Contents



1999



Random Hearts (1999)
 
Directed by 
Sydney Pollack    
  
Writing credits (WGA) (in credits order) 
Warren Adler   (novel) 

 
Darryl Ponicsan   (adaptation) 

 
Kurt Luedtke   (screenplay) 
  
Cast (in credits order) 
Harrison Ford ....  Dutch Van Den Broeck  
Kristin Scott Thomas ....  Kay Chandler  
Charles Dutton ....  Alcee (as Charles S. Dutton)  
Bonnie Hunt ....  Wendy Judd  
Dennis Haysbert ....  Detective George Beaufort  
Sydney Pollack ....  Carl Broman  
Richard Jenkins (I) ....  Truman Trainor  
Paul Guilfoyle (II) ....  Dick Montoya  
Susanna Thompson ....  Peyton Van Den Broeck  
Peter Coyote ....  Cullen Chandler  
Dylan Baker ....  Richard Judd  
Lynne Thigpen ....  Phyllis Bonaparte  
Susan Floyd ....  Molly Roll  
Bill Cobbs ....  Marvin  
Kate Mara ....  Jessica Chandler  
Ariana Thomas ....  Shyla Mumford  
Nelson Landrieu ....  Silvio Coya  
Brooke Smith ....  Sarah  
Tal Carawan Jr. ....  Coroner  
Christina Chang ....  Laurie  
Michelle Hurd ....  Susan  
Reiko Aylesworth ....  Mary Claire Clark  
Raymond Anthony Thomas ....  Officer Clayton Williams  
Edie Falco ....  Janice  
S. Epatha Merkerson ....  Nea  
Jack Gilpin ....  David Dotson  
Mark Zeisler ....  Steven Driker  
John Carter (IV) ....  Peyton's Father  
Davenia McFadden ....  Cassie  
Barbara Gulan ....  Maureen  
Molly Price ....  Alice Beaufort  
Brian Schwary ....  Tad Baker  
Priscilla Shanks ....  Susan's Customer  
Lynette Du Pre ....  Nurse Nancy  
Ken Kay ....  Peter Suchet  
Susan Hatfield ....  Claire Suchet  
Vincent De Paul ....  Medical Examiner  
Jenna Stern ....  Sally Gabriel  
Tom McCarthy (I) ....  Dick Schulte  
Jan Austell ....  Joe Perella  
Aasif Mandvi ....  Electronics Store Salesman  
Todd Malta ....  Supermarket Stock Boy  
Jordan Lage ....  Assistant Prosecutor  
Judith Knight Young ....  Clara  
Fenton Lawless ....  Officer Lawrence  
Deirdre Lovejoy ....  Officer Isabel  
Terry Serpico ....  Evidence Technician  
Liam Craig ....  Waiter (at DC Restaurant)  
C.S. Lee ....  Luncheonette Counterman  
Ellen Foley ....  Young Woman At Fundraiser  
Judy Jamison ....  TV Reporter (at Hospital)  
Steven Mark Friedman ....  TV Reporter (at Hospital)  
Becky Veduccio ....  TV Reporter (at Hospital)  
Susan Allenback ....  Airline Spokesperson  
Don Scott ....  News Anchor  
Dina Napoli ....  News Anchor  
Tracey Neale ....  News Anchor  
Will Thomas ....  Field Reporter  
Andy Fowle ....  Orderly  
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc ....  Helicopter Pilot (Camera) (as Robert Zajonc)  
Alan D. Purwin ....  Helicopter Pilot (TV News) (as Alan Purwin)  
Roy R. Taylor Jr. ....  Helicopter Pilot (WJZ Pilot)  
rest of cast listed alphabetically  
Steve Altes ....  Kay's brother  
Barbara Andres ....  Wife At Fundraiser  
Frank Athearn ....  Extra  
Blair Brown ....  Ellen Carey  
Jernard Burks ....  Bowling Alley Cook  
Jane Cecil ....  Older Woman At Fundraiser  
Kathleen Chalfant ....  Shirley Magnuson  
David Collins (III) ....  Press Conference Reporter  
Kai Jackson ....  Field Reporter  
Virg Jacques ....  Field Reporter  
Beau James ....  FAA Official  
Tian Kitchen ....  Model #2  
Eva Tamargo Lemus ....  Female Clerk Tides Hotel  
Marty Lodge ....  Real Estate Agent  
Timothy Hayes Lynch ....  NTSB Coordinator  
Susan Lynskey ....  Reporter #4  
James Michael McCauley ....  Court Clerk  
Danny Scalf ....  Currently 'Funeral Mourner #4'  
Robert A. Smith Jr. ....  Elvin  
Dick Stilwell ....  Tommy  
Alex Trebek ....  Jeopardy Host (uncredited)  
Todd Wallace ....  Press Conference Reporter  
M. Emmet Walsh ....  Marvin (uncredited)  
Pat Warren (I) ....  Press Conference Reporter  
Gary Wheeler ....  Dr. Hollings/Coroner  
Stewart J. Zully ....  911 Supervisor  
  
