Random Hearts (1999)

15% of critics liked it
(87 reviews)
27% of users liked it
(9,423 ratings)

Two people who've known the pain of loss and the sting of betrayal are brought together under trying circumstances in this romantic drama. Dutch van den Broeck (Harrison Ford) is a police detective based in Washington D.C. whose wife works for an upscale department store; flying to Miami on… More Two people who've known the pain of loss and the sting of betrayal are brought together under trying circumstances in this romantic drama. Dutch van den Broeck (Harrison Ford) is a police detective based in Washington D.C. whose wife works for an upscale department store; flying to Miami on business, she dies shortly after takeoff in one of the worst aviation disasters in the city's history. However, Dutch finds out that his wife wasn't actually traveling on business: Kay Chandler (Kristin Scott Thomas) is a prominent political figure whose husband was also killed in the crash, and Dutch and Kay discover that their spouses were on the plane together because they were having an affair. Random Hearts was directed by Sydney Pollack, who also worked with Harrison Ford on his previous film, Sabrina. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 13 min.
Directed By: Sydney Pollack
Written By: Kurt Luedtke
Genres: Drama, Romance, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Oct 8, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Oct 30, 2001
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
Looks more like a case of random minds.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
Beyond all its pointless circling around the center, Random Hearts tests audience patience by showing behavior far too long before explaining it.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Random Hearts, a film that sits on the screen like a bump on a log for a very long 131 minutes, a running time that's filled mostly with excruciatingly long, silent pauses.
Tom Keogh, Film.com
Enormously boring.
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A meandering mystery - drama - romance that never hits the right groove.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Pollack lingers over the details of the plane crash, and the dialogue is a series of morose retro howlers.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
In a perfect world, this assemblage of great talent wouldn't amount to such a colossal waste.
, Film4
A failure of a romantic drama.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
This might have been tailor-made by director Pollack to ease Ford into more straightforwardly romantic territory.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
A kind of thriller/drama/romance that has an interesting idea and doesn't know where to go with it.
John Venable, Supercala.com
It's a chick flick, and my chick fell asleep during it.
Ron Wells, Film Threat
My God! What happened to Sydney Pollack?
Betty Jo Tucker, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
Kristin Scott Thomas's elegant femininity contrasts perfectly with Harrison Ford's bruised machismo in this mature romantic drama.
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
I am trying to remember what Random Hearts is about, but during the film I was transfixed by Harrison Ford's earring.
Jeanne Aufmuth, Palo Alto Weekly
Sydney Pollack directs with a risk-free style that's borderline dull.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
A nice showcase for Thomas's talent, and it's a slight departure for Ford, which makes it more enjoyable than watching him punch people out on an airplane.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
I hate to say that the disc's trailers were more interesting than the feature film, but that's the way it is.
Paula Nechak, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
It resembles the wreckage of the downed plane more than a tale of redemptive romance.
Chuck Rudolph, Matinee Magazine
Wants to be less of a trite star vehicle and more of a serious, contemplative drama.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...guaranteed to weary even the most devoted Harrison Ford fan.

Read all 21 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Red L

This movie has its pros and cons. Pros: Good acting - idea has lots of possibilities - not often we get this sort of combination of mystery and romance - I liked the vague ending. Cons: too long or drawn out.
Luke B

Dull and emotionless. A few well written scenes give a hint to what could have been an intriguing film. Ford and Scott Thomas work well separately and together but the overall film is simply frustrating. A number of sub plots seem more interesting than the main one handed to us which… More
Dull and emotionless. A few well written scenes give a hint to what could have been an intriguing film. Ford and Scott Thomas work well separately and together but the overall film is simply frustrating. A number of sub plots seem more interesting than the main one handed to us which again left me with a feeling of incompleteness.
Alexander W

Pretty slick romantic movie set in Washington DC, the life of a detective falling in love.
Aliyanto L

Will you hardly find the truth about your spouse even the truth really hurts?
Leigh R

Heartbreaking...
Dean M

Good little thriller, mystery and affairs as I am a big fan of Harrison Ford movies.