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Displaying a soulful beauty reminiscent of the
young Ingrid Bergman, Leelee Sobieski confidently
took on her first starring movie role in HERE ON
EARTH. Already an Emmy and Golden Globe nominee
for her work in television's Joan of Arc
miniseries, this talented young actress has a
bright future ahead of her. Viewers first
responded enthusiastically to Sobieski as a
supporting cast member in NEVER BEEN KISSED, and
they should be pleased with her performance in
this more challenging leading role.
Playing a girl from the wrong side of the tracks
who falls for a spoiled rich student (Chris
Klein), Sobieski gets everything just right.
Commenting about the character she portrays,
Sobieski declares, "Samantha is quick, smart and
warm. She's going through things that make her
different from many of her friends."
What sort of things? Sadly, Samantha faces a
terminal illness as well as estrangement from her
longtime friend (Josh Hartnett) because of her new
love. In spite of her suffering, she keeps a
positive attitude and remains committed to life.
In what could have been an overly sentimental
performance, Sobieski projects genuine emotions
and sensitivity.
Both Klein and Hartnett also deserve kudos for
their fine acting in this teenage tearjerker.
Klein, who showed a wonderful comic flair in
ELECTION, proves he can play a serious role just
as well. His character goes through the most
change in HERE ON EARTH, and he really makes the
audience believe his transformation. Hartnett, the
third member of this love triangle, received an
MTV Movie Award nomination for Best Breakthrough
Performance for HALLOWEEN: H20. He's even better
in HERE ON EARTH.
Screenwriter Michael Seitzman admits wanting to
tell a love story that is "unabashedly emotional,
and both tragic and uplifting." According to the
press notes, he views HERE ON EARTH as a dramatic
tale of first love. "That's really the most
exhilarating kind of love," he insists.
In keeping with his storytelling goal, Seitzman
wrote poignant love scenes for this movie. For
example, Klein and Sobieski first discover their
feelings for each other during an afternoon in the
woods. Because she has a surgery scar on her knee,
Sobieski discreetly places her hand over it while
Klein tenderly caresses her. These two rising
stars create an exceptional romantic chemistry
together on screen, and this helps make the film
work.
However, even with so much going for it, HERE ON
EARTH is not a perfect movie. Parental
relationships need more development, especially
the one between Klein and his wealthy, distant
father. In addition, some of the scenes are much
too draggy. Still, it's very refreshing to see a
movie portraying young people in a mature way.
And, it's never a waste of time to watch Leelee
Sobieski.
(Released by Fox 2000 Pictures and rated "PG-13"
for sensuality and thematic elements.)
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