The Good Heart

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Cast & Crew

Brian Cox
Jacques

Paul Dano
Lucas

Isild Le Besco
April

Bill Buell
Roger Verne

Susan Blommaert
Nurse Nora

Alice Olivia Clarke
Nurse Mona

Sonnie Brown
Nurse Woo

Stephen Henderson
Psychiatrist

Dagur Kári
Director

Dagur Kári
Screenwriter

Skuli Fr. Malmquist
Producer

Thor S. Sigurjonsson
Producer

Rasmus Videbæk
Cinematographer

Sigurjon Sighvatsson
Executive Producer

Robin O'Hara
Executive Producer

Scott Macaulay
Executive Producer

Andri Steinn Guðjónsson
Film Editor

Slowblow
Original Music

Halfdan Pedersen
Production Design

Linda Stefansdottir
Art Director

Matthew Munn
Art Director

Helga Rós Hannam
Costume Designer

Kerry Barden
Casting

Paul Schnee
Casting

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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.
  Ida K 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.
  Christopher H Super Reviewer

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