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Where the Heart Is

Where the Heart Is (2000)

April. 27,2000
|
6.7
|
PG-13
| Drama Comedy Romance

Novalee Nation is a 17-year-old Tennessee transient who has to grow up in a hurry when she's left pregnant and abandoned by her boyfriend on a roadside, and takes refuge in the friendly aisles of Wal-Mart. Eventually, some eccentric but kindly strangers 'adopt' Novalee and her infant daughter, helping them buck the odds and build a new life.

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Ocean Girl
2000/04/27

I'm watching this on Lifetime right now and apparently the scenes with Joan Cusack have been totally cut from the movie. I love Joan Cusack and was looking forward to seeing her in this because otherwise this movie is total crap.

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padawanmovies
2000/04/28

*Spoilers?* this is one of the 1st movies I watched with my new best friend in college. That was 10 yrs ago, pretty sure I fell asleep while we watched it, too much Chinese takeout lol. I liked the idea of this movie and I thought it was trying to deliver a good message, albeit, slightly misguided attempt. I thought the acting was pretty good given the scattered material. I jus don't understand how Lexie, a nurse, didn't understand how birth control works. I mean 6 kids by 5 different dudes?? I mean even a person who doesn't believe in birth control would find this CA-RAZY. I also feel Willie's whole storyline was completely disjointed from the rest of the movie; he was garbage so there was no reason to continue following his storyline (minus Cusack who was really good). If the content had been tweaked this could've been way better; instead we got a step up (barely) version of a Lifetime TV movie

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Olivia
2000/04/29

Life is full of challenges that are thrown at us every day. "Where the Heart Is" explores what we do as individuals when faced with these challenges with two impending truths, to accept fate or to grow from our setbacks. Set against the backdrop of the countryside Oklahoma the movie follows the story of Novalee a pregnant teenager (played by Natalie Portman) who's life seems to go from bad to worse when her boyfriend abandons her at a Wal-Mart. With no one to turn to for help she seeks refuge at the department store for several weeks, ultimately becoming a local celebrity when she gives birth inside.Novalee is constantly overcoming the harsh cards of fate as she tries to give herself and her child the best in life she can. We meet many characters that come into her life along the way, each with a lesson to share and a story of their own looming set backs in life to tell. Ashley Judd gives an amazing performance as Novalee's best friend Lexie, a single mother of five who struggles to juggle motherhood, work and finding Mr Right. Novalee's love interest a mysterious and reserved librarian Forney (Played my James Frain) is also an admirable character who's life has been put on hold to be a full time care giver for his gravely ill sister. All the characters in this film are well written, with interesting back-stories and admirable features that make you care about them all the way to the end.Much of the story plays upon fate and chance. We see some very depressing stories unfold and you may find yourself asking; What would you have done in their situation?

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Steve Pulaski
2000/04/30

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.

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