UNTAMED HEART
A film review by Jon Ridge
Copyright 1993 by Jon Ridge
CAST: Christian Slater, Marisa Tomei, Rosie Perez DIRECTOR: Tony Bill PRODUCER: Helen Bartlett SCREENPLAY: Tom Sierchio SCORE: Cliff Eidelman
To begin this review, I must say that I did not want to see this film. The romantic-love-heart-ache genre in cinema has grown a bit outdated in recent years, and basically I've become quite disillusioned with the whole concept. But, a funny thing happened while I sat down to watch UNTAMED HEART--I found myself completely drawn into its world, and the private lives of its characters. I was pulled in, held--and as soon as the lights in the theater were turned on again I felt as if a part of me had been torn away from me.
The story is simple: Two lonely people fall in love. Sounds just like every other love story you've ever seen on film. Where this one differs, however, is that you really care about these people. His name is Adam. Adam is an odd, reclusive young man who doesn't like to talk a lot and isn't very good with people. It seems as though he has embodied a rather unhealthy heart since birth, and believes the story about it that a nun told him at the orphanage where he was raised. Adam has just one wish: To love and be loved by a pretty young waitress, with whom he works at an all-night diner in Minneapolis, named Caroline. Caroline is on a constant lookout for love, but she's been dumped more times than she or anyone else can count. Nobody wants to be with her... except for Adam. The only problem is that Caroline hasn't given Adam much thought. She thinks he's just plain weird. Then, one night as she is walking home alone through the park, Caroline is attacked by two men. At her rescue is, of course, Adam. He fights both men off, and then carries an unconscious Caroline home. He lays her down in the swing on her front porch, covers her with his overcoat and sits on the steps, keeping a constant watch on Caroline while she sleeps. She awakens ready to fight, but there's no need; no words are spoken between her and Adam, and he runs away.
They later meet at passing in a shopping mall. He touches her hand, and that's all. You see, Caroline doesn't know what to say to Adam or how to approach him. She's always thought of him as a strange part of life that she'd rather not get to know. Nonetheless, Caroline gets up the courage one night at work to finally thank Adam ... with a kiss. So begins their relationship.
As I have said, this is a cut above other romance movies--a huge cut above. The characters are real people, not cookie-cutter, factory outlet, assembly line characters. These characters live on the screen, and you feel all the time you spend watching this film that you are intruding on their lives, or listening in. That is the type realism most film- makers strive for and fail miserably at capturing. The per- formances are absolutely indelible. Christian Slater has never been any better than he is here. In the majority of his prior work, Slater has pretty much hidden behind some sort of mask-- whether it be Jack Nicholson, or whatever. Here, he has nothing to hide behind. As a result, his work in this film is touching, endearing, subtly eloquent and very moving. This is not just a pretty face anymore; this is the most competent actor working in film today.
I'm afraid, however, that all credit for the success of this film must go to Marisa Tomei. She makes up the heart and soul of this film with a performance that is as sweet and sensitive, as it is altogether sexy. Tomei is the most vibrant young face to grace the screen in years, and she brings a great deal of freshness to the role of the "love interest." These two actors have wonderful chemistry on-screen-- they really do look great together. All their scenes together can be class- ified as love scenes, and each of them is a small gem. Director Tony Bill does a good job of erasing most of the grit of Tom Sierchio's poignant script, and Cliff Eidelman skillfully captures the light, exuberantly sweet tone of the film. Put all these elements together, and you have a truly involving and engaging movie. UNTAMED HEART is the best film of this, or any other, year. See it, cry, and feel good about life.
1993 -- 1:42m -- Rated PG-13, for mild Violence
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