"Where the Heart Is"

I enjoyed this movie even though it is slow in spots. Natalie Portman plays Novalee Nation. She's 17 and has never known love, never had a real home. To use her phrase: she's "never lived anyplace that didn't have wheels under it ". Her dream is a fresh beginning for her and Willy Jack, with a house that "overlooks the ocean" in an atmosphere more suited for a child. You see, she's pregnant by her disgusting, selfish boyfriend Willy Jack Pickens (played by Dylan Bruno).

They decide to hop in his car (that's missing part of it's floor, thus she loses her shoes!) and get out of Tennessee to follow that dream (and for Willy Jack to become a singing star). They're heading for California. Novalee asks Willy Jack to stop in Sequoyah, Oklahoma so she can use the washroom at WalMart and get a pair of houseshoes. He grudgingly parks the car and gives her some money. She takes care of
business and comes out to find Willy Jack is gone. No surprise there. The
vulnerable, sad look on her face is almost more than one can bear.

Novalee goes back into the store, looking around, killing time, not knowing what in the world she's going to do. She runs into a woman named Sister Husband (played by Stockard Channing) who decides she knows Novalee and gives her a welcome basket and plant. Now Novalee could've just dumped these in the garbage or left them somewhere, but she didn't. She carried them around all day long. She decided to take up residence in the WalMart, believe it or not. A little hokey, but in this movie it works!

Time passes and she's getting familiar with the town. She goes into the
stores and library. She meets Forney Hall (played by James Frain who I knew I'd seen somewhere before but couldn't place-- finally realized he played Ben Affleck's friend in "Reindeer Games"). Forney is a kind, compassionate, extremely intelligent man.

The WalMart photographer, Moses Whitecotten, played by Keith David (whose
part was way too short) befriended her and helped her in her decision to
become a photographer. He also tells her to give her child a name that
means something, that's important. He's a kind man who becomes a wonderful friend to Novalee.

Forney finds out she's living in WalMart. One stormy night, after WalMart
closed, Novalee started to go into labor. She was in pain, crying and
yelling, when Forney leaps through the plate glass window and delivers her
baby. Novalee doesn't remember any of this though. Novalee becomes famous. WalMart doesn't press charges because of all the publicity and actually gives her lots of stuff.

Novalee is having a hard time picking a name for her beautiful daughter
(other than what the press named her....."The WalMart Baby"). Believe it or not, she comes up with "Americus". Americus Nation. Ugh. Her mother, Mama Lil is played by Sally Field. I've never seen Sally Field in a role like this and I was amazed. She was a 'trampy' bleached blond who chain smoked the whole time she was in Novalee's hospital room. Lil had abandoned Novalee when she was younger ( for a man , of course). When Novalee asked how he was, Lil couldn't even remember who he was at first. Then she said she'd move on from him a long time ago. Discussion about why Lil never returned was unproductive. But Lil said that's why she was here. She saw her daughter on the news and decided it was time to step up and be a Mom. She said they'd get a place together and she'd help out with Americus. Novalee had gotten money from people who'd written to her and from WalMart. She handed it over to her Mother to get an apartment.

Novalee and Americus are ready to leave the hospital. Novalee sits in the
wheel chair for hours, waiting for her Mother to pick her up. Of course,
she never comes. Her Mother has run off with all the money. Instead,
Sister Husband comes and picks her up. Sister offers to have Novalee and
Americus live with her because she's lonely and would love the company.

Novalee finds a best friend in Lexie Coop (Ashley Judd, a nurse at the
hospital). All of her children seem to have different fathers. She's a
kind soul and cares a great deal for Novalee. I felt like maybe Novalee saw herself in the future when she looked at Lexie. They both definitely had a run of bad luck with men but they take the responsibility for poor choices in the area of love. In a sad moment between the two, after a man Lexie has been seeing attempts an unspeakable act and uses her as a punching bag,Lexie tells Nova Lee that "girls like us" don't get the pick of the litter. They're quite a pair, these two women. They're strong and independent, but both desire the love of a good man, marriage and all the commitment that goes with it.

Novalee's living arrangements with Sister Husband work out well. They
become quite close. Stockhard Channing's character is colorful, strong and full of humor. She is no hypocrite and forgiving of people's shortcomings. At mealtime, she thanks the Lord for her many blessings and asks forgiveness for her 'affair' with the handyman Mr. Sprock, played by Richard Jones.

Forney comes to be a major part of Novalee's life. He's a kind man, a
little odd to those who don't know him. He's given up college to care for
his sick librarian sister. He makes it so obvious he's in love with
Novalee. At first Novalee can't see it. But then she comes to realize she
has feelings for him but doesn't feel she deserves a good man.

The film flashes occasionally to Willy Jack, who is not making much of his
life. He's selfish and ends up alone regretting his life and ways. He's
not exactly a villain. But you do love to hate him. The word despicable
comes to mind. Joan Cusak plays Ruth Meyers, an outspoken, blunt agent that reluctantly takes him on as a client. Her performance is large! She's quite an actress and forever funny. Willy Jack meets with a tragedy and Novalee does get to see him one more time. I won't give that away.

Over the span of the movie ( I believe it's about 5 or 6 years) Novalee's life improves slowly. Moses has faith in her photography skills and she decides that will be her career. One of the many sad parts is when a tornado strikes the town and Sister Husband is killed. Novalee learns that Sister has left everything to her, just when she had reached the conclusion she would be homeless again.

Forney's sister passes away and he decides that because Novalee just wants to be friends (or so he thinks) he'll just go on to college. In the end, her good sense prevails and she goes to him. You'll be happy to find out that Lexie does find a good man and gets married.

Portman delivers a superb performance. She finally gets to play an adult
(although her character was certainly no adult when the movie started). We get to watch her blossom through the responsibilities thrust on her. Her self-confidence grows thanks to her friends' encouragement and her attitude that she's now a Mother with a child depending on her. Portman does the naive poor Southern girl so well. Maybe a little too 'polished' but she does bring it off. I think this is truly the best film of her short career. It certainly made me decide to make it a point to see whatever she's in next. She is truly gifted. Everyone will surely appreciate how she portrayed a woman who doesn't give up, who is given lemons and does her best to make lemonade. She grows to be a strong woman in the short span of the film.

Although I know some people don't think much of this film, I thought it was very good. It shows the triumph of two women trying to overcome their past mistakes, trying to make new lives for themselves. They come to realize they are worthy of respect and the love of a good man.

My husband enjoyed it, although he did give it the 'chick flick' label.

It's rated PG-13 and is 2 hours long.