By Melissa Antoinette Garza
This movie makes me cry, several times, every single time that I watch it! It’s evil. It’s diabolical. It pulls on your heartstrings and doesn’t let go until the end. I love this film.
WHERE THE HEART IS (2000) follows the life of 17 year old Novalee Nation (Natalie Portman). She’s a superstitious young woman who comes from a modest background. She’s naive but has a heart of gold. She’s insecure, but profoundly beautiful in and out.
When we begin, she’s nine months pregnant and in an emotionally abusive relationship with Willy Jacks Pickens (Dylan Bruno). He’s the child’s father, but has no interest in playing daddy. He wants to booze it out and be single.
The two are taking off to start a new life together, but he abandons her in a Walmart with only $5.55 to her name. She doesn’t know what to do and starts taking residency up in the store.
It is there that she meets Sister Husband, Thelma (Stockard Channing). Thelma is a marvelous woman who pretends that she knows Novalee to make the introductions easier. She gives Nova a welcoming package and a buckeye tree. She invites Nova over to hang out whenever.
Back in Walmart, Nova befriends photographer Moses Whitecotten (Keith David). Though they initially only speak briefly, the conversation is a meaningful one and actually shapes the name of Nova’s child.
She hides in the bathroom and stays in the store past closing to sleep there. She uses the facilities to stay clean and borrows food and clothing to wear. During the day she goes to a library that is run by cute and neurotic Forney Hull (James Frain). He comes across abrasive at first, but he’s under a lot of stress. He watches over his disabled and bedridden sister.
Underneath, Forney is amazing. He’s sweet, honest, adorable, supportive and just the type of guy that deserves all the best that life has to offer. I love him. I love him so goddamn much.
When Novalee’s water breaks while she’s in Walmart one night. A storm is raging outside. Forney jumps thru glass windows into Walmart to help her deliver the baby. MARRY THAT MAN NOW! Seriously. He’s the Super Man/Clark Kent fantasy all rolled up into one neat tidy, beatnik librarian package. I have a crush on Forney.
Forney gets her to a hospital where she befriends her nurse Lexie Coop (Ashley Judd). Novalee starts panicking when she realizes Walmart knows that she’s been living there. She doesn’t know how she’s going to provide for her baby, Americus. Lexie tells her to relax and brings in her infant which does soothe Nova.
Nova is shocked when her estranged party mom Lil (Sally Field) shows up and offers help. Lil is such a despicable human being. She takes Nova’s last $500 promising to secure them an apartment and takes off with it. I feel so badly that she keeps getting abandoned.
Thankfully, Sister Husband shows up and takes her into her family. Thelma is so gracious that she makes it sound like Nova is doing her a favor.
Nova accepts a job at Wamart and works aside Moses who gives her camera. She develops a love for photography and starts pursuing that. She also goes to visit Forney.
Forney and Novalee belong together. Anyone watching this flick knows that, but sadly they make us wait for it. It’s such a long wait, but such an amazing payoff. To get there though we need to see Nova pursue bad relationships because she feels unworthy of Forney. Forney isn’t confident in his looks even though he’s all sorts of cuddly love so he never makes a move.
In one scene, where Americus is kidnapped Forney stands by her side and is a powerhouse alpha with full fem emotion. He gets arrested so that she can get to her daughter seconds sooner. It’s the kind of sensitive strong mix that I clamor over. Give me the quiet bookworm over the beer-chugging screamer any day off the week.
The two do develop an amazing friendship and for all intents and purposes, Forney is Americus’s father. Also, the two do have a strong attraction to one another. When Forney’s sister dies, they make passionate love. Comforting love can be an extreme turn on and here they hit every mark. He’s sensitive, she’s soft. He’s in need and she’s ready to give and then his desire takes over. Forney’s hunger comes full force and he takes the lead in a steamy and sensual scene. For a PG-13 flick, it’s hot as hell. It’s two sexy people portraying alluring characters that have spectacular chemistry together. This is my chick-flick jam.
After they make love, Novalee panics and says it was a pity fuck. It wasn’t, but damn that hurts a man’s ego. She doesn’t want him to abandon college for her so she does have altruistic reasons, but they are so misplaced. Eventually as one would expect, we get the Hollywood ending we crave.
There are several side stories that are very compelling as well. The most intriguing follows Lexie. It’s a depressing tale on some levels as the film shows the dangers of a mother who brings several different men around her children. That said, it isn’t bashing single mothers. Instead, it is just about responsible choices and the ability to forgive oneself for past mistakes. Lexie evolves as a character and become a fabulous mother who makes solid decisions. It just takes awhile for her to get there.
Ashley Judd is spectacular in the role. When both Lexie and her children are brutalized by a man, Judd’s emotional breakdown is gut-wrenching. It kills me to watch it, but it’s amazing.
Another tale follows Willy’s self-destructive path that serves two purposes. It show that karma is a very real thing and that forgiveness of even the most egregious offenses at times can be forgiven.
This is my go-to feel-good movie. Even though it has sad parts in it, the ending is all sorts s of celebration. It also has multiple actors that I am in love with.
Stockard Channing is a fem goddess in everything she’s in. Her role here is one of a nature loving hippie who is more evolved than anyone else in town. Thelma may play crazy, but she’s fully aware of what she’s doing. Channing is just a fabulous vision. Every time that I see her I fall in love. She’s just an expert at her craft and steals a scene with the raise of an eyebrow.
Natalie Portman is another favorite of mine. I know many dislike V FOR VENDETTA (2005), I adore it and I think her performance in it was so layered and multifaceted. She is wonderful at conveying radical changes in her characters and making the progression one that is realistic and believable.
Keith David is always sensational and even in this minor role he is compelling. Moses adds a patriarchal voice that Novalee wanted in her life. She was a young woman looking for guidance and a wonderful group of people came together to give their perspective and to surround both mother and child with love.
Lastly, James Frain was brilliant. If someone watches this and dislikes Forney, they have no soul. Forney is just the epitome of Prince Charming fairy-tale fodder for those of us attracted to the unconventional. He’s the good guy that usually finishes last, but doesn’t here. He’s the Ducky from PRETTY IN PINK (1986), but here the film gives us the ending we deserve.
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Scared Stiff Rating: 8.5/10
