Last Chance Harvery & The Wrestler
A few words on two movies that I saw yesterday.
Last Chance Harvey is an old fashioned romantic comedy in the style that we don't see too often these days. And that is because the two people involved are not in their 20s or 30s.
Harvey Shine (Dustin Hoffman) is a failed pianist writing jingles for a living in NYC. In addition to not be satisfied with what he does, he is constantly gettig hassled by his boss. He had to go to London for his daughter Susan's (Lianne Balaban) wedding. When he gets to his hotel he finds that his ex-wife Jean (Kathy Baker) has made arrangements for all family members to stay at a rented house. All except Harvey. So he understandably feels left out. When he goes to the rehearsal he has that same feeling. Things get even worse for him when he finds out that Susan decides that her stepfather Brian (James Brolin) will give her away.
Adding insult to injury Harvey finds out that he just got fired. After leaving the wedding ceremony goes to a local restaurant/bar for a drink and encounters Kate Walker (Emma Thompson). He had encountered here at the airport when he came in. She was taking a survey and he quickly brushed her off. Kate had a bad blind date the night before and just wants to be left alone. But when she and Harvey start to talk they find that something special happens.
I will not say more about the plot. But Last Chance Harvey is a very charming and warm film. Hoffman and Thompson have wonderful chemistry together. And even if you think that these things are not very likely to happen you get swept away with the story. Also marvelous in the film is Eileen Atkins as Kate's overbearing mother Maggie. The message of this film is that it is never too late to find love and happiness (and it can happen when you least expect it to).
Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler is one of the best films of 2008. In fact, I am surprised that there is not more Best Picture and Best Director buzz for this film.
Richard D. Siegel has written a terrific screenplay about a down and out wrestler named Randy "The Ram" Robertson (Mickey Rourke). Actually, his first name is really Robin and I can't remember his real last name. But that doesn't matter because Randy the Ram is who this man sees himself as. Randy works at a supermarket and has trouble making ends meet. In the 1980s he was a big star on the wrestling scene. But in 2008 he is a broken down man.
Randy likes to frequent a strip club and has a fondness for a stripper named Cassidy (Marisa Tomei), a woman who has identity issues of her own. But as she is not allowed to get close to customers it is hard for them to form a relationship.
Randy tries to repair his relationship with his daughter Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood). But that is even harder than trying to form a relationship with Cassidy. Stephanie has a lot hurt feelings from the past.
The wrestling scenes are very graphic and were sometimes very hard to watch. My nephew Scott was with me. He is a big wrestling fan and said these scenes were very authentic. He wrote a lengthy piece from a fan's point of view and I will publish it as a separate blog entry.
I will not say more about what happens. But I will say that Aronofsky certainly deserves more recognition for his work. As for Rourke, if I had my way he would win the Oscar. For me the mark of a great performance is when the actor does not have to open his/her mouth for you to feel something. And Rourke's weathered face and expressions says it all. He might be a mess of a man but your heart certainly goes out to him. Tomei is also outstanding and I hope that she gets an Oscar nomination.
We will find out later this week.
I loved the way the film ended. That is all I will say. But I have been thinking about it since I saw it yesterday. And mostly I am thinking about the brokenhearted cirucumstances in which some people have to live their lives. Do yourself a favor and see The Wrestler - one of the very best of 2008 with a performance for the ages.
Last Chance Harvey is an old fashioned romantic comedy in the style that we don't see too often these days. And that is because the two people involved are not in their 20s or 30s.
Harvey Shine (Dustin Hoffman) is a failed pianist writing jingles for a living in NYC. In addition to not be satisfied with what he does, he is constantly gettig hassled by his boss. He had to go to London for his daughter Susan's (Lianne Balaban) wedding. When he gets to his hotel he finds that his ex-wife Jean (Kathy Baker) has made arrangements for all family members to stay at a rented house. All except Harvey. So he understandably feels left out. When he goes to the rehearsal he has that same feeling. Things get even worse for him when he finds out that Susan decides that her stepfather Brian (James Brolin) will give her away.
Adding insult to injury Harvey finds out that he just got fired. After leaving the wedding ceremony goes to a local restaurant/bar for a drink and encounters Kate Walker (Emma Thompson). He had encountered here at the airport when he came in. She was taking a survey and he quickly brushed her off. Kate had a bad blind date the night before and just wants to be left alone. But when she and Harvey start to talk they find that something special happens.
I will not say more about the plot. But Last Chance Harvey is a very charming and warm film. Hoffman and Thompson have wonderful chemistry together. And even if you think that these things are not very likely to happen you get swept away with the story. Also marvelous in the film is Eileen Atkins as Kate's overbearing mother Maggie. The message of this film is that it is never too late to find love and happiness (and it can happen when you least expect it to).
Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler is one of the best films of 2008. In fact, I am surprised that there is not more Best Picture and Best Director buzz for this film.
Richard D. Siegel has written a terrific screenplay about a down and out wrestler named Randy "The Ram" Robertson (Mickey Rourke). Actually, his first name is really Robin and I can't remember his real last name. But that doesn't matter because Randy the Ram is who this man sees himself as. Randy works at a supermarket and has trouble making ends meet. In the 1980s he was a big star on the wrestling scene. But in 2008 he is a broken down man.
Randy likes to frequent a strip club and has a fondness for a stripper named Cassidy (Marisa Tomei), a woman who has identity issues of her own. But as she is not allowed to get close to customers it is hard for them to form a relationship.
Randy tries to repair his relationship with his daughter Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood). But that is even harder than trying to form a relationship with Cassidy. Stephanie has a lot hurt feelings from the past.
The wrestling scenes are very graphic and were sometimes very hard to watch. My nephew Scott was with me. He is a big wrestling fan and said these scenes were very authentic. He wrote a lengthy piece from a fan's point of view and I will publish it as a separate blog entry.
I will not say more about what happens. But I will say that Aronofsky certainly deserves more recognition for his work. As for Rourke, if I had my way he would win the Oscar. For me the mark of a great performance is when the actor does not have to open his/her mouth for you to feel something. And Rourke's weathered face and expressions says it all. He might be a mess of a man but your heart certainly goes out to him. Tomei is also outstanding and I hope that she gets an Oscar nomination.
We will find out later this week.
I loved the way the film ended. That is all I will say. But I have been thinking about it since I saw it yesterday. And mostly I am thinking about the brokenhearted cirucumstances in which some people have to live their lives. Do yourself a favor and see The Wrestler - one of the very best of 2008 with a performance for the ages.
posted by Film Fanatic | 9:49 AM
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