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      The Good Heart

      2009, Drama, 1h 38m

      37 Reviews 1,000+ Ratings

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      Movie Info

      Homeless and saved from almost certain death by a hospital staff, Lucas (Paul Dano) has nowhere to turn. The hospital staffers, though, are so taken with his kindness and generosity that they take up a collection to give him a fresh start. But when he's discharged, Lucas meets some fellow homeless people and gives away all the money he's just received. His roommate at the hospital, Jacques (Brian Cox), is also affected by the young man, and offers him a job at his bar.

      • Rating: R (A Disturbing Image|Language)

      • Genre: Drama

      • Original Language: English

      • Director: Dagur Kári

      • Producer: Skuli Fr. Malmquist, Thor S. Sigurjonsson

      • Writer: Dagur Kári

      • Release Date (Theaters):  limited

      • Release Date (Streaming):

      • Box Office (Gross USA): $20.0K

      • Runtime:

      • Distributor: Magnolia Pictures

      • Production Co: ZDF/Arte, Palomar Pictures, Ex Nihilo, Nimbus Film, Zik Zak Kvikmyndir, Forensic Films, Wild Bunch

      Cast & Crew

      Bill Buell
      Dagur Kári
      Thor S. Sigurjonsson
      Rasmus Videbæk
      Sigurjon Sighvatsson
      Robin O'Hara
      Scott Macaulay
      Slowblow
      Halfdan Pedersen
      Matthew Munn
      Helga Rós Hannam

      News & Interviews for The Good Heart

      Critic Reviews for The Good Heart

      Audience Reviews for The Good Heart

      • Jan 05, 2013
        If there's a reason I liked this film, it's because of Brian Cox and Paul Dano who, as always, deliver their absolute best. The problem lies in the fact that the script is unsure of itself and doesn't know what it wants to do. It has an identity crisis. And that's a problem because the story never builds to anything. It has different ideas it wants to get across but it never fully commits to one. It eventually does lead to Jacques changing his ways, but it's simply too late by that point to really make the story better. In a way you do care for the leads, as Brian Cox and Paul Dano are absolutely great together and I think the characters themselves are interesting and intriguing, especially Brian Cox who is excellent as the antagonistic Jacques. And Paul Dano is a good counter to that with his character's immense likability. That's all I can say really, the film is absolutely made by Brian Cox and Paul Dano and their excellent performances. It's such a shame the story is a step behind.
        jesse o Super Reviewer
      • Sep 16, 2012
        I really could have done without the swinging kitten scene. Otherwise, I enjoyed seeing how the nasty old man warmed up to the homeless boy and took him under his wing. The twist at the end made me yell out loud.
        Super Reviewer
      • Jul 07, 2011
        In "The Good Heart," Jacques(Brian Cox), the owner of a dive bar, suffers his fifth heart attack brought on by listening to a self-help tape. His roommate in the hospital is Lucas(Paul Dano), a young homeless man recovering from a suicide attempt. The two bond, despite Lucas' inability to turn off the smoke detector. So much so, that after he is discharged from the hospital, Jacques looks up Lucas and not only offers him a place to stay and a job, but also names him his heir. "The Good Heart" gets off to a bad start before transitioning into an offbeat rhythm.(By the way, this is about the only time I have seen a German Shepherd that could be described as cute.) The movie nicely details life and drinking in a dive bar by filming in a faded color scheme that along with the weathered faces captures the inherent sense of desperation. By contrast, there is not much of a story on the surface and the ending is something of a foregone conclusion. And then there is the epilogue which raises some interesting questions about previous events while possibly confirming what we already suspected about Jacques.
        walter m Super Reviewer
      • May 04, 2011
        Frustrating and poignant, heartbreaking and beautiful, "The Good Heart" relies heavily on its cast to bring to life the less than amiable nature of the script. Very dry for the most part, you really have to enjoy Cox and Dano to get anything from this out-of-touch-at-times look at two lonely men.
        chris h Super Reviewer

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