Random Hearts (1999)

15% of critics liked it
(87 reviews)
27% of users liked it
(9,322 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.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
The film's underlying concept is so irredeemably screwy and far-fetched that no amount of fine work can hope to make it convincing.
Bob Thomas, Associated Press
Random Hearts seems like a promising vehicle for the extraordinary talents of Harrison Ford and Kristin Scott Thomas.
David L. Beck, San Jose Mercury News
Harrison Ford does some of his best work ever in Sydney Pollack's marvelous new thriller, Random Hearts.
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.
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A meandering mystery - drama - romance that never hits the right groove.
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

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.