http://www.dvdreview.com/reviews/pages/1517.shtml...From the beginning of the film, the viewer is plunged into the life of Caroline. Within minutes, she is virtually slapped in the face by her boyfriend unexpectedly breaking up with her. The honesty in her sighs, in her internal tug-of-war of not wanting him to hold her and yet feeling compelled to plead with him, we know that she is a victim of bad timing - and bad taste - in men. Welcome to Caroline’s world. Tomei’s open countenance and ability to be so emotionally accessible to the audience is evident from the get-go and allows the viewer to feel close to her, to know her more intimately.
Because of the character’s self-inflicted silences and withdrawal, Slater delivers a subdued, minimalist performance, absent of the Jack Nicholson mannerisms to which audiences are accustomed. His expression relied more heavily on body language and facial expression, not something normally affiliated with Slater. The result may be the best performance, thus far, in Slater’s career.
The supporting cast includes the likes of Kyle Secor ("Homicide: Life on the Streets") and more prominently, Rosie Perez ("Night on Earth"). For every ounce of tension and despair Howard (Secor) contributes to the lives of Caroline and Adam, Cindy (Perez) delivers that much levity and vitality. She is Caroline’s best gal pal/confidant and has seen her through one lamentable relationship after another. Ironic that the final heartache that we see her help Caroline through brings the term ’heartache’ to a much more poignant level.
The attention to detail in "Untamed Heart" is wonderful and authentic - everything from Cindy’s dimestore boutique plastic hoop earrings to Adam’s solar system mobile (which nicely yet subtly accentuates his love for the stars and planets) to Caroline’s lighter-softened eye-liner (a technique every teenage girl remembers). These nuances draw the viewer in with ease, making for a personable, tender film. For every item that may date "Untamed Heart" - such as Cindy’s sprayed ’n teased tendrils, crush velvet hats or dancing around to "Bad Bad Boys" (does anyone even remember Midi, Maxi & Efti?) - there are just as many elements that make this a timeless classic: romantic talks on the front porch swing, oldies on the diner jukebox, chivalrous gestures for a lady in distress - the end result is a film that can’t quite be placed, an ageless, classic story.
Another important detail of the film is the music, both in song choices and Cliff Eidelman’s sadly beautiful score. Nat King Cole’s "Nature Boy" was the perfect song to personify the film - melancholy, fable-esque, worthy of tears by the film’s end. Cowboy Junkies hauntingly exquisite rendition of the classic "Blue Moon" adds a fine touch to the nostalgic character of the film. Caroline and Adam’s slow dance in the diner to James Brown’s "Try Me" is a warm and intimate moment, seemingly frozen in time.
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If "Untamed Heart" proved anything to the world, it proved that sometimes a little voice can be heard across target marketing guidelines and projected ticket sales; it appealed to MTV generations and baby-boomers alike. It also proved that Tomei was more than her jumped-up "My Cousin Vinny" character and that Slater was more than the teen angst of "Pump Up the Volume." This film is a sincere, beautiful film, revealing a world at once both gentle and violent. "Untamed Heart" is a smooth, eternal blend of generational icons and values, lifting it far above its genre peers of the time and ensuring it a place in modern film history.