Produced by 
Warren Adler   (executive)  
Sydney Pollack    
Marykay Powell    
Ronald L. Schwary   (executive)  
  
Original music by 
Dave Grusin    
  
Cinematography by 
Philippe Rousselot    
  
Film Editing by 
William Steinkamp    
  
Casting 
David Rubin (III)    
  
Production Design by 
Barbara Ling    
  
Art Direction 
Chris Shriver    
  
Set Decoration 
Susan Bode    
  
Costume Design by 
Bernie Pollack    
Ann Roth (I)   (gowns for Ms. Thomas)  
  
Makeup Department 
Jay Cannistraci ....  key makeup artist: Miami (uncredited)  
LuAnn Claps ....  assistant makeup artist  
Naomi Donne ....  key makeup artist  
Sharon Kalb ....  additional makeup artist  
Michael Kriston ....  hair stylist: Mr. Ford  
Michael Laudati ....  makeup artist: Mr. Ford  
Jacques Stephane Lempire ....  assistant hair stylist  
Lyndell Quiyou ....  key hair stylist  
  
Production Management 
Richard Baratta ....  production manager
unit production manager  
  
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director 
Shawn Griffith ....  second second assistant director  
Amy Lauritsen ....  second assistant director  
Brian Moon ....  second second assistant director: Miami  
Mike Salven ....  second second assistant director  
Denis L. Stewart ....  first assistant director  
Jennifer Truelove ....  second second assistant director  
  
Sound Department 
Ron Bartlett (I) ....  sound re-recording mixer  
Benjamin Beardwood ....  dialogue editor  
Joseph H. Earle Jr. ....  sound editor  
Joe Earle ....  sound editor (as Joeseph H. Earle)  
Christopher Flick ....  foley editor (as Chris Flick)  
Robin Harlan ....  foley artist  
Allan Hartz ....  adr supervisor (as Allen Hartz)  
Scott Hecker ....  supervising sound editor  
David L. Horton Jr. ....  foley editor (as David Horton Jr.)  
Barbara Issak ....  adr editor  
Chris Jenkins (I) ....  sound re-recording mixer  
Kenneth I. Johnson ....  sound editor  
Kenneth L. Johnson ....  sound editor  
Gary Lewis (II) ....  dialogue editor  
David Melhase ....  adr editor  
Danny Michael ....  sound mixer
production sound mixer  
Sarah Monat ....  foley artist  
Eric Norris (III) ....  sound editor (as Eric A. Norris)  
Ralph Osborn III (II) ....  dialogue editor (as Ralph H. Osborn III)  
Jeff Rosen (I) ....  foley editor (as Jeffrey Rosen)  
Brian Ruberg ....  foley mixer  
Andrew Schmetterling ....  boom operator  
Mark Smith (V) ....  sound re-recording mixer  
Joe White (I) ....  cable person  
  
Special Effects 
Rick Bongiovanni ....  effects crew: KNB Effects  
J.C. Brotherhood ....  special effects (as Jonathan C. Brotherhood)  
  
Stunts 
John Alden (I) ....  stunt double: Harrison Ford  
Mickey Giacomazzi ....  stunt co-ordinator
stunts  
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc ....  stunts  
  
