True Heart (1999)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Contains Spoilers Sorry I can't see how this movie was ever green lighted.I recognized a young Kirsten Dunst instantly. Written for very young viewers.Anyone older than ten will not put up with this crap. The continuity is awful, with many things (like Khonanesta somehow escaping being locked up in a shed), never explained.There is sloppy editing, lousy dialog, and poor acting to boot. Gunshot wounds that appear to bother the victims less than a mosquito bite. More than once, the poachers have a clean shot to kill the Kodiak, yet somehow fail to pull the trigger and let the bear attack them. The bear even chases 4 men with loaded rifles away from their camp. Hmm, come to think of it, if their gunshots were so ineffective, I would run too.Kirsten Dunst leaves her jacket in one direction while they escape in another, only to kick up dirt and gravel in the opposite direction so they could easily be tracked.A poacher shot with an arrow, in a scene that looks fatal, later re-appears later without a scratch. An old clue cloth (that looks plastic coated), with an insipid riddle that leads the way to a sacred Indian place.Writer/director Cyran's script may have looked good on paper, but the low budget, poor acting and bad direction make this a film to avoid.Interesting only to Kirsten Dunst enthusiasts (she looks very very young here) One Star

Spoilers herein.This is an absolutely dreadful film in every way except for the appearance of the remarkable Dunst.She has turned out to be an ordinary adult actress, but as a child she was spellbinding. Here, the role is undemanding, but see the mark of a good actress in that she gives more than the pedestrian director demands.Part of that young talent was in understanding how to create and use the `Lolita mouth,' that reverse smile that can persist through the whole character. It is derived from a pout but turned into a token of engaged personality. We lost something when she grew up.Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 4: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

This is an entertaining family movie, with gorgeous scenery and wonderful native music throughout. While the plot gets a little far-fetched in spots, it is still fun to watch. Kirsten Dunst turned in a terrific performance, and the subtle moral lesson is an added bonus.My only real problem with this movie is the repeated reference to the Kodiak. This movie takes place in British Columbia, Canada, but the Kodiak Bear (a sub-species of the Brown or Grizzly Bear) is only found on the isolated Kodiak Island, Alaska.

I have actually to this date seen the last half hour of this movie. But let me tell you, the music was just awesome. I loved the voices, and the Indian music. I wish there was a score CD available. A great movie overall!! Kirsten Dunst is great, and pretty