Earthly Possessions (TV 1999)

A bored wife, who is planning to run away from her minister husband, is taken hostage in a bank robbery. However, she sees the thrill in being involved in the chase and becomes an ... See full summary »

Director:

James Lapine

Writers:

Anne Tyler (book), Steven Rogers (teleplay)

Stars:

Susan Sarandon, Phoebe Lapine, Anna Rose Menken

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Susan Sarandon	...	Charlotte Emory
Phoebe Lapine	...	Cheerleader #1
Anna Rose Menken	...	Cheerleader #2 (as Anna Manken)
Marge Redmond	...	Old Woman In Bank
Danielle Ferland	...	Baby Whitehead
Stephen Dorff	...	Jake Simms, Jr.
Marialisa Costanzo	...	Screaming Woman
William Hill	...	Bank Guard
Brenda Currin	...	Street Witness
Margo Martindale	...	Libby
Julyana Soelistyo	...	Sour Waitress
Tak Wah Eng	...	Bartender
Boyd Gaines	...	Announcer
Deborah Rush	...	Heidi Anderson
John Christopher Jones	...	Marvel Hodge

Storyline

A bored wife, who is planning to run away from her minister husband, is taken hostage in a bank robbery. However, she sees the thrill in being involved in the chase and becomes an accomplice to helping the younger robber escape his pursuers. As things progress, she learns he pulled the robbery to get enough money to help his pregnant girlfriend leave a home for unwed mothers. The two have a brief flirtation, but it is clear the housewife just needs something to enliven her life.

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Plot Keywords:

hostage | escape | bank | robbery | bank robbery | 

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Taglines:

Charlotte wasn't looking to meet Jake. And Jake wasn't looking to take a hostage. Some people should look where they're going.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 March 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Destino fatale

Filming Locations:

Gas station - U.S. 9W & Christian Herald Road, Upper Nyack, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rastar Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was shot entirely on location in the New York/New Jersey area at the request of star Susan Sarandon due to her well-known and publicized policy of filming projects close to home during the school year in order to be close to her children and not to disrupt their routine.

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Quotes

Jake: You're gonna move over, and you're gonna steer the fuckin' car!
Charlotte: Okay.

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Soundtracks

"Bonita"
Written by Alastair Gavin

User Reviews

Entertaining seems to be the key word.

The first time I saw this movie it was in the middle of the night and all I remember from that time is that I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Mostly, because I'm a sucker for the kind of impossible romance stories like 'kidnapper falls in love with hostage' as seen in this movie.

The few times that I watched this movie later, I was kind of disappointed. In my head, the movie had been so much better than it was in real life, but the fact the movie isn't brilliant and the storyline isn't always very much believable, doesn't take away the fact that the movie is beyond entertaining.

There is some serious chemistry between Susan Sarandon and Stephen Dorff. The way they interact and their conversations are definitely enough reason for someone to instantly love the movie. Susan Sarandon is a respected actress in Hollywood and I believe almost every single movie with her in it is worth watching. Stephen Dorff managed to impress me with something other than his cuteness, his acting. Having two great actors in a mediocre movie kind of helps to reach the movie a higher level and that is definitely the case in this movie. I think the movie is entertaining by itself, but the fact Susan Sarandon and Stephen Dorff are in it, adds to its appeal. The movie is there not to be taken too literally and to just sit back and enjoy.

Just like most other people, I was fairly disappointed once the character of Mindy joined the duo. Not because of Mindy herself, but simply because I felt it wasn't necessary. Charlotte and Jake were still entertaining enough together and a third character was not necessary to keep the movie interesting.

The ending may have disappointed some people out there, but I think the ending was decent. It's obvious that the 'happily ever after'-ending everyone's hoping for isn't going to come and it is inevitable that Jake and Charlotte had to say goodbye at some point.

Conclusion: Not good in the traditional sense, but good in the way that it'll keep you entertained for the entire time. The movie has got its flaws that will sometimes disappoint you, but at the same time the movie has got enough charm to keep you interested all the way and will make you love it from start to finish. At least, that's what it did for me.

8/10