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IMDbPro

Where the Heart Is

  • 20002000
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
34K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,883
446
Ashley Judd and Natalie Portman in Where the Heart Is (2000)
Home Video Trailer from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
94 Photos
ComedyDramaRomance
A pregnant seventeen-year-old rebuilds her life after being abandoned by her boyfriend at a Walmart in Sequoyah, Oklahoma.A pregnant seventeen-year-old rebuilds her life after being abandoned by her boyfriend at a Walmart in Sequoyah, Oklahoma.A pregnant seventeen-year-old rebuilds her life after being abandoned by her boyfriend at a Walmart in Sequoyah, Oklahoma.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
34K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,883
446
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Matt Williams
    • Writers
      • Lowell Ganz(screenplay)
      • Babaloo Mandel(screenplay)
      • Billie Letts(novel)
    • Stars
      • Natalie Portman
      • James Frain
      • Ashley Judd
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Matt Williams
    • Writers
      • Lowell Ganz(screenplay)
      • Babaloo Mandel(screenplay)
      • Billie Letts(novel)
    • Stars
      • Natalie Portman
      • James Frain
      • Ashley Judd
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 259User reviews
    • 64Critic reviews
    • 30Metascore
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Where the Heart Is
    Trailer 0:31
    Where the Heart Is

    Photos94

    Natalie Portman stars as Novalee Nation
    Lexie & Novalee
    Novalee marries Forney
    Novalee meets Sister
    Joan Cusack co-stars as Nashville music agent, Ruth Meyer
    Dylan Bruno co-stars as Willy Jack
    Ashley Judd stars as Lexie
    Ashley Judd and Natalie Portman in Where the Heart Is (2000)
    Ashley Judd and Natalie Portman in Where the Heart Is (2000)
    1 sheet movie poster
    Ashley Judd and Natalie Portman in Where the Heart Is (2000)
    Ashley Judd and Natalie Portman in Where the Heart Is (2000)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Natalie Portman
    Natalie Portman
    • Novalee Nation
    James Frain
    James Frain
    • Forney Hull
    Ashley Judd
    Ashley Judd
    • Lexie Coop
    Stockard Channing
    Stockard Channing
    • Sister Husband
    Joan Cusack
    Joan Cusack
    • Ruth Meyers
    Dylan Bruno
    Dylan Bruno
    • Willy Jack Pickens
    Sue McCormick
    • Cake Supplier
    Keith David
    Keith David
    • Moses Whitecotten
    Ray Prewitt
    • Tim
    Laura House
    • Nicki
    Karey Green
    • Rhonda
    Mary Ashleigh Green
    • Girl in Bathroom
    Kinna McInroe
    Kinna McInroe
    • Wal-Mart Clerk
    Laura Auldridge
    • Wal-Mart Assistant Manager
    Alicia Godwin
    • Jolene
    Dennis Letts
    Dennis Letts
    • Sheriff
    Richard Andrew Jones
    Richard Andrew Jones
    • Mr. Sprock
    • (as Richard Jones)
    Kathryn Esquivel
    • Mrs. Ortiz
    • Director
      • Matt Williams
    • Writers
      • Lowell Ganz(screenplay)
      • Babaloo Mandel(screenplay)
      • Billie Letts(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      For the scenes filmed in Walmart, myriad Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) merchandise, prominently depicting Natalie Portman as Queen Amidala, had to be removed, to preserve the suspension of disbelief.
    • Goofs
      When Novalee is adding what she owes Walmart in her notebook, most of the totals of what she owes are not added correctly. However, Novalee is not very educated, which means she could have done simple mistakes when she was doing the problems.
    • Quotes

      Novalee Nation: It's too late, isn't it, Forney?

      Forney Hull: Too late for what?

      Novalee Nation: I lied to you, when you asked me if I loved you, and I said no. Remember?

      Forney Hull: Yes.

      Novalee Nation: I lied. It wasn't true, I-I love you. It's just I lied because I thought you deserved something better.

      Forney Hull: Something better than you? Novalee, there isn't anything better than you.

      [they kiss]

    • Alternate versions
      Televised version is heavily cut, all of Joan Cusack's scenes are missing.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: U-571/Love & Basketball/Joe Gould's Secret/Gossip/Pups (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      Mustang Sally
      Written by Mack Rice

      Performed by Malford Milligan

      Produced by Matt Cartsonis

    User reviews259

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    An enchanting human interest story
    This film is a bittersweet human-interest story with a side order of romance. The story has a country flavor, plenty of country music and a story that could serve as the film version of the typical lyrics of any country music CD. It is replete with bad decisions, bad luck and tragedies at every turn. It is sappy, corny, stereotypical, and unfortunately full of the types of things that really happen in rural America. Despite this seething despondency, it has an upbeat fatalism that suggests that at least for some of the people, the struggle against bad breaks and hard times pays off.

    The story follows the life of Novalee Nation (Natalie Portman), poor young girl setting out to start a new life with her no account boyfriend. When Novalee makes a rest stop at a Wal-Mart in Oklahoma, he ditches her, literally leaving her there barefoot and pregnant. Having only five dollars to her name, she takes up residence in the Wal-Mart and ultimately has the baby there. She becomes a minor celebrity and she is adopted by the Welcome Wagon lady. The remainder of the film examines the various relationships and experiences she has in this small town over the next seven or eight years.

    The story is charming and steeped in sentiment. The character development of Novalee is excellent, although Director Matt Williams could have spent more time on some of the supporting characters, especially Sister Husband (Stockard Channing). To his credit, the film was nicely shot, and the tornado scene was fabulous.

    Natalie Portman's performance was her best to date. She played the part with a near helpless determination that made her a very attractive and lovable character. Her southern accent was terrible, but her portrayal of the rural southern attitude was on target. Though the part didn't have a lot of range, she was extremely effective with the emotional element, and elicited great sympathy and admiration for her response to her desperate situation.

    Stockard Channing was wonderful as the eccentric Welcome Wagon lady. I would have liked to see this part expanded, just to see more of Channing. She was enchantingly warm and peculiar. James Frain was also very good as Forney. He made the character very interesting and affable. He continues to be a solid supporting actor who has shown himself to be extremely versatile (Hilary and Jackie, Reindeer Games, Titus). Ashley Judd added another fine performance to her resume, with a free spirited portrayal of Lexie.

    This was a nice story with an agreeable and upbeat ending. I rated it a 7/10. Add a point if you are a woman or if you have ever lived in a mobile home. It will find its most enthusiastic audience with women due to its extreme sentimentality, but it is not so `female' that it can't be enjoyed by men, making it a good date movie.
    helpful•25
    7
    • FlickJunkie-2
    • Oct 5, 2000

    FAQ4

    • Why was she called Sister Husband? Even after her death all the names in the book had husband after them why?
    • What exactly happened to Sister?
    • What exactly did Roger Briscoe do to Lexie and her children?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 28, 2000 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 女孩第一名
    • Filming locations
      • Lockhart, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Wind Dancer Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $33,772,838
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,292,939
      • Apr 30, 2000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $40,863,718
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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