Here on Earth (film)
{{Short description|2000 US romantic drama film by Mark Piznarski}}
{{For|the Portuguese film with the translated title "Here on Earth"|Aqui na Terra}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Here on Earth
| image = Hereonearth.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Mark Piznarski
| producer = David T. Friendly
| writer = Michael Seitzman
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Chris Klein
- Leelee Sobieski
- Josh Hartnett
- Bruce Greenwood
- Annette O'Toole
- Annie Corley
- Stuart Wilson
- Michael Rooker
}}
| music = Kelly Jones
Andrea Morricone
| cinematography = Michael D. O'Shea
| editing = Robert Frazen
| distributor = 20th Century Fox
| released = {{Film date|2000|3|24}}
| runtime = 96 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
}}
Here on Earth is a 2000 American romantic drama film directed by Mark Piznarski from a screenplay by Michael Seitzman. The film stars Chris Klein, Leelee Sobieski, and Josh Hartnett. The original music score was composed by Kelly Jones and Andrea Morricone.
The single from the film's soundtrack, "Where You Are" by Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, reached 23 at the US Mainstream Top 40.
Plot
Kelvin "Kelley" Morse and Jasper Arnold become involved in a car race and accidentally damage Mable's Table, a restaurant owned by Samantha Cavanaugh's parents. Both are sentenced to perform community service by repairing the damage.
Although Kelley comes from a wealthy family and Jasper's parents are working-class, they soon find themselves fighting over the same girl, Samantha. While Jasper and Samantha have been dating publicly for years, in secret, Kelley and Samantha begin to spend time together. They soon find that they have more in common than they imagined, and they fall in love. Eventually, Jasper learns of their relationship and doesn't like it.
During a trip to Kelley's home in Boston, Kelley reveals to Samantha that his mother killed herself. Samantha brings Kelley into the house and they sleep together. In the morning, after Sam makes Kelley breakfast, Kelley's father arrives and informs him he must attend college early and give up his fling with Samantha.
Upon returning to the small town, Samantha's parents soon learn that their daughter's osteosarcoma has relapsed, which was initially discovered after a track injury, and now has only a few months to live. Samantha tells Kelley that she thinks everyone has their own heaven and it is made of a combination of all the things they loved in life. She says that his mother has Kelley with her in her heaven. When Kelley learns the awful truth about Samantha, he must decide if he should obey his father's wishes and go to college or stay by the side of the first girl he's ever loved.
Kelley and Jasper finished rebuilding the diner and their probation is up. In the end he returns to be with Samantha during her final months of life. At her funeral, Kelley recites a passage from a poem he and Sam loved. The film closes with a shot of Samantha running through a field in her version of heaven.
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- Chris Klein as Kelvin "Kelley" Morse
- Leelee Sobieski as Samantha "Sam" Cavanaugh
- Josh Hartnett as Jasper Arnold
- Michael Rooker as Malcolm Arnold
- Annie Corley as Betsy Arnold
- Bruce Greenwood as Sheriff Earl Cavanaugh
- Annette O'Toole as Jo Cavanaugh
- Elaine Hendrix as Jennifer Cavanaugh
- Stuart Wilson as John Morse
- Ezekiel Johnson as an extra
}}
Reception
=Box office=
The film opened at #5 at the North American box office, making {{US$|link=yes}}4.5 million in its opening weekend.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl106530305/|title=Here on Earth|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=July 10, 2020}}
=Critical response=
Here on Earth received negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 18% based on reviews from 68 critics. The website's critics consensus reads: "Critics say Here on Earth{{'}}s weakness comes from its script. The story may appeal to young teenage girls, but it suffers from being overly sentimental and formulaic. The cinematography, however, is lovely in how it captures its Massachusetts setting."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/here_on_earth|title=Here on Earth (2000)|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=February 28, 2025}} On Metacritic the film has a score of 25% based on reviews from 24 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/here-on-earth|title=Here on Earth Reviews|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=July 10, 2020}}
Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle praised Leelee Sobieski for her performance.{{cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Love-Seen-Through-New-Eyes-Leelee-Sobieski-s-2793596.php|title=Love Seen Through New Eyes / Leelee Sobieski's radiant performance at the center of 'Earth'|first=Mick|last=LaSalle|authorlink=Mick LaSalle|date=March 24, 2000|website=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=July 10, 2020}}
Roger Ebert criticized the film for its sentimentality.{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/here-on-earth-2000|title=Here On Earth|website=Chicago Sun-Times|via=RogerEbert.com|first=Roger|last=Ebert|authorlink=Roger Ebert|date=March 24, 2000|access-date=July 10, 2020}}
Paul Cullum of L.A. Weekly called the film "Complete and utter horseshit."{{cite web|url=https://www.laweekly.com/film/film_results.php3?showid=1085|title=Here on Earth|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010720122032/https://www.laweekly.com/film/film_results.php3?showid=1085|archive-date=July 20, 2001|work=L.A. Weekly|first=Paul|last=Cullum|access-date=July 10, 2020}}
Soundtrack
The single "Where You Are" by Jessica Simpson & Nick Lachey reached 22 at the US Mainstream Top 40.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/jessica-simpson/chart-history/tfm/|title=Jessica Simpson|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 10, 2020}}
{{track listing
| extra_column = Performer
| title1 = Where You Are | extra1 = Jessica Simpson featuring Nick Lachey | writer1 = Louis Biancaniello, Nick Lachey, Sam Watters, Manto Stamatopoulou | length1 = 4:32
| title2 = I Need Love | extra2 = Sixpence None the Richer | writer2 = Sam Phillips | length2 = 4:08
| title3 = Whatever Turns You On | extra3 = Devin | writer3 = Gregg Alexander, Rick Nowels | length3 = 4:07
| title4 = If You Sleep | extra4 = Tal Bachman | writer4 = Tal Bachman | length4 = 3:55
| title5 = Tic Tocs | extra5 = Tim James | writer5 = Eric Foster White, Tim James | length5 = 3:34
| title6 = Don't Need a Reason | extra6 = Beth Orton | writer6 = Ali Friend, Beth Orton, Ted Barnes | length6 = 5:02
| title7 = Pick a Part That's New | extra7 = Stereophonics | writer7 = Kelly Jones, Richard Jones, Stuart Cable | length7 = 3:34
| title8 = We Have Forgotten | extra8 = Sixpence None the Richer | writer8 = Matt Slocum | length8 = 5:08
| title9 = Skyfall | extra9 = Neve | writer9 = John Stephens, Michael Raphael | length9 = 3:21
| title10 = 1000 Oceans | extra10 = Tori Amos | writer10 = Tori Amos | length10 = 4:17
| title11 = Birches | extra11 = Andrea Morricone | writer11 = Andrea Morricone | length11 = 2:52
| title12 = Here on Earth Score Suite | extra12 = Morricone | writer12 = Morricone | length12 = 6:54
}}
"Black Balloon" by Goo Goo Dolls and "Breakout" by Foo Fighters are played during the film, but do not appear on the soundtrack album.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|id=0195778|title=Here on Earth}}
- {{Rotten-tomatoes|id=here_on_earth|title=Here on Earth}}
- {{Mojo title|hereonearth|Here on Earth}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2000 romantic drama films
Category:2000s teen romance films
Category:American romantic drama films
Category:American teen romance films
Category:Films shot in Minnesota
Category:2000s English-language films
Category:20th Century Fox films