Heaven (1999)

Heaven Poster

A struggling architect, being sued for divorce by his wife and struggling with booze and gambling, finds work remodeling a friend's strip club, the Paradise. There he meets a transsexual stripper who is bothered by accurate, but extremely violent visions of future events. The increasingly violent visions start including the architect, who doesn't believe in the prophesy. One who does however is a psychiatrist who is seeing both the stripper and the architect and is sleeping with the ex-wife. He uses the prophecies for his own financial gain. Finally the scenes from the vision move into reality amidst many plot turns.

Introduction
The 1999 film "Heaven" is a romantic crime drama directed by Scott Reynolds and starring Martin Donovan, Richard Schiff, and Joanna Going. The movie is based on Chad Taylor's novel "Heavenly Creatures" and explores the underworld of criminal activity, love, and fate. With a dark, climatic, and interesting setting, "Heaven" captivates its audience through a twisted story, well-crafted characters and disputes that keep the audiences on the edge of their seats.

Plot
Embed in an urban environment, "Heaven" follows Robert Marling (Martin Donovan), an effective architect and married man, as he stumbles into the world of crime, prostitution, and murder through a possibility encounter. After witnessing a violent crime scene at a club, Marling ends up being knotted with Heaven (Joanna Going), a sultry stripper, and Stanner (Richard Schiff), a dubious private detective identified to fix a series of callous killings.

The strange deaths of numerous young women in the city have actually been linked to a man positioning coins on their eyes, a signature of the notorious Greek mythological ferryman of the dead, Charon. Led by his regret over the death of a young woman called Helen, Marling forms an unlikely bond with Heaven and Stanner as they work together to uncover the truth behind the killings.

Their lead originates from a dubious character known only as The Tattooist, a man who claims to have tattooed the strange Charon however declines to give out his identity. As Marling becomes more involved with the case, his personal life begins to decipher, as he has a hard time to preserve the balance between his work, his marriage, and his fixation with Heaven.

Characters
The main characters in the film are Robert Marling, Heaven, and Stanner. Robert is a dazzling architect and a caring spouse, who finds himself irresistibly drawn to Heaven's world of threat and intrigue. Torn between his commitment to his family and his growing passion for Heaven, Marling represents the supreme human struggle to remain devoted in spite of life's temptations.

Heaven, on the other hand, is a mystical and enigmatic figure who signifies the darker side of human desire. She is a stunning, seductive, and manipulative figure who draws Marling into her world with guarantees of love, enjoyment, and threat. In spite of her doubtful past and involvement in the criminal underworld, Heaven exposes her vulnerability when she finds the reality about her sibling's murder.

Stanner represents the desperate and cynical side of humanity, haunted by his past failures and errors. He grapples with alcohol addiction, regret, and unrelenting decision to resolve the gruesome murders in the city. His dogged pursuit of justice, even at the risk of his own life, is a testament to the strength of his character and his desire for redemption.

Styles
"Heaven" explores themes of love, loss, and the darker side of humanity. The film checks out the idea that love can blur the lines between right and incorrect, and how one's desire for excitement can result in a loss of innocence and ethical grounding. The film also portrays the intricacies of the human spirit, as both heroes and villains battle with guilt, desire, and the often-harsh realities of life.

The film's gritty, climatic setting additional highlights these themes and successfully carries the audience into a dark, disorderly, and ethically uncertain world that challenges the viewer's preconceptions about love, loyalty, and the human capacity for both excellent and wicked.

Conclusion
In conclusion, "Heaven" is a dark and thought-provoking police procedural that explores the depths of human feeling and the effects of living a life ruled by desire and impulse. The motion picture showcases exceptional efficiencies from its stars, a gripping plot, and well-crafted characters that leave you questioning your own moral compass. "Heaven" is truly a work of art in the realm of romantic crime dramas, offering an engaging story that resonates with audiences long after its haunting last scene.

Top Cast

  • Martin Donovan (small)
    Martin Donovan
    Robert Marling
  • Joanna Going (small)
    Joanna Going
    Jennifer Marling
  • Daniel Edwards
    Heaven
  • Richard Schiff (small)
    Richard Schiff
    Stanner
  • Patrick Malahide (small)
    Patrick Malahide
    Melrose
  • Karl Urban (small)
    Karl Urban
    Sweeper
  • Michael Langley
    Sean Marling
  • Barry Spring
    Wibber
  • Jeremy Birchall (small)
    Jeremy Birchall
    Tree
  • Clint Sharplin (small)
    Clint Sharplin
    Nicely
  • Jon Brazier (small)
    Jon Brazier
    Billy