Heartlands (2002)

Gentle Colin 'Col' Lawes happily lead a quiet life, running a news agency with his spoiled-rotten wife Sandra and playing competition darts in the Atletic Arms team. Colin catches her ... See full summary »

Director:

Damien O'Donnell

Writers:

Paul Fraser, Paul Fraser (story)

Stars:

Michael Sheen, Mark Addy, Jim Carter

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Sheen	...	Colin
Mark Addy	...	Ron
Jim Carter	...	Geoff
Celia Imrie	...	Sonja
Ruth Jones	...	Mandy
Phillipa Peak	...	Sarah
Jane Robbins	...	Sandra
Paul Shane	...	Zippy
Mark Strong	...	Ian
Joe Dempsie	...	Craig (as Joseph Dempsie)
Silas-Paul Simpson	...	Andy
Russell Hayes	...	Russ
Alan Williams	...	Deno
Bill Rodgers	...	Dennis
James Corden	...	Shady

Storyline

Gentle Colin 'Col' Lawes happily lead a quiet life, running a news agency with his spoiled-rotten wife Sandra and playing competition darts in the Atletic Arms team. Colin catches her committing adultery with team captain Geoff, a cop, who pretends Colin abused her. Col is thrown off the team just after it qualified for the league finals in Blackpool. He decides to travel there alone, hoping to win her back. The adventurous journey feels like the start of a more playful life.

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Plot Keywords:

dart | adultery | roller coaster | dart game | funfair | 

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Taglines:

An offbeat road trip... An exciting new world!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for a scene of sensuality and some language

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 April 2003 (UK)

Also Known As:

A szív és vidéke

Company Credits

Production Co:

DNA Films,Film Council,Miramax

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Joe Dempsie.

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Crazy Credits

Coach Driver - Mel Gibson (the credit was added as a laugh at the expense of producer Harvey Weinstein, who wanted starrier names in the cast).

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Soundtracks

The Fairest of All Yarrow
By Kate Rusby
Performed by Kate Rusby, John McCusker, Andy Cutting and Michael McGoldrick

User Reviews

Beauty and Truth

There is a real and wonderful visual artist behind HEARTLANDS, but I am not certain if it is the director--or his director of photography. This movie is so beautiful to view in terms of composition, clarity and color that I found myself trying not to blink for fear of missing something. (Even the beginning, set in a heavily "industrial" neighborhood, manages to look interesting. Then, two-thirds of the way through, there is a "grainy" section in an amusement park, and damned if THAT isn't beautiful, too!) I don't recall director Damien O'Donnell's "East is East" as being anything special visually, so perhaps the beauty is due to the photographer. Whatever: "Heartlands" is utterly lovely to look at--and more. It's that rare movie in which kindness takes a front seat, and you find yourself increasingly joyful due to the simple, caring things that one person does for another.

The main character here is a poor schlub who wife soon leaves him. Played beautifully by Michael Sheen (of the OCD-driven "Dirty Filthy Love"), this guy seems borderline feeble (particularly when he tries to tell a certain story/joke and can't begin to manage it: the writer and director go a bit too far here). But as he begins to re-order his life, he--and the movie--just gets better and better.

In its quiet and thoughtful way, this one left me feeling buoyant--on some non-drug-induced "high"--as any film I can remember in a long while. I hope it'll have the same effect on you.