Forces of Nature (1999)

A soon-to-be-married man encounters an exciting stranger after his plane suffers an accident on takeoff.

Director:

Bronwen Hughes

Writer:

Marc Lawrence

Stars:

Sandra Bullock, Ben Affleck, Maura Tierney

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sandra Bullock	...	Sarah
Ben Affleck	...	Ben
Maura Tierney	...	Bridget
Steve Zahn	...	Alan
Blythe Danner	...	Virginia
Ronny Cox	...	Hadley
Michael Fairman	...	Richard
Janet Carroll	...	Barbara
Richard Schiff	...	Joe
David Strickland	...	Steve
Meredith Scott Lynn	...	Debbie
George Wallace	...	Max (as George D. Wallace)
Steve Hytner	...	Jack
John Doe	...	Carl
Jack Kehler	...	Vic

Storyline

Ben Holmes, a professional book-jacket blurbologist, is trying to get to Savannah for his wedding. He just barely catches the last plane, but a seagull flies into the engine as the plane is taking off. All later flights are cancelled because of an approaching hurricane, so he is forced to hitch a ride in a Geo Metro with an attractive but eccentric woman named Sarah.

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Plot Keywords:

love | neo screwball comedy | title directed by female | wedding | hurricane | 

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Taglines:

Why watch the Force when you can watch... Forces of Nature?

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sensuality, language and a scene of drug use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 March 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fuerzas de la naturaleza

Filming Locations:

Executive Motor Hotel - 5215 W. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$75,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,510,728, 21 March 1999

Gross USA:

$52,900,680

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$93,900,680

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks, Roth-Arnold Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

David Strickland's last film.

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Goofs

To hear an echo you need a flat vertical surface. When they are on top the train, shouting, there is none visible. There are trees around that would actually absorb sound.

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Quotes

Sarah Lewis: Two wayward travellers stuck in a Geo with a guy named Vic.

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Connections

Featured in HBO First Look: Forces of Nature (1999)

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Soundtracks

I Need A Lover
Written and Performed by Finley Quaye
Courtesy of 550 Music
By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Surprising, better than I expected

After reading the back of the video box about the "whirlwind romance" and the plot about Ben heading towards his wedding and meeting a "free-spirited" woman who teaches him how to have fun, I didn't have much interest in seeing it. It sounded extremely trite, and I'm not too interested in Bullock or Affleck either. I was very surprised at the sharp dialogue and humor. And even though every frame of this film looked like a jeans commercial, I *liked* the cinematography and hip, colorful locales. Of course the whole thing was totally unbelievable and the various events that occur are a bit overdone... but I liked it anyway. I am a sucker for road movies, so that was part of the appeal for me... traveling, different locations (the laundromat, the snack bar with the giant globe and the Big KMart at 2AM). I expected Ben's bride-to-be to be a crashing bore or uptight priss, so the audience would root for Sarah and Ben. But she was funny and sharp also, and you don't feel like the marriage would suck all the life out of Ben as it seemed to have for others in the film. All of the things Ben overhears about marriage sucking is pretty funny. I only post here about movies that make an impression on me, whether good or bad... and this one made an impression. I liked it. And no one is more surprised about that than me.