84 Charing Cross Road
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Movie Reviews of 84 Charing Cross Road
Movie Review: Frankly speaking a classic
Summary: 5 Stars
This film will definitely not disappoint fans of Hopkins, Bancroft, and boiled ham. Hopkins delivers a performance that hints at the greatness he would later achieve opposite Brad Pitt in "Legends of the Fall," while Bancroft has not been this alluring since "The Graduate." But while both stars deliver Oscar-worthy performances, they are both, in one particularly moving scene, nearly upstaged by a third "character" in the film - a lovely ham sent by New Yorker Bancroft to Hopkins' mild-mannered London book-shoppe owner. After repeated viewings, it still looks delectable, though I am not sure of the variety. Disappointingly, the Bancroft character does not reply in kind, and ham makes no further appearance in the film
Another particularly affecting scene involves Hopkins dropping cocktail franks into a pot of boiling water, the franks playing an admirable supporting role to this all-star cast of Americans, Brits, and hams. As Hopkins thoughtfully drops the mini-franks into the water the viewer is dazzled with thoughts of mustards, relishes, perhaps beans? And who is his butcher? But who cares! Do yourself a favor: throw a ham in the oven, get in your favorite easy chair, and enjoy!
Movie Review: Frankly speaking a classic
Summary: 5 Stars
This film will definitely not disappoint fans of Hopkins, Bancroft, and boiled ham. Hopkins delivers a performance that hints at the greatness he would later achieve opposite Brad Pitt in "Legends of the Fall," while Bancroft has not been this alluring since "The Graduate." But while both stars deliver Oscar-worthy performances, they are both, in one particularly moving scene, nearly upstaged by a third "character" in the film - a lovely ham sent by New Yorker Bancroft to Hopkins' mild-mannered London book-shoppe owner. After repeated viewings, it still looks delectable, though I am not sure of the variety. Disappointingly, the Bancroft character does not reply in kind, and ham makes no further appearance in the film
Another particularly affecting scene involves Hopkins dropping cocktail franks into a pot of boiling water, the franks playing an admirable supporting role to this all-star cast of Americans, Brits, and hams. As Hopkins thoughtfully drops the mini-franks into the water the viewer is dazzled with thoughts of mustards, relishes, perhaps beans? And who is his butcher? But who cares! Do yourself a favor: throw a ham in the oven, get in your favorite easy chair, and enjoy!
Movie Review: quaint yet poignant story
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading the book, i was delighted to discover there was a movie. Hopkins and Bankroft were the perfect actors for the roles they played. I am obsessed with books and work at a book store. Unfortunately there aren't many independents left so I'm at a chain but wouldn't trade working with books for anything so that is one reason this story attracted my attention. Another was the building of the relationship between the customer and the booksellers. Being able to get to know a person these days is a priviledge and a rarity. Usually customers are in such a hurry to get in and out of the store that if you come across one that actually has time to share a piece of themselves, it is so refreshing. I guess it goes both ways. I was touched by their correspondence and her sense of humor. The English didn't have quite the open sense of humor or sarcasm but it grew on them and they saw her intent was good and she cared about their well being by sending things they weren't able to get during war time. I really loved the movie and highly recommend it to all book lovers, writers, or anyone who sees the importance of relationships with everyone they come into contact with from day to day.Movie Review: A Small Gem
Summary: 5 Stars
Based on the charming true-life book by Helene Hanff, 84 Charing Cross Road is an absolute heart-tugging gem of a movie, and I cannot believe I never came across this 1987 sleeper before this time. Anne Bancroft is magnificent as brash New Yorker Helene Hanff, a book lover extraordinaire who comes across a British emporium of rare books, and begins an extraordinary correspondence (via paper, this was BEFORE e-mail and how charming it is!) with Frank Doel, played fabulously by a young Anthony Hopkins.
Somehow, in their 20 years of correspondence about books, their growing and deep friendship never had its denoument: Neither one was ever able to visit the other. And yet they were extraordinarily close in their mutual love of books, as Hanff's prolific reading habits and exacting demands for unabridged material complimented Doel's understated British desire to help her all he could.
I found myself in tears more than once; there are so many subtleties to this movie, especially in the bravira performance by Bancroft. This may be her finest role, unheralded though it was.
Something wonderful for any book lover. Order it and enjoy!
Movie Review: Beautiful, beautiful movie
Summary: 5 Stars
What a perfect jewel of a movie! The first time I watched it, I felt as if I'd just been given a wonderful gift. This is a quiet film - not action or "event" driven, so it relies on the wonderful, nuanced performances of the leads. Although secondary characters come and go, it is Anne Bancroft as Helene Hanff and Anthony Hopkins as Frank Doel who do the heavy lifting and the results are perfect. I couldn't agree more with what reviewer Brockeim said: "Neither character has an agenda" and this is one of the things that makes them so appealing to watch.
To the best of my recollection, "84 Charing Cross Road" is remarkably faithful to the book (a rarity in movies, I think) and if you loved the book, you'll be pleased by the way the characters come to life in the movie. Even though I knew how the book ended, the tears that came at the end of the movie caught me by surprise - it's just that well-acted. A treat for anyone who loves a good film, but an extra-special treat for any book lover. It's my favorite rainy day movie.