Other crew 
Terra Abroms ....  post-production supervisor (as Terra Mair-Abroms)  
Timothy Alberts ....  key wardrobe (as Tim Alberts)  
Joseph Alfieri ....  construction co-ordinator  
Tommy Allen (I) ....  property master (as Thomas Allen)  
Henry Antonacchio ....  construction foreman  
Anthony Baldasare ....  on-set dresser  
David Beach (II) ....  construction foreman: Washington D.C.  
Michael Bederman ....  first assistant accountant  
Jerry Bertolami ....  best boy grip  
Terence Blanchard ....  musician
musician: trumpet  
Kenny Burke ....  second grip (as Kenneth Burke)  
Ronald Burke ....  dolly grip  
Diana Burton ....  assistant property master  
Anne Cabral ....  assistant production co-ordinator: Florida (uncredited)  
Andrew Casey ....  camera operator: "b" camera (Steadicam Operator)  
Erica Cerilli ....  production secretary  
Ann Christman ....  production secretary  
Matt Chubet ....  company grip  
Devin Clancy ....  set production assistant  
Melissa Stanley Cohen ....  production co-ordinator  
Xiomara Comrie ....  second assistant camera: "b" camera  
Michael Dellheim ....  location manager: Washington D.C.  
Arden Doss ....  assistant to Ms. Powell  
Gordon Driver ....  computer playback  
David M. Dunlap ....  director of photography: second unit  
Rochelle Edelson ....  stand-by scenic  
Kate Edwards (II) ....  wardrobe supervisor (as Kate E. Edwards)  
Bronwen Epstein ....  assistant production co-ordinator  
Eric Errington ....  set production assistant  
Audrey Evans ....  second assistant film editor (as Audrey J. Evans)  
Elissa Ewalt ....  production assistant  
Tink Ten Eyck ....  production accountant  
Sylvia Fay ....  extras casting  
Ken Ferris ....  camera operator: "a" camera  
Carol Flaisher ....  location manager: Washington D.C.  
Robb Foglia ....  production office assistant: Washington D.C.  
Joe Grimaldi ....  assistant chief lighting technician  
Stuart Grusin ....  music editor  
R. Colette Hailey ....  location manager: Miami (as R. Collette Hailey)  
Kali Harrison ....  set production assistant  
Mikie Heilbrum ....  casting: New York (as Mikie Heilburn Baltimore)
casting: New York (as Mikie Heilburn)  
Richard Holston ....  transportation co-captain  
Michael Hyde ....  transportation captain (as Mike Hyde)  
David James (VI) ....  still photographer  
Jeff Johnson (II) ....  set medic  
Mary A. Kelly ....  script supervisor  
Jeremy Knaster ....  electrician  
Samara Koffler ....  assistant to Mr. Ford  
Scott Kordish ....  production co-ordinator  
Jason Lambro ....  production office assistant: Washington D.C.  
Brett Lavinthal ....  first assistant film editor  
John Marston (II) ....  location projectionist: Washington D.C. (uncredited)  
Joseph Martin (II) ....  location scout: Washington D.C.  
Jeffrey D. McDonald ....  assistant art director (as Jeffrey McDonald)  
Frank McKenna ....  craft service  
Mercy Menendez ....  production assistant: Miami (uncredited)  
Carla Meyer ....  dialect coach: Ms. Thomas  
Peter A. Mian ....  video assist (as Peter Mian)  
Rick Michaels ....  precision driver  
Robert M. Moore ....  wardrobe supervisor (as Robert Moore)  
Pat Moran (II) ....  casting: New York
casting: Baltimore  
Scott P. Murphy ....  set designer  
Donald Murray (I) ....  composer's consultant (as Don Murray)  
Heather Norton ....  second assistant camera: "a" camera  
Bill O'Leary (II) ....  gaffer  
Matthew Ogens ....  set production assistant  
Kathy Orloff ....  unit publicist  
Donna Ostroff ....  assistant to Mr. Pollack  
Greg Outcalt ....  production office assistant  
John Panuccio ....  rigging grip  
John Patitucci ....  musician: bass  
Christopher Pensiero ....  production office assistant  
Luis Perez ....  choreographer  
Louis Petraglia ....  rigging electrician  
Martina Pozzi ....  set production assistant  
Tom Prate ....  key grip (as Thomas J. Prate)  
Jeremy D. Pratt ....  construction accountant  
Manny Quinonas ....  transportation co-captain: Washington D.C. (as Manny Quinones)  
Pamela Rittelmeyer ....  assistant camera: "b" camera  
Sabrina Rosen ....  wardrobe  
Diane Rosenberg ....  production office assistant: Washington D.C.  
Jen Roskind ....  assistant to Mr. Schwary  
Ann Roth (I) ....  clothing designer: Ms. Thomas  
Patrick Sadler ....  production office assistant: Washington D.C.  
Amy Safhay ....  greens person  
Andrew Saxe ....  assistant location manager  
Tom Schnaidt ....  camera loader  
Lauri Blaire Schulman ....  art department associate  
Nicholas Scott (II) ....  scenic artist  
Ben Selkow ....  set production assistant  
Jamie Sheridan ....  production assistant  
Kathryn-Ann Oaks Shertzer ....  dga trainee  
Kimberly Skyrme ....  extras casting: Washington D.C.  
Miura Smith ....  casting assistant  
Stuart Sperling ....  assistant editor  
Nicolas Stern ....  video playback  
Eric Swanek ....  assistant camera: "a" camera
steadicam assistant  
Debra L. Tennant ....  first assistant film editor  
Becky Veduccio ....  assistant to Ms. Thomas  
C. Ransom Walrod ....  marine co-ordinator  
Patricia A. Walrod ....  assistant marine co-ordinator (as Patti Walrod)  
Brooke Knight Warner ....  art department associate: Washington D.C.  
Peter Weireter ....  security to Mr. Ford  
Rose Wells ....  key wardrobe  
Ted Whitfield ....  music editor  
Jenni Wieland ....  production office assistant: Washington D.C.  
Keri Wilson (II) ....  assistant to Mr. Pollack (as Keri Peranich-Wilson)  
Gilbert Young ....  transportation captain: Washington DC  
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc ....  aerial co-ordinator
helicopter pilot: camera (as Robert Zajonc)  
Mauricio de la Vega ....  production assistant  
Christian von Tippelskirch ....  location manager  
  

Crew believed to be complete.


