Reviews

I've waited all summer for a movie to come along which was worthy of my time. Oh, sure, there was the competent "Baby Boy," and "A.I." was interesting but a bit short of brilliant. But I hadn't left a movie with a smile on my face, thinking I'd really seen something worth watching, since the extraordinary "Memento" back in May. That is, until "Hearts in Atlantis." The movie could be seen as three intersecting stories, detailing 11-year-old Bobby Garfield's relationships with three people in his life. The first one is Bobby (Anton Yelchin) and his mother, Elizabeth Garfield, played flawlessly by Hope Davis. Bobby's father died when he was only 5, and his mother never wastes an opportunity to remind her son that she can't give him money because his father "didn't exactly leave us well off, you know." Bobby is constantly frustrated by this oft-repeated chorus, but continues to defend his mother even when she buys expensive dresses right after telling him how poor they are. His mother may be selfish, but it seems clear they love each other. Next is Bobby's relationship with their new upstairs neighbor Ted Brautigan (Anthony Hopkins). Hopkins is, as usual, right on top of his game as a kind old man who has some sort of special mental power. He can see what people are thinking, and might be able to see the future and heal people's sickness. This is a little vague, mostly because the movie downplayed the supernatural aspects of the plot. Also, Ted can pass along some of his mental power to anyone who touches him, which results in a few semi-dangerous moments for Bobby. This was more troublesome in the book, however. Ted is trying to avoid the "low men," who are said to be after something he has, presumably his mental prowess. Finally, the most poignant part of the story may be Bobby's close friendship with Carol Gerber (Mika Boorem). One of King's strengths, shown best in "Stand By Me," is his ability to tell stories very well through the eyes of a child. The growing love between Carol and Bobby is told beautifully and more than a few people will relate to the idea of a first love and a first kiss and how you will never forget either. In the midst of an awful summer for movies, "Hearts in Atlantis" is like ice water to a man crawling through the desert. Cool, refreshing and absolutely what the doctor ordered. Grade: 9 of 10

i'm tough on movies. i'm a critic for my college paper and i don't like alot of films i see. "with honors" impressed me, though.

i have never liked brenden frasier but he fit this part well. i totally bought him as a harvard student bent on graduating with honors. he begins the movie obsessed with his classes, thinking that receiving his "honors" diploma was all that was important in life for him. he spends day and night studying and working on his senior thesis. when joe pesci's character gets his hands on the only copy of the thesis, though, frasier is forced to focus on other things. pesci handles this role very well. he has never looked like mel gibson or kevin costner or whoever the big leading men are and he was a fine choice to play a down-and-out homeless man. he's a great actor who is probably the reason this movie is labeled "comedy." pesci is seen as a pain by frasier and his roommates for a while, as they see him as being a bum and not an equal to themselves. however, through his kind nature and wisdom from living a very difficult life, he earns their respect and makes them realize that some things are more important than graduating college with honors. life is the thing you want to end with honor. to say these were one-dimensional characters is blatantly false. frasier and each of his roommates grow as a result of their relationship with pesci. they change their whole focuses in life and find what is really important: friendship and honor. pesci's character undergoes his own transformation as he goes from an unlikeable, greedy man to an honorable man with good friends who have great admiration for him. Grade: 9 of 10

i've been looking at the other reviews on this movie and i find that i feel exactly oppositely than many about this movie. i hate the tv show. it's only appeal to me is that it's funny to listen to these strange looking little kids say f**k and s**t, even if it is bleeped out. however, i loved the movie. many people said that there was no social satire to the movie but that there was with the tv show and that the movie wasn't nearly as funny. what's the social satire with that cook singing about his assorted sexual encounters and a singing turd? the movie makes a very important and current observation about society: don't blame everyone else for your own child's behavior. maybe it's (shock!) your child's fault when he/she misbehaves. it's not the movies or the music or the tv shows or whatever. in addition, the musical numbers are inspired and are biting spoofs of the cheesy disney musicals. i love that no one is spared from the rath of parker's and stone's sharp sense of humor. and i never heard one word from any organizations criticizing the movie for making racist, anti-sematic, anti-gay, etc. jokes. why? because they did it across the board. you're offended by this movie? of course you are. i have watched a few episodes of the tv show before but i will never watch another. there is no way the tv show can possibly live up to the movie. i guess some people just think differently than others.

Rating:8.5 of 10