Random Hearts (1999)

Police Sergeant Dutch Van Den Broek (Harrison Ford) and U.S. Representative Kay Chandler (Dame Kristin Scott Thomas) lose their spouses in a plane crash, and they soon discover that their spouses were having an affair with each other.

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

Warren Adler (novel), Darryl Ponicsan (adaptation)

Stars:

Harrison Ford, Kristin Scott Thomas, Charles S. Dutton

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Harrison Ford	...	Dutch Van Den Broeck
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Kay Chandler
Charles S. Dutton	...	Alcee
Bonnie Hunt	...	Wendy Judd
Dennis Haysbert	...	Detective George Beaufort
Sydney Pollack	...	Carl Broman
Richard Jenkins	...	Truman Trainor
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Dick Montoya
Susanna Thompson	...	Peyton Van Den Broeck
Peter Coyote	...	Cullen Chandler
Dylan Baker	...	Richard Judd
Lynne Thigpen	...	Phyllis Bonaparte
Susan Floyd	...	Molly Roll
Bill Cobbs	...	Marvin
Kate Mara	...	Jessica Chandler

Storyline

After the death of their loved ones in a tragic plane crash, Police Sergeant Dutch Van Den Broek (Harrison Ford) and U.S. Representative Kay Chandler (Dame Kristin Scott Thomas) find keys in the possessions their loved ones left behind. They realize the two had been having an affair and are determined to discover all of the details.

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Plot Keywords:

politician | police sergeant | investigation | u.s. congresswoman | policeman | 

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Taglines:

He'll stop at nothing to find the truth.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for brief violence, sexuality and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The names of the main characters in the novel on which this movie was based are Edward and Vivien. This was likely changed for this movie as Edward and Vivien are well-known as the names of the main characters in Pretty Woman (1990).

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Goofs

Dutch and Kay exit the airport, presumably either Reagan National or Dulles, upon their return from Miami. Dutch says something like, "I live in Northwest," referring to NW Washington DC. The Lincoln Memorial is behind them as they drive across Memorial Bridge, which means they are going into Virginia and away from DC, which is the wrong way.

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Quotes

Dutch Van Den Broeck: You know what I do for a living? I get paid to notice stuff. I get paid to know who's lying. I didn't have a clue.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Superstar/Random Hearts/Boys Don't Cry/The Limey/Romance (1999)

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Soundtracks

The Folks Who Live on the Hill
Written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II
Performed by Diana Krall
Courtesy of The Verve Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Special Markets

User Reviews

Taking the long way to get there.

Sydney Pollack directs a script based on a novel by Warren Adler. An Internal Affairs Officer with the D.C. Police Dept and a woman running for congress enter each others life when they are faced with the fact their spouses were killed in a plane crash. It is discovered their spouses were in the middle of a torrid affair. But life has to go on.

Harrison Ford is somewhat toned down, and this movie is below his normal standards. Kristin Scott Thomas runs through a gamut of emotions and plays her part in a convincing manner. This movie runs a little long and I understand why some people found it boring. It does seem to drag in places. This time the movie does little to even do the trailers justice.

Also featured are Charles Dutton, Director Pollack and briefly Peter Coyote and Susanna Thompson.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Random Hearts

Filming Locations:

Manchester Airport, Manchester, New Hampshire, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$64,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,012,585, 10 October 1999

Gross USA:

$31,502,583

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$74,608,570

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Global Entertainment Productions GmbH & Company Medien KG, Mirage Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

133 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1