Review of Places in the Heart (1984) by Harry W — 28 Feb 2013

Places in the Heart has a story worth telling, but it lacks the appropriate running length to fill us all in. It seems like Places in the Heart cuts too short when the story was just getting to inspiring dramatically parts,.

What fixes the film is it's exceptional acting from it's flawless cast.

Sally Field is an excellent lead with emotional intensity to a realistic level and never too melodramatic because her performance exceeds it. You find yourself rooting for her so much through out the story that it makes you want to yell at the screen "Yes, Sally. We really like you!".

Excellent support comes from John Malkovich who's so excellently convincing as a blind man that he requires no sunglasses to block the path of his eyes or even the vision to act. Places in the a heart is a prime example of some of the strongest natural talent conveyed in John Malkovich's career. How he's never won an Academy award is beyond me because a man with such an excellent balance between physical and vocal acting deserves the highest honour available. I feel as if John Malkovich will end up like Peter O'Toole, so largely respected but never getting to the Oscar.

Danny Glover supports the characters every step of the way with civil drama and events making you feel for him as well as cheer for him, even when he steals.

Places in the Heart also absorbs an excellent time setting with convincing costumes, locations and lighting as well as a great screenplay successfully capturing the heart of the intended tone of the emotional story.

I gues by Today's standards, Places in the Heart is much like The Pursuit of Happiness, except that it substitutes an more appropriately uplifting ending for a cliffhanger and a flawless cast, led by the excellent and beautiful Sally Field.