Earthly Possessions

Plot synopsis:
Thirty-five-year-old Charlotte Emory has felt trapped her whole life in Clarion, Maryland--first by her embarrassingly eccentric parents, then by her preacher-husband whom she married too young, and eventually by "his variously afflicted brothers, a daughter who won't answer to her own name, a house full of refugees, an impossible clutter." She finally decides to run away from it all, rid herself of her "earthly possessions," and start over. When she goes to the bank to withdraw funds for her escape, she gets taken hostage during a holdup. Prison escapee Jake Simms forces Charlotte into a stolen car and they head for Florida.
"Earthly Possessions…contains a chilling portrait of a habitual criminal, Jake Simms, Jr., who blames every destructive and chaotic act of his own on someone else. He kidnaps our heroine, the surpassingly amiable Charlotte Emory because while he was robbing a bank a bystander happened to produce a gun. “I could be clean free,” he tells his victim, “and you safe home with your kids by now if it wasn’t for him. Guy like that ought to be locked up.” As the chase continues, and the kidnapping lengthens into a kind of marriage, he persuades himself, “it ain’t me keeping you it’s them. If they would quit hounding me then we could go our separate ways…” This is perfect loser psychology, the mental technology of digging a bottomless pit; but Anne Tyler would have us believe that Jake is saved from falling in by the doll-like apparition of a wee seventeen-year-old girl he has impregnated, Mindy Callender.”
Jake Simms’ mission—besides avoiding arrest—is to “rescue” Mindy from a “home for wayward girls” where she is preparing to have his child. If Mindy is the essence of pure innocence, then Charlotte Emory is the earthbound mooring for this homeless couple—at least for a time. One irony here is that, when she was taken hostage, Charlotte herself was in the process of withdrawing her savings to run away from her own family and home. This is not the first time Charlotte has intended to run away, with no real plan or expectations. Charlotte has escaped one trap to find herself in another, but perhaps this "adventure" will provide her a new perspective.

Tags: flashback

Review:
I thought this was quite a good movie.
It stirred something in me.I thought that Charlotte and Jake had  real passion.
picturing people in their situation doing the things they did.I really liked it because it was so different and unpredictable.
Well, I rented this film because I like "Hostage and Kidnapper fall in love" kind of movies and I must say I wasn't too disappointed.
Stephen Dorff is (without sounding too shallow) really cute.
I too was disappointed by the ending, but I still liked the film.
Not one viewer has commented on the age difference between Dorff and Sarandon...I can't believe it.
The movie itself was awesome...fun and easy to imagine (or wish) that this could truly take place.
Sarandon did a SUPER job with her role...a very believable bored wife.
A very great movie, full of drama and comedy..
This movie was a big breakthrough for HBO.
I have seen some of HBO's original movies, and I have to say that with most of them I was disappointed, but this movie it was the exact opposite.
Stephen Dorff made the character seem real, he really got into his role.
Also the humor of the movie was great, at certain parts you were on the edge of your seat, wondering what happened next.
Susan Sarandon did a GREAT job, and as one of her biggest fans, I have to say that this is one of her greatest films, although all of them are great!Earthly Possessions is a great combination of drama, suspense, and comedy.
Although it is an original HBO movie, I would love to see it out on video, because it is a very great movie.
There are real sparks here between Sarandon and Dorff and their performances give Earthly Possessions some real emotional weight.
I've never been much impressed with Dorff in the past, but playing against Sarandon seems to lift him to a new level as an actor.
Sarandon builds her character so effortlessly that all of Charlotte's personality just magically appears before the viewer.
The screenplay shows some big changes from Anne Tyler's book, but it does do a good job of capturing the novel's quirky mix of drama and comedy.
Many people mention dissatisfaction with the movie's ending and I felt it too.
In the novel the ending feels natural and right, but it's as if this screenplay didn't quite take into account the sexual sparks that would be generated between the two leads.
Because Sarandon and Dorff have this chemistry together and do such a great job showing the characters challenging each other to be better people, the inclusion of the girlfriend and the "earthly" resolution feel like intruders in a great romantic drama.
