Lumsdal Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Executscan Expected more

Claysaba Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Curapedi I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

sol1218 **SPOILERS** Bittersweet romantic comedy that takes place in Utah with love-struck civil servant Charles, John Heard, who gets stung by the love bug and almost ends up going out of his head because of it. Charles falls literally heads over heels in love with his fellow worker the just separated from her husband Ox (Mark Metcalf) Laura,Mary Beth Hunt.Catching Laura on the rebound from her breakup with her estranged husband Ox, who at 6 foot three and all muscles is an ox of a man, has Charles go completely bananas over her to the point where Laura agrees to share an apartment, as well as sleep, with him. As times goes by with Laura starting to get a bit tired of Charles' possessiveness and pandering to her she decides to leave him and go back to Ox and her stepdaughter, from Ox's previous marriage, nine year-old Rebecca, Algela Philips.It's then that Charles start to lose it with Laura out of his life and him now being pressured by his constantly threatening to kill herself mother Clara, Gloria Grahame, and unemployed live-in best friend Sam, Peter Reigert.It's Charles attempt to win Laura back that really drives him off the edge but in a harmless sort of way. Charles, together with Sam, goes so far as to used the excuse to see Laura that he goes to her home where she's living with Ox and Rebecca to have him, a carpenter, build Charles some wall panelings. It's then, to Ox's both shock and anger, that Charles risking getting his arms twisted out of place pledges his love for Laura who's, embarrassingly, there with him!As Charles' efforts to win over a very reluctant Laura goes nowhere he starts to turn nasty towards those at his job who try to be friendly towards him. Charles really turns off Betty, Nora Haflin, who he's been, without her knowledge, using as a go between himself and her best friend at the job who just happens to be Laura. It's out of hurt and frustration that Charles becomes down right nasty to Betty, who seemed to have fallen in love with him, in that she can't bring him and Laura back together. Charles also takes his frustration out at his very kind and accommodating boss Mr. Patterson, Jerry Hardin, who wants him to help his immature son get his head, and love life, on straight.As it turned out the person who could, and in the end did, help Charles out of his pressing problems with Laura is the blind man, Allen Joseph, who has a newspaper & candy stand in the lobby of the building that Charles works in. Always taking Allen for granted and at the same time spilling his heart out to him, about his love Laura, Charles gets the best advice about straightening out the mess that he's got himself into. And sure enough by the time the movie ends Charles finally acts on it. Charles finally gets over his obsession with Laura and at same time gets himself back to sanity.Lovely story about love and how it can drive one crazy if he, or she, can't-when it turns sour-let go of it. A very important lesson in life which took Charles almost the entire movie to figure out. ***SPOILERS*** Allen's advice did help but in the end it was Charles who had to take the first step, running what looked the hundred yard dash in less then 10 seconds, to finally have him get over his illogical and almost destructive, to himself and those close to him,love for Laura.P.S The novel "Chilly Scenes of Winter" whom the film "Heads Over Heels" is based on was written by Ann Beattie who has a cameo role in the movie as a waitress.

dmahone (possible spoilers) They don't make movies like this anymore, and one viewing shows why. Very dated, alas, although this also makes it useful to watch to get a feel of the United States at the end of the 70's, where men still dominated their women partners, and women were too often weak and afraid and confused in their relationships as a result. So maybe this is a realistic portrayal, but it is hard to like any of the main characters, except for maybe Mary Beth Hurt's character, whose main sin is one of weakness and indecision.It is a notable movie to see that time in America, as well as to see the appealing Mary Beth Hurt before The World According to Garp. Too many aspects of dating are skirted in this movie, and even with the modern movie's need for a happy ending, this sort of movie has been done much better since.

shark-43 This is one of my favorite films and the lead performance by John Heard is sterling. It is one of the most honest, heartbreaking performances I have ever seen on someone's obsession with another person. Heard plays a state government worker who happens to meet a pretty girl who is on the rebound. They have amazing times together until she decides to move back in with her husband and the young stepdaughter (who she misses). Heard won't let it be over and plans and plots on various ways to get her back. The film is based on Ann Beattie's brilliant novel, CHILLY SCENES OF WINTER (which is the title the movie was released as). I prefer that title to the generic HEAD OVER HEELS. I own a copy of this film and have watched it so many times. Aside from Heard, there is an amazing cast of supporting players: the late, great Ken McMillian, Gloria Grahame (as his crazy mother), Peter Riegert as his deadbeat friend and even Mary Beth Hurt gives a strong performance (I'm not usually a fan of hers). This movie is worth seeking out.

inframan This is the only American movie I have ever seen that captures the rhythms & nuances of a real "relationship" with perfect pitch. Funny, sad & very rich, perfectly cast, sublimely written, brilliantly directed. I watch it as often as I can & am always delighted. Like listening to a Beethoven sonata.