Harvey Bumped Up
The best thing about Last Chance Harvey (Overture, 12.26), a mature romantic drama with Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson, is the title, which seems to say it all in three words. But read the synopsis on this Movie Jungle page and tell me what it tells you. I think it sounds a little forced, a little twee. Like someone’s trying to sell something.
Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson in Last Chance Harvey
In any case, The Envelope‘s Pete Hammond reported last night that it’s coming out on 12.26 rather than 1.23 because Hoffman “is said to be terrific in the role of a rumpled man who finds love when he travels to London for his daughter’s wedding.”
Will this split Overture’s time and expenditures as far their push for Best Actor contender Richard Jenkins, star of last spring’s surprise art house hit, The Visitor?
Your last question was my first thought when I heard this news yesterday. Could be an issue…
I know people who have seen the film through Overture – it’s been described to me as “mediocre” and Hoffman was described to me as shamelessly “mugging”.
Haven’t seen it myself but there’s no way I’d hear this kind of consensus if it wasn’t on target.
Hope it’s good, I love both the leads but, my bullshit detector is going off on that “said to be terrific” stuff.
Funny, I was just rewatching Stranger Than Fiction and for the first time picked up the hint that Thompson and Hoffman’s characters might hook up after that film ended. Nice to see them together again because that once scene in STF was really nicely played.
I like Richard Jenkins as much as the next guy, but Jeff, hearing you repeat ad nauseum that he should be pushed for “How Whitey Got His Groove Back” is beyond annoying.
That film was so mediocre, I fell asleep during it 3 times and each time I awoke, I was surprised by how NOTHING was happening still.
And don’t even get me started on that last act.
Jeff, Mr. Thread Count Is Everything, I bleed Blue State Jeff, do you keep pushing this godawful piece of pander because you relate to a stuffy white guy who suddenly can learn to play the bongos?
Because it’s a very good movie, and Richard Jenkins is great in it. If you were tired enough to fall asleep three times you obviously weren’t in any state to watch a film. This idea that films put you to sleep is absurd.
Eagle Eye appears to be number 1 this weekend, but it’s a little bit pricier than Disturbia… http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2008-09-26&p=.htm
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=eagleeye.htm
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=disturbia.htm
Thanks, D.