It left me wishing that instead of an adaptation of Tyler's book (which deals with taking responsibility for choices), the movie was just a continuation of Charlotte and Jake's journey together.
In the movie, you just KNOW that their being together is right, even if this isn't the message in the screenplay; that difference leaves the viewer dissatisfied.
In a way though, it is more satisfying that the movie doesn't have a pat ending and Charlotte and Jake's relationship is more complicated than it has to be.
A FANTASTIC MOVIE with great performances of Sarandon and Dorff....
Charlotte (Susan Sarandon) wants to leave her husband, Zack, because she is not happy at all with her life.
But then Jack (Stepen Dorff) comes in that bank and robbers it and she has to go with him.
Jack needs the money for his pregnant girlfriend and he wants to help her.
But then they see Mindy, the pregnant girlfriend of Jack and that is more or less the end of their love together.
She decides to go back to her husband and Jack and Mindy go to Mexico were they have a good life with their daughter.
Although Jack misses Charlotte a lot, she knows that this is the best for both.CRITIC: SUSAN SARANDON: she is the actress with the most style and talent in Hollywood.
She can play everything and she made great films.
So is STEPHEN DORFF, who is not so well known but he surely plays a great role.WORTH SEEING, EVEN WHEN IT IS A TELEVISION MOVIE...Rating; 8/10 or *** out of ****.
Anyway, I loved the movie, it is really funny in certain places and the acting is really great too.
I am a huge Stephen Dorff fan so I figured it would be good anyway, but it was surprisingly good.
It wasn't the most original concept -bank robber, hostage, but it all worked and was enjoyable!
It is a story many people can relate too if you find yourself tired of your life, or "feel the world is closing in on you" like the characters do in the film.
Interesting use of Susan Sarandon.
On the day she plans to take her money from the bank and run she is taken hostage by(Jake) played by actor Stephen Dorff,a very appealing guy!
All the time through the film, Stephen Dorff's inner violence ,just under his calmer surface, smolders.
There is a surprise "almost end" (I thought it was the end,) to the film that blows your mind, and it positively shocked me.
Mostly, because I'm a sucker for the kind of impossible romance stories like 'kidnapper falls in love with hostage' as seen in this movie.The few times that I watched this movie later, I was kind of disappointed.
In my head, the movie had been so much better than it was in real life, but the fact the movie isn't brilliant and the storyline isn't always very much believable, doesn't take away the fact that the movie is beyond entertaining.There is some serious chemistry between Susan Sarandon and Stephen Dorff.
The way they interact and their conversations are definitely enough reason for someone to instantly love the movie.
Susan Sarandon is a respected actress in Hollywood and I believe almost every single movie with her in it is worth watching.
Stephen Dorff managed to impress me with something other than his cuteness, his acting.
Having two great actors in a mediocre movie kind of helps to reach the movie a higher level and that is definitely the case in this movie.
I think the movie is entertaining by itself, but the fact Susan Sarandon and Stephen Dorff are in it, adds to its appeal.
The movie is there not to be taken too literally and to just sit back and enjoy.Just like most other people, I was fairly disappointed once the character of Mindy joined the duo.
Charlotte and Jake were still entertaining enough together and a third character was not necessary to keep the movie interesting.The ending may have disappointed some people out there, but I think the ending was decent.
It's obvious that the 'happily ever after'-ending everyone's hoping for isn't going to come and it is inevitable that Jake and Charlotte had to say goodbye at some point.Conclusion: Not good in the traditional sense, but good in the way that it'll keep you entertained for the entire time.
The movie has got its flaws that will sometimes disappoint you, but at the same time the movie has got enough charm to keep you interested all the way and will make you love it from start to finish.
I am suprised to read so many positive comments about this movie that is soooooooooo predictable and gets dumber and dumber by the minute ...
especially near the end where that annoying girlfriend of Dorff shows up ...
