Hope Floats (1998)

Birdee Calvert must choose between her morals and her heart after her husband divorces her and a charming young man, who her daughter disapproves of, comes back into her life.

Director:

Forest Whitaker

Writer:

Steven Rogers

Stars:

Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick Jr., Gena Rowlands

3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sandra Bullock	...	Birdee Pruitt
Harry Connick Jr.	...	Justin Matisse
Gena Rowlands	...	Ramona Calvert
Mae Whitman	...	Bernice Pruitt
Michael Paré	...	Bill Pruitt
Cameron Finley	...	Travis
Kathy Najimy	...	Toni Post
Bill Cobbs	...	Nurse
Connie Ray	...	Bobbi-Claire
Mona Lee Fultz	...	Teacher
Sydney Berry	...	Orange Julia
Rachel Snow	...	Big Dolores (as Rachel Lena Snow)
Christina Stojanovich	...	Kristen
Alissa Alban	...	Debbie Reissen (as Allisa Alban)
Dee Hennigan	...	Dot

Storyline

Birdee Calvert-Pruitt is back in her hometown of Smithville, Texas, after discovering that her husband is having an affair with her best friend, Connie. The entire town knows what happened to flawless beauty Birdee since Connie let her know about the affair on a national talk show. Back in town, she's dealing with catty old friends and acquaintances from high school who can't help rubbing it in her face that she isn't as perfect as she thought while still trying to get back on her feet with her daughter, Bernice. Deeply depressed, she runs into an old friend, Justin Matisse, who tries to help her through, but is still in love with her. Birdee must make a new life for her and her daughter, but will Justin be able to be part of it?

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Plot Keywords:

friend | best friend | texas | smithville texas | anger | 

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Taglines:

When life fell apart, love fell into place.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 May 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Vientos de esperanza

Filming Locations:

201 E. Eighth St. Smithville, Texas USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£318,643 (UK) (13 November 1998)

Gross:

£612,606 (UK) (20 November 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Fortis Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the beginning of the film, when Birdee and Bernice are leaving Chicago to stay with her mother in Texas, the two are driving on a freeway. They pass a bus with a billboard on the side advertising for the television show Birdie was just dumped on. The billboard reads: "Toni: She'll change your life!"

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Goofs

When Birdie goes to the school to drop off Bernice's lunch, Chris (the school employee) alternates between facing Birdie and facing Bernice between shots.

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Quotes

Mr. Davis: Uh, anything interesting come in while I was at lunch?
Birdee Pruitt: No, sir.
Mr. Davis: [walks to the photo processer, grabs a handful of ruined pictures] Oh, oh, no! Look at these!
[hands them to her]
Mr. Davis: Birdee?
Birdee Pruitt: No, what is wrong with this stupid machine?
[going through the pictures]
Birdee Pruitt: God I'm telling you, I...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Jerry Seinfeld/Craig Bierko (2009)

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Soundtracks

"Back When We Were Beautiful"
Written and Performed by Matraca Berg
Courtesy of Rising Tide Records
Under license from Universal Music Special Markets

User Reviews

I totally disagree. I think this is a great movie!

Maybe it's because I had a cheating husband and went through an ugly divorce, or maybe it's because I've lived in small towns for most of my life. Whichever, I totally disagree with the comments that this movie is boring. I've watched it so many times that I wore out a tape and now have it on DVD. I could have written the speech that Sandra Bullock gives to Michael Pare when they are in the house after the funeral. I thought that all of the actors developed their characters beautifully and Sandra Bullock did a great job of portraying a woman who has had her identity and self-esteem shattered and must go about the huge task of rebuilding them both.