Harvey Bumped Up

email this story
read comments (7)
post a comment

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?

Newman's Own<< previous | next >>Nice Dream

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 27, 2008 at 3:24 PM

comment #1

Kristopher Tapley says ...

Your last question was my first thought when I heard this news yesterday. Could be an issue...

Posted by Kristopher Tapley at September 27, 2008 4:45 PM

comment #2

jjgittes says ...

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.

Posted by jjgittes at September 27, 2008 4:56 PM

comment #3

renorambler says ...

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.

Posted by renorambler at September 27, 2008 5:14 PM

comment #4

thatrader says ...

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?

Posted by thatrader at September 27, 2008 5:15 PM

comment #5

BurmaShave says ...

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.

Posted by BurmaShave at September 27, 2008 5:22 PM

comment #6