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RANDOM HEARTS
 Reviewed by Harvey Karten
 Columbia Pictures
 Director:  Sydney Pollack
 Writer:  Kurt Luedtke, Novel by Warren Adler, adapted by
Darryl Ponicsan
 Cast: Harrison Ford, Kristin Scott Thomas, Charles S.
Dutton, Paul Guilfoyle, Dennis Haysbert, Bonnie Hunt,
Richard Jenkins

Trivia quiz. Two strangers, both married, meet at a train station and find themselves drawn into a short but poignant romance. Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto pumps up the amour. You're on the money if you named David Lean's 1945 "Brief Encounter," a picture that deserved four stars then but would hardly rate the same good fortune in 1999. The time is over for this time of languorous movie. Adultery then was delicious. Today it's shrugged off so much that a sitting president actually furthered his popularity by engaging in hanky panky outside his marriage. Trying to capitalize on the film and literary conventions of a bygone age may occasionally work, but in "Random Hearts," with its all-star troupe of lead performers and a superior bunch of supporting people, it does not.

I was ready to attack Todd McCarthy for what I considered his pigeonholing of movie audiences, but now I'm not so sure. McCarthy said of this film in "Variety" that it is "an ideal rainy day matinee attraction for well-to-do ladies of a certain age...pic's sobriety and deliberate pace, combined with an utter lack of allure for anyone under about 40, spells a short theatrical visit." In fact now I'd as soon amend Variety's opinion. An online critic whose 81-year-old grandmother recently saw "American Beauty" called it the best movie she'd seen this decade, making me wonder whether even the old- timers want to return to the stodgy, torpid, sentimental fantasies of yesteryear.

Director Sydney Pollack--a fine actor who justifiably injects himself into the action as a political campaign adviser--does give the picture a particular spin by throwing together people of wholly different classes as William Friedkin did in 1971 by contrasting a down-to-earth cop played by Gene Hackman with a sophisticated, classy criminal played by Fernando Rey. Harrison Ford inhabits the role of an obsessive cop, Internal Affairs Sgt. Dutch Van Den Broeck, who is as consumed by the search for truth about his wife as he is about tracking down corrupt policemen. You could never imagine that sparks would fly between him and the patrician congresswoman, Kay Chandler (Kristin Scott Thomas), because Chandler not only is a Republican accustomed to hanging out in upper-middle-class circles but seems only vaguely preoccupied with learning the truth about her straying husband.

What brings the two distinct personalities together is a plane crash that claimed the lives of Dutch's wife Peyton (Susanna Thompson) and Kay's roving husband, Cullen (an almost unrecognizable Peter Coyote). Both Kay and Dutch were unaware that their spouses were traveling together to continue their fling in Miami, but the discovery that they occupied seats 3A and 3B on a plane that neither was supposed to be taking causes diverse reactions by their surviving partners. While Dutch is determined to find out every detail of the tryst, Kay is concerned that the news would hurt her campaign for the next session of Congress.

As in virtually all romantic dramas, parties are kept apart as long as possible. In this case, the obstacle that keeps Kay and Dutch strangers is Kay's unwillingness to get close to the police officer for fear that the public will gossip and because she is in denial about her husband's affair. When they finally lunge at each other animalistically in a car, the thrust is far from believable, nor do the two exhibit much chemistry for the remainder of this overly long, albeit soberly designed and produced movie. While Pollack is interested in comparing the two careers--Kay's campaign and the kitschy ways her advisers tell her to speak to the public on TV vs. Dutch's blow-by-blow activities as a cop--the scenes involving Dutch's trailing of a guy he suspects of murder seem out of keeping in a film of this nature.

Harrison Ford does convince us of his determination to get at the truth while Kristin Scott Thomas's is best at showing her change from uptight, contained patrician to a much softer, more compassionate human being. We learn at least one additional detail that we hope we never have to experience: that when the immediate family are summoned to the airport to identify their loved ones after a crash, they do not see the actual bodies but rather a transmission of the head on a TV screen.

Rated R.  Running Time: 133 minutes.  (C) 1999
Harvey Karten



Have I seen this movie: No
Will I see It: probably on video
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