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shadowkatJust watched the utterly charming Last Chance Harvey director by John Hopkins and starring Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson and Eileen Atkins. It's possibly amongst the best romantic comedy's I've seen in a while. A simple story about two middle-aged people who somehow find each other.
Was quite surprised by it. It was one of those quiet little movies that get lost in the shuffle.
Way back in the 70s or 60s, Erica Jong wrote the book Fear of Flying, which was not about the metaphor I've been linking it to in my head. Jong's metaphor was female sexual awakening, but I think of it as more a fear of being hurt, of giving into the romantic impulse only to crash and burn. Emma Thompson's character, Kate Walker, is a woman struggling through her routine. She almost finds comfort in the disappointment. A customer service and informational survey rep at Heathrow airport, she meets Harvey Shine, a down-on-his luck jingles writer...at an airport bar during lunch. She's reading a book and eating lunch with a glass of chardonnay. He's slamming back two Johnny Walkers after ...well a shitty day. The first half of the movie is somewhat excruciating in the set-up. Because it is so real. The film is real, not plastic - the lives of the people inside shown not told. We've all had these experiences or known people who have. The characters are people we've met. Or they are ourselves. And much like the film Bridesmaids - there's an odd comfort in watching these people stumble through...a feeling of, oh, me too. And seeing them finally make it work but in a realistic manner is all the more...reassuring. More so actually than in those breezy comedies where everyone is pretty and everything falls so neatly in place as if pre-ordained. Here, there's no certainties.
At one point...Kate Walker tells Harvey..."It won't work. And it will hurt. And I don't want it to hurt." And Harvey responds..."Give me a chance, and I promise you it will work." She asks.."How?"
And he states, "I've no idea, but it will."
There's no sex in this film and no violence. The film is conversation. Dialogue pushes it forward.
The comedy comes from the witty exchanges between the characters, not the slapstick physical comedy of bodily dysfunction. Oh there are the embarrassing moments. The feeling of not fitting in conveyed by both characters in their separate but equal situations. We are shown how perfect they are for each other...if, they will just meet.
Meanwhile there is the absurdly hilarious parallel tale of Kate Walker's Mother's flirtation with the Polish neighbor who the mother believes may be a killer. The humor there is subtle as well.
Not over-the-top. Little touches.
The acting? Top-notch by all concerned. Seeing Hoffman in Luck just before this film re-affirms in my mind at least what a truly marvelous talent he is. The man acts with his eyes, as does Emma Thompson. It's all through their eyes. It's what Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie do as well - convey their relationship through the eyes. When Hoffman smiles at Emma Thompson he does it with his eyes. When he discusses his daughter's wedding we see his eyes become wet and distant.
Watching Last Chance Harvey reminds me of what movies are good at - the slice of life story, or short story. We escape into someone else's life for but a moment. We inhabit their world in sound and visuals. And we feel less alone, and take from it a sense of hope. This is a hopeful movie.
An uplifting one.
Highly recommend.
Was quite surprised by it. It was one of those quiet little movies that get lost in the shuffle.
Way back in the 70s or 60s, Erica Jong wrote the book Fear of Flying, which was not about the metaphor I've been linking it to in my head. Jong's metaphor was female sexual awakening, but I think of it as more a fear of being hurt, of giving into the romantic impulse only to crash and burn. Emma Thompson's character, Kate Walker, is a woman struggling through her routine. She almost finds comfort in the disappointment. A customer service and informational survey rep at Heathrow airport, she meets Harvey Shine, a down-on-his luck jingles writer...at an airport bar during lunch. She's reading a book and eating lunch with a glass of chardonnay. He's slamming back two Johnny Walkers after ...well a shitty day. The first half of the movie is somewhat excruciating in the set-up. Because it is so real. The film is real, not plastic - the lives of the people inside shown not told. We've all had these experiences or known people who have. The characters are people we've met. Or they are ourselves. And much like the film Bridesmaids - there's an odd comfort in watching these people stumble through...a feeling of, oh, me too. And seeing them finally make it work but in a realistic manner is all the more...reassuring. More so actually than in those breezy comedies where everyone is pretty and everything falls so neatly in place as if pre-ordained. Here, there's no certainties.
At one point...Kate Walker tells Harvey..."It won't work. And it will hurt. And I don't want it to hurt." And Harvey responds..."Give me a chance, and I promise you it will work." She asks.."How?"
And he states, "I've no idea, but it will."
There's no sex in this film and no violence. The film is conversation. Dialogue pushes it forward.
The comedy comes from the witty exchanges between the characters, not the slapstick physical comedy of bodily dysfunction. Oh there are the embarrassing moments. The feeling of not fitting in conveyed by both characters in their separate but equal situations. We are shown how perfect they are for each other...if, they will just meet.
Meanwhile there is the absurdly hilarious parallel tale of Kate Walker's Mother's flirtation with the Polish neighbor who the mother believes may be a killer. The humor there is subtle as well.
Not over-the-top. Little touches.
The acting? Top-notch by all concerned. Seeing Hoffman in Luck just before this film re-affirms in my mind at least what a truly marvelous talent he is. The man acts with his eyes, as does Emma Thompson. It's all through their eyes. It's what Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie do as well - convey their relationship through the eyes. When Hoffman smiles at Emma Thompson he does it with his eyes. When he discusses his daughter's wedding we see his eyes become wet and distant.
Watching Last Chance Harvey reminds me of what movies are good at - the slice of life story, or short story. We escape into someone else's life for but a moment. We inhabit their world in sound and visuals. And we feel less alone, and take from it a sense of hope. This is a hopeful movie.
An uplifting one.
Highly recommend.