Definately one of the most annoying characters I have seen in a long time !I thought this movie was almost a waste of my time and give it a 1.5/5 mainly because I am usually a fan of Susan Sarandon (She was the only reason I was interested in seeing this movie in the first place !) but in this one she is really wasted.What can you do with a story and some dialogues like that ...
Cute movie but doesn't leave you with much..
The story was sometimes believable, but most of the time it seemed like the actors were "acting" to make this movie.
Susan Sarandon was really good in this so-so story but I can overall only give it 5 of 10 rating.
Then they run away together, and get to know each other...Even tough this, in the beginning anyway, is supposed to be a comedy I really just laughed once during the whole movie.
I like the opening scene in this movie, with a person walking down the street under an umbrella.
I like the opening scene in this movie, with a person walking down the street under an umbrella.
This movie is about a woman who ends up being taken hostage by a young man during a bank robbery.
This movie is about a woman who ends up being taken hostage by a young man during a bank robbery.
Then they run away together, and get to know each other...Even tough this, in the beginning anyway, is supposed to be a comedy I didn´t really laugh once during the whole movie.
The story is pretty simple and the movie doesn´t feel really believable or original.
The story is pretty simple and the movie doesn´t feel really believable or original.
A cute fun movie.
I really liked the chemistry between Sarandon and Dorff to surprise me.
It has solid acting performances by Stephen Dorff and Oscar winner, Susan Sarandon.
Anyway, the film begins with a hostage played by Sarandon who is an unhappy housewife trying to get away from her life and marriage.
Dorff's character is desperate for some money.
The leads provide an entertaining interaction between two very different characters..
Based on the famous syndrome of Stockholm, this very entertaining film likes at the same moment of the road movie and the romantic comedy.
Fertile in events and in new developments, the history is situated in the vein of "Thelma & Louise", analogy was strengthened by Susan Sarandon's presence.
And when to Stephen Dorff ("Blade"), he confirms that his talent does not limit itself to its beautiful mouth..
All right, so the film will never win an Oscar for Best Picture and the performances weren't amazing but still they were good and the movie was pretty decent for a made for TV HBO movie.Susan Sarandon plays a lady who's leaving her husband and ends up being held hostage by Stephen Dorff.
At first it is a simple, "move and I'll shoot" relationship but when Sarandon plays with his head he ends up opening up to her and they both find a slight attraction in the other.What comes about is a tremendous love story and truly a fine picture..
He is holding a real gun against her ribs after robbing a bank- are we supposed to believe that this is an appropriate setting for plucky cutesy music and Susan musing how she's never left town before or that she is really concerned that he's playing with her Keep-On-Truckin' pin?
And to think that I almost didn't watch Earthly Possessions.
You know, it's a made for HBO comedy action adventure, you can never tell if it's going to be worth it.
I don't normally count how many times a movie makes me laugh, but when I had to laugh twice before the opening credits were done, I thought I might as well try.
Susan Sarandon was wonderful.
It's a fun movie..
Very funny movie!.
This movie was wonderful.
Funny, strangely romantic and very entertaining!
Susan Sarandon is a great actress, as always.
I thought that this movie was one of the best movies that I've seen this year this movie was funny, and most of all it was romantic.
Stephen Dorff did a very good job in this movie it also help that he is very fine I very highly recommed this movie..
Stephen Dorff!!.
I love this movie it`s a romantic movie where the thief falls in love with the hostage...
so romantic and Stephen Dorff is gorgeous!!!
I mean I would not complain if Stephen Dorff or some other hunk took me as a hostage and we fall in love...!
Anyway back to the movie, Susan is as great as ever and in this role she turns from a boring house wife to a sexy woman that wants to divorce her husband.
I like this movie because it`s so warm and romantic and Stephen Dorff is so pretty!!!
Who knew Stephen Dorff could really strike a cord with Susan Sarandon, but both do a wonderful turn in this strangely romantic comedy about a bank robbery with a twist.
What a great story line, but light enough to keep it easy, nice movie watching..
I didn't even know this movie existed....
