Where The Heart Is

It's always interesting to see a filmmaker get out of their comfort zone and tackle a project that would be totally out of their norm. Sometimes, it can be a success, like Scorsese's family friendly Hugo. Other times it can have critics and audiences up in arms. Such is the case with John Boorman's 1990 film Where The Heart Is. A comedic little romp, not to be confused with the Natalie Portman film of the same name, from the man behind heavier fare like Deliverance, Excalibur, and The Emerald Forest. Critics thought he had lost his touch and audiences stayed away in droves. I disagree and think that it belongs up there with his other classics.

Dabney Coleman stars as Stewart McBain, a self made millionaire who has made his fortune as a demolition expert. When he is made to look foolish on tv by a group of protesters trying to protect one of his projects, he comes home and is ridiculed by his children. Constantly ashamed of their side projects and spoiled ways, he throws them out. He gives them $750 each and drops them off at the building that is being protested.

The three kids, Daphne, Uma Thurman, Chloe, Suzy Amis, and Jimmy, David Hewlett, have to get crafty and decide to rent out part of the house to Lionel, Crispin Glover, a fashion designer. Shitty, Christopher Plummer, a hobo magician. Tom, Dylan Walsh, a stockbroker, and Sheryl, Sheila Kelley, a fortune teller. Chloe is an artist who combines body art within her paintings. She lands a job to put a calendar of her work and uses her siblings and housemates for her art. Lionel also hires everyone in the house to help him model his clothes for an upcoming fashion show.

The stock market crashes causing the tables to turn. Stewart finds himself homeless and turns to his children to take him in. At first they are reluctant, but they eventually give in and hope that their dad see's the err of his ways.

Boorman has assembled a terrific cast for this. Glover and Plummer are especially good. Glover's great in everything though and it's kind of fun to see Oscar winner Plummer as a hobo named Shitty. Plus the artwork in this is pretty amazing. To see Uma Thurman body painted is worth the price of admission.

I think that this film really shows how diverse Boorman can be. He is a director who has never backed down from a challenge. His odd cult classic Zardoz and trippy Excorcist II: The Heretic is further proof of this. Those two were also maligned when they were released , but now have a following. I think Where The Heart Is deserves a second chance as well.

Available on dvd.