Places in the Heart
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Movie Reviews of Places in the Heart
Movie Review: "Places in the Heart" Wins Hearts All Over Again
Summary: 4 Stars
Now that "Places in the Heart" has been re-released on VHS and DVD, many more people will be able to experience this 1984 classic. Starring some of the acting greats like Sally Field, John Malkovich, Ed Harris, and Danny Glover, "Places in the Heart" is a realistic look at the lives and views of people in the 1930s. This movie tackles issues such as racism, adultery, and people learning to "live again" after they've had to overcome many obstacles.Edna Spalding (Sally Field) plays a woman recently widowed who suddenly has to figure out how to support herself and two children during Depression times. Moze (Danny Glover), a black man looking for room and board, offers the "crazy" suggestion of growing cotton and, desperate to try anything to keep her family together, Spalding steps up to the challenge. More important than Spalding's need for money, she must prove to herself and those around her that she can take care of her family. She had always just been a wife and a mother and nothing more had previously been asked of her. A blind boarder, Mr. Will (John Malkovich), "sees" the harshness and bigotries of life and is a quiet yet interesting observer of what's going on around him. Also added to this mix are Spalding's brother-in-law Wayne (Ed Harris) and sister Margaret (Lindsay Crouse) who go through marital struggles when Wayne becomes involved with another woman (Amy Madigan). They fight the basic human problem of being good people but making bad decisions.
Field's performance as Spalding is a great one--evidenced by her Best Actress Oscar for the role. Another Oscar was rewarded for Best Overall Screenplay and nominations were made for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Malkovich), Best Supporting Actress (Crouse), and Best Costume Design. Though "Places in the Heart" is often overlooked, it's a wonderful film overflowing with love, bravery, friendship, and strength of character.
Movie Review: OF LOSS, LOVE AND HOPE
Summary: 4 Stars
Few movies hit you so unabashedly in the heart with a melodramatic wallop as Bentons Places in the Heart, yet manage to avoid feeling cheap. A deeply touching slice of the depression era, worthy of all the Oscars it bagged (screenplay, best actress for Fields) plus several nominations. Sally Field weilds absolute acting prowess as Edna Spaulding, a wife and mother of two kids who becomes widowed after a drunk accidentally shoots her husband. So she decides to make some money by planting cotton. She takes in a very friendly black man (wonderfully played by Danny Glover) who helps her get and plant the cotton, and a smart blind man (played by John Malkovich in an Oscar-nominated performance) who's a paying boarder.
These three adults and the two children form a little family together, and this is the part of "Places in the Heart" that works best.
Other characters add to the story. Lindsey Crouse was also Oscar-nominated for her portrayl of Field's sister who comes to help out after tragedy strikes early on. Ed Harris plays Crouse's husband who's having an affair with another woman, which makes for a somewhat inessential subplot. But that's a minor grouse.
Apart from the top-notch performances, the film's stunning finale is an unforgettable cinematic statement about hope. Had everyone in the room jerking a tear.
On DVD the film doesn't really look like an old movie (1984) if that bothers you. A highly recommended gem for any collection!
Movie Review: Witness of Grief and Hope.
Summary: 4 Stars
It is not easy to initiate a history from the side opposed to the hope, but this film exhibits of perfect way the fact that sometimes the defeat is necessary, in order to return to the life from ashes and to fortify the spirit.
It is a clear example of a structured good history, which is divided clearly in stages that we could call "Grief and Hope", since from a principle everything seems dark for the protagonist. But thanks to their tenacity, it can leave ahead and improve a past that could project to the future.
The good presentation of this audio-visual work to a great extent must to Sally Field and John Malkovich, that they take in its shoulders the thickness of history.
Is totally recommendable allowing itself the privilege to see this movie. Only it has small errors in the script, but without getting to damage the narration.
Movie Review: A SUBTLE, SUBLIME TREASURE OF A MOVIE!
Summary: 3 Stars
Sally Fields, Danny Glover, John Malkovich and Ed Harris star in "Places In The Heart" as poignant family saga set during the Great Depression. When Emma Spalding's (Fields) husband is accidentally killed she learns that her financial situation is precariously perched on the acquisition of several acres of farm land and its cultivation for a cotton crop. To aid in her money problems, Mrs. Spalding takes in a blind man, Mr. Will (Malkovich) and hires a hobo, Moses (Glover). There are scenes that you will never forget and a real tear jerker of an ending.Sally Fields won her second Best Actress Oscar for this role. Columbia Tristar has given us the film in a rather mediocre transfer. Colors are faded. Contrast can, at times be low. There is some minor pixelization and edge enhancement that intrudes. Chips, scratches, dirt and film grain are all quite visible. The sound is 2.0 surround and rather disappointing, suffering from a weak characteristic throughout. There are no extras to speak of. BOTTOM LINE: Say yes to the film because it is great entertainment, and try to overlook the rather lack luster transfer, if you can.
Aside: I suppose I should begin each review by stating that my marks (stars)that I give in rating the films are indicative of picture and sound quality and have nothing to do with my overall like or dislike of a movie based on its plot. This is why some universally acclaimed movies, from time to time, may get a less than stellar rating. Everything is based on the digital quality of the disc - how it looks and sounds. Mine is not a Roger Ebert film review.
Movie Review: No Purpose
Summary: 1 Stars
The acting is good, but I felt the movie lacked lasting purpose beyond entertainment and disconnected attacks on racism and prejudice... the film of course had it's own prejudices. When all is said and done i just couldn't recommend it although I think some of the actors did a great job.