Nadine Salakov
"Random Hearts" is about two widowed people who found out that their spouses were having affairs with each other's husband and wife, their dead spouses were found on an aeroplane when it crashed. Harrison Ford plays "Sergeant William 'Dutch' Van Den Broeck", Kristin Scott Thomas plays "Kay Chandler" a congresswoman. "Dutch" finds out first that his wife was having an affair with "Kay"'s husband, she eventually finds out and the situation brings them into each others lives."Random Hearts" is an unusual romantic drama based on a novel. The movie is slow-paced at times, but this is the type of flick that doesn't really go anywhere, it's about the connection between these two people "Dutch" and "Kay", as the film goes on you can't help but want these two new people to start a serious relationship, but it's more of a fling, things get intense at times and it's clear that 'Dutch' is more emotionally invested in his deceased wife's affair to the point where we seem him act like a total jerk (in one particular scene he picks up "Kay"'s purse and aggressively tips all the contents out on the kitchen counter looking for a key or whatever it was).This film gives us a "will they or won't they" stay in each other's lives, there's two other story lines that have a supporting role and that's "Kay"'s very public political life and "Dutch"'s job as a Sergeant, we see him go on a stakeout and get shot - that sideline story is a little weak, but then again so is this entire movie plot.The performances are okay, it is the ending that's the major problem, we see that "Dutch" is waiting for "Kay" at the airport and says that he wants to stay in contact with her, she is a little standoffish while still being friendly at the same time, he says that they should go on a date sometime and she agrees, then she walks off to the plane on her own, this is actually a realistic scenario, but this is not real life, this is a movie, where is the ending romance? it's labelled a romantic drama for goodness sake, we see these people spend time together all cosy at his cabin, they go around investigating every detail of their deceased spouses affair, and she is saying no to a relationship with him? why, exactly? her career is a weak excuse, by the end of the flick it's all in the papers and on the news about both of their spouses having an affair, so there's nothing to hide anymore, maybe "Kay" had a change of heart and doesn't want a relationship, but the thing is romantic dramas are supposed to make viewers feel all warm, but we're left feeling depressed. The end scene is not satisfying especially after all they've been through. Some end scenes shouldn't be clichéd, but that is only when they can pull it off without making the viewers feel like they regret watching, "Random Hearts" however should have had a clichéd ending and had him get on the plane with her.
pc95
Although I usually like Harrison Ford and late director Sydney Pollack;s work, "Random Hearts" is a dud and a mess. It is all over the place in story and in acting/directing. There is a pointless subplot with Ford's characters Internal Affairs that eats up a good 25 min of superfluous runtime. The low-point though is the supposed morbid romance/relationship that's born out of bereavement. While this might not be uncommon, Ford and Thomas have next to no chemistry, and the strange obsessions with the mystery of the affair wears out quickly. A young Kate Mara is little more than plot device and filler. Towards the beginning the direction and performance for Ford is whacky and eccentric all of the sudden turning morose. The final scene was atrocious too - trying to bow-tie the movie. 4/10 not recommended.
John M Hightower
When I first saw this film in the theaters I kind a board with it. but when i saw it on video I loved it more. it is a very loving film to watch in your spare time. I gess this movie made me think about a lot of things that went on in my life during this film in 1999. Bonnie Hunt was so awesome in this movie telling of on herself to Kay Chandler. The actors and actresses were so loving in there roles of the film. Its so wild how Cullen got around with the ladies in this movie. The soundtrack of the film was great as well. Its like all the music went with the script of the show. Over all is one of my favorite movies of all time
SnoopyStyle
Kay (Kristin Scott Thomas) is a political newbie running for office. Her husband is played by Peter Coyote. Dutch (Harrison Ford) is police IA investigator and he thinks his marriage to Peyton (Susanna Thompson) is fine. However Dutch finds that his wife died in a plane crash suspecting that she's having an affair.Director Sydney Pollack has made a very undramatic movie. It's slow moving. The first half of the movie meanders to the point of meaninglessness. When the mystery of their affair start to surface, Dutch goes into mean investigating machine mode. Dutch investigating was interesting for about 10 minutes, but the affair is never allowed to be in doubt. The question becomes where is the mystery. Kay puts it best. They're gone. There isn't even a possibility of divorce. So what's the point of the movie.I guess the point is for these two leads to work out their anger and their loss together. It is just so slow with the jazzy trumpets and soft piano. Sydney Pollack thinks this is more profound that it actually is. The two leads have no chemistry. Harrison Ford is horribly cold. The romance is nothing more than melodrama. His police investigation is nothing but a sideshow. I would have more respect for the movie if Dutch goes ahead and shoots the suspect. If this movie is about Kay and only about Kay, the story has a little bit of potential. There is a bit more on her side with her daughter and political ramifications.
