Untamed Heart (1993)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Tony Bill

Writer (WGA):

Tom Sierchio (written by)

Release Date:

12 February 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Comedy

Plot:

All of Caroline's boyfriends seem to leave her or cheat on her. On her way home from work two men try to rape Caroline...

Plot Keywords:

Orphan | Baboon | Damsel In Distress | Waitress | Dying Young

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Christian Slater	...	Adam
Marisa Tomei	...	Caroline
Rosie Perez	...	Cindy
Kyle Secor	...	Howard
Willie Garson	...	Patsy
James Cada	...	Bill #1
Gary Groomes	...	Bill #2
Claudia Wilkens	...	Mother Camilla
Pat Clemons	...	Sister Helen
Lotis Key	...	Nun
Vanessa Hart	...	Nun
Charley Bartlett	...	Young Adam
Vincent Kartheiser	...	Orphan Boy
Wendy Feder	...	Orphange Nurse
Nancy Marvy	...	Caroline's Mom

Also Known As:

The Baboon Heart (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | New Zealand:M | USA:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | Germany:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Joe's Coffee Shop, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

To help her with her Minneapolis accent, Marisa Tomei asked that her driver be a native of the city. The first driver was sacked when she found out that he was from New Jersey, as was the second one when it transpired that he was originally from Texas.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Caroline is getting ready to meet her boyfriend at the beginning of the movie, we see her sweep a bunch of makeup off of her dressing table and into her purse, then she walks off the screen to the right. When she comes back, the makeup is back on the dressing table.

Quotes:

Adam: I am not very good with people.

Movie Connections:

References "Candid Camera" (1960/I)

Soundtrack:

Bad Bad Boys

For someone who is picky about romances, this one is by far the best of it's time..

When I was married, my then wife dragged me to see this movie on Valentines' Day weekend, when it first released. I agreed to go based on the fact that one of my favorite actresses appeared in it, Marisa Tomei. The most I'd seen of Christian Slater was in 'Robin Hood', and didn't care much for him in that.

What a change one movie can make for opinions on an actor.

I was engaged with this movie from frame one.

Cliff Eidelman's score is captivating and very moving in this movie, flowing along effortlessly with the film. Marisa Tomei is pure magic, and Rosie Perez is just right as the screechy best friend.

What surprised me most was Slater's performance. Here, he gives a very introspective and introverted performance, that, in my opinion, was worthy of an Oscar nod. The mannerisms with which he portrays Adam as the shy orphan who seems unsure of himself are dealt with great detail and care. He hasn't had a better performance before or since.

That doesn't overshadow Tomei's performance in this film. She is simply beautiful, no matter what part she is portraying. She has the Minnesotan accent down pat, and you believe you are in the Twin Cities while watching the film. I feel her performance in this movie was a step above "My Cousin Vinny". Too bad the Academy didn't agree.

And when Slater and Tomei occupy the frame together, it is, for a lack of a better term, absolute glory. The chemistry between these two actors on screen is so thick you couldn't cut it with a chainsaw.

The cinematography, by Jost Vacano, who also did movies like "Das Boot" and "Robocop", while not visually stunning, is very technical, with the use of pull-pans/push-pans and ground perspective shots. A very well-done film all the way around, from Bill's directing to Mia Goldman's seamless editing. Too bad some wiseacre reviewer gave the ending away in a review of the film before release and literally killed it's box office.

I own the DVD now, and I can offer one warning: Gentlemen, if you watch this movie with your wife/significant other, be prepared to offer up excuses like 'there is something in my eye', or 'it must be my allergies', if you're not comfortable admitting letting the waterworks go. The proclamations of affection between these two are so charming, yet not heavy handed. It's the kind of things you would have wish you'd said to that 'one that got away'.

My rating: 9 (no movie has ever gotten a 10 from me, but this one almost had me reconsidering)