HERE ON EARTH

US, 2000, 96 minutes, Colour.
Chris Kline, Leelee Sobieski, Josh Hartnett, Michael Rooker, Annie Corley, Bruce Greenwood, Annette O’ Toole, Stuart Wilson.
Directed by Mark Piznarski.

Here on Earth is a teenage romance story – which did not get much release around the world.

The film stars Chris Kline as a college hero, a spoilt young man who challenges the local non-school champion, played by Josh Hartnett. Chris Kline is a very stolid screen presence (American Pie, Rollerball) and it is surprising that he is the romantic lead compared with Josh Hartnett who had only made Halloween H20 and The Faculty at this stage but was soon to make Blackhawk Down and Pearl Harbour. The parents are played by Michael Rooker and Annie Corley in more sympathetic roles and Bruce Greenwood as the sheriff and Annette O’ Toole as his wife. The heroine is Lili Sobieski, torn between the two young men – and the screenplay rather than charism making her fall in love with the Chris Kline character. She also has a terminal illness. At one stage she remarks about her romance that it is heaven here on Earth.

1.A youth film for the 21st century? Its lack of popularity? Story, performances?

2.The American town, the school, Ivy League? The small town, the diner, homes? Realistic atmosphere? The musical score?

3.The plausibility of the plot: the introduction to Kelley Morse, at school? Sam at school? Jasper and his place in the town, in relationship to Sam? The rivalry, the car chase, the crash, the burning of the diner, the court case, the sentence, the work on rebuilding, the personal clashes, Sam and her relationship with Jasper, Sam and her falling in love with Kelley? The rivalry? Her illness, hospitalisation? Romance and death?

4.The character of Sam, sensible, working at the diner, her school background? The bonds with Jasper? Her family and easy relationship with her mother and father? The attraction towards Kelley, going to visit him, falling in love, the lyrical interludes with the two in the countryside? The decision to go with him to Boston? The relationship, Kelley’s family? Her return, running, her knee, in hospital, the last months, with the two young men, heaven on Earth and ready to die?

5.Kelley, arrogant, his friends, at the diner, the clash with Jasper, the race, the crash, the court case, the damages? His having to work, set up in the apartment? His tantrums and not eating? The work, clashes with Jasper? Sam and her visits, falling in love, the criticism of her sister? His own change? Going to Boston, his father? The return, the heaven on Earth?

6.The contrast with Jasper, the local boy, more personality than Kelley? The chase, the work, the clashes with Kelley? His not understanding Sam, discussions with her, letting her be?

7.The sets of parents, the builder and his wife, their concern with Jasper? The sheriff and his wife, their relationship with Sam?

8.The building of the diner, the new opening? The young men and the sentence – appropriate to rebuild rather than go to prison?

9.How satisfying as a modern-day romance?