I came in a little late but when I saw gorgeous Stephen Dorff and always exceptional Susan Sarandon I decided to keep watching.
I'm glad I did.The story is nothing new but I found the dialogue very interesting (until the end where it got very predictable) and Dorff and Sarandon are obviously enjoying themselves and play off each other very well.
Dorff proves here he's not just another pretty face--he's a very talented actor who just happens to be extremely good-looking and have a nice body.
Sarandon is always good and extremely sexy in anything she does.
As I said before, the dialogue was very well-written (for a TV movie) and the two actors give it their all--heck, these two could read a phone book and make it interesting!The movie does disappoint at the end when Elizabeth Moss joins them.
I also didn't buy Sarandon's decision at the end in the least.
She should have stayed with Dorff--I can't believe Dorff ended up with his annoying girlfriend.
Still, it's played as a happy ending.So, all in all, I did enjoy this.
I too was a bit disapointed with the ending (personally I thought they should have ended up together) and that annoying character Mindy please someone take her out to the paddock and put her out of her misery.
I think the chemistry between Susan Sarandon (Charlotte) and Stephen Dorff (Jake) was unbelievable, It made me think that there was really something going on off the screen (of course there wasn't).I would recomend this film to anyone who likes the film genre kidnapper and hostage fall for each other..
My Favorite movie that I saw this year!!
and THANK GOD that I saw this Movie.
The story was great.
The characters were great!!
( Except Mindy!)So this will be one of the movie's I'm definitely Buy.But I really liked the ending.
because they both knew that it couldn't be the right thing to stay with each other.But what I didn't like about the movie was that Mindy was such an annoying character..
I really liked the movie - until the end.
I agree with another reviewer who wrote that the producers probably did not expect the great chemistry between Sarandon and Dorff and therefore did not expect people to be disappointed by the ending.
I have not read the book, but after watching the movie I cannot expect this ending to work in written form either.
I rather got the impression that the makers thought they wouldn't get away with an ending where a man and a much older woman stay together, but, hello, it's the 21st century and it always has been and still is more disgusting if the man is much older and this even has multiple biological reasons.
And if a couple does have such chemistry, obvious physical attraction and a soul mate thing going on like in this case - why force an illogical different ending on them?
And it doesn't make sense for the baby either, because a divorce is nothing fun to go through as a child and this is what happens to pretty much all reasoned but not wanted relationships/marriages.
But enough about the sad stuff, the rest of the movie/ the trip is a fun ride, hilarious, suspenseful and even sexy (because of the great and matching actors), and you want it to go on and on and on.
I loved this easy on the eye 'little' film, adapted from a story written by the great chronicler of American ennui – Anne Tyler.
Bored, frumpy vicar's wife Charlotte (Susan Sarandon) thinks that, today, she's finally going to make a break from her dull life.
Arriving at the bank to withdraw her money, she is grabbed by a useless young bank robber, Jake (Stephen Dorff), who makes his escape with her in tow.
But the things that were wrong with both their pasts are never far away, and this tension leads to an ending which I can see many reviewers found unsatisfactory.
But it's the "right" ending, really.
We only feel cheated because the chemistry between the bank robber and his 'hostage' is so great.
You feel with them; you want them to work it out so badly; you wish them a magic carpet, or a wand, or a desert island.Both actors do a great job.
When Sarandon's frumpy Charlotte first sees her kidnapper and exclaims "oh!
Stephen Dorff has had a bit of a raw deal in the leading man stakes.
I don't think he's a particularly less talented or good-looking actor than many A-listers who have languidly hogged the limelight forever...*&!brad?:£!pitt&!$**.I hope Dorff gets better luck in the next decade, or the next life.
Sarandon was excellent in "White Palace" from the same period as "Earthly Possessions"; and I remember Dorff being pretty good as the 'fifth' Beatle in "Backbeat".Film distributors should stop freaking out about film clips being posted on, ahem, certain websites.
"Earthly Possessions" is just one of many films I first saw on one of these sites, without which I wouldn't have known they existed; and then rushed out to buy on DVD.