem almost and completely different from the movie. For an example, in the book there's a tragedy involving the local library, and the movie, well, nothing remotely compared to that happened. The movie ended differently than I had expected, because there were key points left out that were in the book and not in the movie.

So please, read the book! You will not be disappointed. It's wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: Where the Heart Isn't
Review: First of all, to anyone who loved this movie: please, please read Billie Letts' book. Not to keep the book vs. movie debate going or anything . . . The scenes are described beautifully, and you really feel the charcters much more than you can from the screen version.

One question: why did they change Novalee's bad luck number to 5? HUH??! There were a few liberties taken with the plot, such as the omission of Benny Goodluck and Moses's wife, Certain. They really helped to flesh out the story.

A MAJOR complaint about the character of Lexie Coop: Why, oh why did they case Ashley Judd as Lexie? I admit, Judd did a nice job and seemed to understand the role. But the Lexie in the book is very overweight and not the most attractive lady ever. What she IS is a great lady and the mother of some beautiful children. It seems like the director "prettied up" Lexie's character by casting Judd, easily a size 4. Why?!

All in all, a nice movie to watch, but if you want to know the real story, pick up the book.

Rating:
Summary: the best Book and Movie EVER
Review: The heartwarming story of Where The Heart Is is denfiely a must see movie. I saw this with my mom and will both fell in love. The book is just as good. I also read this with my mom. I think you should read the book first though. This is my Favorite book and movie. The soundtrack is great to. Also I think you should read The Honk and Holler Opening Soon

Rating:
Summary: Natalie and Ashley Prove Where The Heart Is!
Review: One night, I didn't know we where going to watch this. Me and a bunch of the girl friends popped it in and with me never seeing it, I gave it a shot and I'm glad I did. I laughed, cry, and nearly broke into tears more than once. Natalie and Ashley make a great team in this movie and I'm glad I took the time to sit and watch it. After the movie that night, we had a night of fun talking, eating pizza, and playing games. It was time to go home at 10:00 p.m. and we left each other alone. On the way home, I called Lauren and asked if she still had soundtrack for "Where The Heart Is." sadly, she didn't. I finally bought the movie and added it to my DVD collection. Ashley and Natalie shine! You will love it!!!

Rating:
Summary: Charming
Review: Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd make a great team of women fighting for what's right. Another Hollywood movie with the stereotypical happy ending, but my favorite recent Natalie Portman film [definitely not including the Professional and Beautiful Girls] A charming movie with good music. Watch it and see if you can catch the huge picture of Queen Amidala aka Natalie Portman's character in Star Wars, in the background.

Rating:
Summary: Top of the line feel-good movie!
Review: This is one of my favorite movies...it was a 'must have' in my DVD collection. The entire cast's acting and believability that they brought to their character made this movie a 'classic'! My children and I caught this movie on HBO one day, and fell in love with it (my husband even liked it)! It's just a super-great feel-good movie, she's in a bad spot in the beginning, but everything works out wonderfully at the end...perfect!!!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies....EVER!!
Review: I remember seeing this movie advertised in 2000, but it wasn't until 2001 when i saw it on HBO, i had to have it, so i rented it and it was such an excellent movie! It deserves more than 5 stars, a lot more! I love it and it reminds me of Anywhere But Here! The part of appoligizing and about the lies,and everything else really struck my heart, like Anywhere But Here, its like any movie Natalie Portman stars in goes straight to my heart! The following is how i would rate 4 of her greatst films!

1. Anywhere But Here
2. Where The HeartIs
3. Star Wars Episode 1
4. Star Wars Episode 2

Rating:
Summary: How much bad stuff can happen to one person, anyway?
Review: After seeing the previews for this movie, I really didn't expect a whole lot. But this film was worse than I expected. I was ready for a typical girl-power type movie--the downtrodden, hapless (but innocent at heart) girl who, in the end, is successful beyond belief (after learning some valuable lessons, of course), overcomes enormous obstacles, and finally finds a good man in the midst of the sea of male pigs. Oh, and let's not forget the evil boyfriend or husband that, somehow, gets the bad stuff he deserves.

