Movie review: Random Hearts

The movie "Random Hearts," starring Harrison Ford and Kristin Scott Thomas, has some of the best character portrayals I've ever seen with both Ford's character, "Dutch" Van Den Broeck, and Thomas' character, Kay Chandler.

The plot: Van Den Broeck's wife and Chandler's husband, who were having an affair, were killed in a plane crash, after which the two main characters find out about the affair and figure out how to deal with it.

One of the best parts of the movie is when Van Den Broeck, a police sergeant, says that he gets paid to notice things, to know when people are lying, and he had no idea what was going on with his wife. It's an agonizing confession for him. The entire movie is a great study in his character almost becoming unhinged because he simply can't figure it out -- even after the fact and knowing that once he figures it out, there's nothing he can do about it. He just can't not know. To capture that on screen is a stunning feat -- and I say that as someone who isn't a huge Harrison Ford fan.

Chandler, who is a congresswoman running for re-election, is controlled and serene for the cameras, but behind the scenes she too is falling apart, but she's eager to get it all behind her. Thomas is perfect in the role. Her character's let's-move-on mindset combined with Van Den Broeck's let's-review-it-again perspective is a completely balanced friction between characters. Their interactions are reasonable, and the ending is not sappy or predictable but rather believable (which, let's be honest, is a rarity for Hollywood).

Sydney Pollack directed -- and I think he's awesome -- and he also has a minor role, which I love to see because he's also a good actor. Other actors include Bonnie Hunt in a rare serious role. Love to see her too, because in my opinion, she can do no harm. Charles S. Dutton, one of the most underrated actors of our time, played Ford's partner to perfection.

I didn't realize until I looked it up on imdb.com that the movie was based on a novel. Now I have a mission to go find the novel and read it and see if it was written as well as the screenplay.

Recommendation: Rent it tonight!