This movie contained all of those elements, but exaggerated to the extreme. Novalee (Natalie Portman) is the "Wal-Mart Mom"-- meaning she has her baby inside a Wal-Mart after her boyfriend abandons her. From then on, its one bad thing after another. In the space of two short hours, Novalee loses friends, has her daughter kidnapped, has a friend beat up and abused, and encounters a score of other huge difficulties, which in the end serve to empower and strengthen her. Novalee and her friend (Ashley Judd) somehow manage to get knocked up by EVERY dirtball/sleazebag man in Oklahoma, and continuously have horrible experiences with men they thought were perfect. Yet they never learn (at least, Judd doesn't).

All in all, this is a 'chick-flick' not worth anyone's time. Don't even bother, because if you enjoy an engaging plot and anything more than a cookie-cutter, generic story with 5 times the crises of a normal drama, you'll be disappointed with Where the Heart Is.

Rating:
Summary: Cleanup, Aisle Six ....
Review: "Where the Heart Is" contains probably the most plot twists ever crammed into one five-year span in history.

The movie follows the life of Novalee Nation (Natalie Portman), beginning when she's abandoned by her worthless boyfriend Willy Jack (Dylan Bruno) at a Wal-Mart in Oklahoma when they had been on their way to California to start a life together. Novalee finds herself broke and pregnant, near ready to deliver at any moment, and having to live in the Wal-Mart until she receives notoriety as the mother of the Wal-Mart baby. While at the Wal-Mart, she bonds with Sister Husband (Stockard Channing), a gospel-spouting local prone to "fornicating" frequently with her boyfriend; and in the hospital after delivering her daughter, she finds a best friend in sassy nurse Lexie Coop (Ashley Judd).

Essentially the movie rockets its way through one misadventure after another, starting with Novalee losing her shoes through the hole in the floor of Willy Jack's car. When Novalee's daughter, Americus, is born in a hoopla of media attention, Novalee's mother (Sally Field) briefly shows up after abandoning Novalee at age five to relieve Novalee of any money she had at that point; Novalee then is taken in by Sister Husband, and begins to work at the Wal-Mart where she gave birth while studying photography under the tootlage of the Wal-Mart portrait photographer. She also develops a friendship with the man who delivered her baby, the quirky town librarian Forney Hall (James Frain).

Lexie's life is also part of center stage, mostly her miserable love interests who have left her with five children, all named after snack foods. To make matters worse, while the men come and go, each one seems to leave the woman pregnant. Also we witness as Willy Jack spends some time in prison, rises in the music business under the tutelage of a strong manager (Joan Cusack), and then plummets eventually into drugs and booze; call it kismet.

During the course of the film, there are births and deaths, physical assault, and even a tornado. At several points the film seems disjointed and even sadly unbelievable in all the things the happen to the characters in just a five-year time span, but in the end it adds to the quirky nature of the film. And the performances by Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd should have earned these ladies Oscar nods. It's light fare even though it deals with some very heavy topics at points. In the end, just a wonderfully quirky slice-of-life type of film.

Rating:
Summary: Home is Where the Heart Is
Review: Where the Heart Is is a touching film about a young girl(Natalie Portman)who finds herself alone, and pregnant after her boyfriend abandons her at a Wal-Mart. With nowhere to go, and only five dollars to live off of, she has no choice but to make a home in the Wal-Mart. Hiding in the bathroom at closing time, and at opening, she spends the last few months of her pregnancy in the store, undetected. After she delivers "The Wal-Mart Baby" she has the help of her new friends to help her get back on her feet. During her journey she learns new things, forms many new friendships and finds out what true love really is. Along the way, she meets Thelma Husband,(Stockard Channing), a recovering alcoholic with a cheery spirit; Forney, the librarian; and Lexi Coop(Ashley Judd). This movie proves that, "Home is where your history begins, and where the heart is."
This film is a very warm movie full of compassion, and is a great Comedy-Drama. This movie may sound like a "Chick Flick", but it really isn't. This movie teaches you a lot of lessons about life, and will indeed bring a smile to your face. Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd give a great performance, with brilliant acting. The plot of the movie is not grim and depressing, it is the exact opposite. The plot is also simple, but still gives out a lot of meaning. Love, laughter and some tears are shown through the plot, but still is smooth going and very easy to understand.
The DVD also has great special features. You can watch the "That's the Beat of a Heart" music video sung by the Warren Brothers featuring Sara Evans, and see the theatrical trailers and TV spots.