Movie Reviews for Dark Harbor

Dark Harbor

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Movie Reviews of Dark Harbor

Movie Review: Alan Rickman Gem
Summary: 5 Stars

Movie Review: great movie
Summary: 5 Stars

Movie Review: Some helpful suggestions about 'Dark Harbor'
Summary: 4 Stars

The plot has been well outlined in most of these reviews; sometimes perfectly, sometimes with too much information, and a few times by reviewers who apparently didn't even watch the complete film. Rather than rehashing the plot this review offers simple and hopefully clarifying suggestions.

If you are an Alan Rickman film, do not hesitate; BUY this DVD! Forget about worrying about his accent, savor looking forward to his nude scenes, but do NOT skip to the end of the movie to view them. You gamble on missing too much of Rickman's spellbinding performance if you skip even one minute of this small, but very effective film.

Previous viewers who saw the movie on VHS will be enlightened by watching it again on DVD. I have been a movie fan for more years than I want to say, but have now discovered that the nuances of many films have sometimes escaped me totally over those decades. If ever there was something to be learned from a commentary this is the film to prove it (along with 'South of Heaven, West of Hell'). Not that the film itself needs to be explained, but the element of how a director presents of a film; the mood attained by the camera angles, the symbols included in every scene, the intricate details of the shooting of the movie, the input of the actors (particularly one as great as Alan Rickman) into their roles, the subtle nuances of looks, glances, and plot building all lend a deeper understanding and enjoyment of 'Dark Harbor'. The wealth of this information provided by director Adam Coleman Howard makes viewing this film only on VHS almost like not watching the same film. On no other commentary I have seen has the director stuck so directly to the point; which is to give his very detailed insights, his specific direction reasoning, the information upon which he draw, the always educational tutorage on the problems of film-making such as the weather, the seasons, the locale, etc., and the final solutions, and basic reasoning used to determine just what we see woven into the finished film.

For fans of films seeking entertainment, the information on this commentary add layers of pleasure. For students seeking knowledge concerning construction of a film, the director's comments are to the point, succinct, and very detailed. This DVD would vastly add to your education.

There is a problem with renting versus owning the DVD. You will want to watch the film at least three times for true understanding; first for the initial unveiling of the plot, then the film with the commentary, and the third time with the more heightened awareness you will garner from the director's inside information. Then, for lovers of Alan Rickman, you will want to watch the work of this brilliant actor again and again well past the three-time mark because he offers to his craft a level of skill that leaves one in awe.

If you were introduced to Alan through 'Sense and Sensibility' (while 'Dark Harbor' certainly does not fall into the same category by the stretch of anyone's imagination) and wanted to see more of the actor and his fine work, you owe it to yourself to take the dive, enter the fog, and buy this DVD. Rickman reveals facets of his skill that are only glimpsed in 'Sense and Sensibility'. This is a two-way street, if you saw 'Dark Harbor' and were impressed with Rickman's talent, to see his performance in 'S&S' will add greatly to your admiration.

If you are interested enough to read reviews of this film, but are on the fence about 'should I purchase this DVD' or 'can I pass on this one' maybe one of these suggestions will help you make the decision. More to the point, hopefully you will make the right decision and decide to 'purchase' this intriguing, rich film and enjoy all it has to offer, which is considerable.

Movie Review: Open your eyes....And you'll still miss something.
Summary: 4 Stars

Because that's what this movie is, hints, lies, betrayal, intriguing, 'controversial', yet strangely beautiful at the same time.

The trailer to this movie is annoyingly misleading, but this movie is hard to explain well without giving too much.

Remember -everything- means something. (Put the audio commentary on, you might even have to, to understand some parts.) Right down to the colors of the clothing, placement of objects and the tiniest of movements. There's less than six speaking roles and besides the three main characters they're meaningless.

David (Alan Rickman), Alexis (Polly Walker) are a not yet middle aged married couple, yet are so obviously tired and annoyed with each other it nearly makes the viewer wish they would just admit it. But that's part of the beauty, the dialogue is near perfect to express this.

They vacation to their (Rather, Alexis' dead grandfathers home on a private island.) to rekindle dead flames in a sense. (Even -that- is symbolized, find it. ;)) On the way to catch the ferry, they find a Young Man (Norman Reedus) and by a series of small 'coincidental' events, ends up at their home. And while being a wedge between them, no one seems to want him to leave. Utterly everything falls apart and it makes the viewer wonder who is control of what--the feeling of control and who is betraying/hurting/lying to/being shady to whom and why.

There's questions that will make you look back on and rethink and very wrong assumptions. 'Hey...why did he beep the horn?', 'Why is she wearing that?', 'Did he do that on purpose?', 'She's just as bad! But...', 'Oh...I understand now.', 'That's kind of...beautiful...well, no..'. And so on and so on.

Mixed sexual feelings and attraction, the desire of the couple to -feel- again, a twisted admission of love, cruel words and very educated yet dark minds using knowledge to everyone's own advantage.

The scenery was lovely and it did distract you at some points and very solidly put together acting. The three characters had to carry the movie and did so well.

So keep your minds way, way open, along with your eyes, shut up, sit back and watch. If it doesn't leave you going "Huh...what? Wait, did he..? Why did she? They what, why? Wait; hold on there..." Then you're not watching it right. A really must see for yourself type of movie for adults.

Movie Review: Power of Subtle Suggestion
Summary: 4 Stars

"Dark Harbor" is filled with twists and subplots reminiscent of Hitchcock; the darkness of hidden truths and realities behind the veil of the Weinberg's marriage, will leave you breathless.

The plot has a powerful premise, but grows thin at times and I wondered just what was left on the cutting room floor that would have strengthened it ; perhaps more information about David and the boy would have satisifed me. Powerful performances by three exciting actors made up for some of those weakness.

Alan Rickman exposes a range of powerful emotions that will delight fans who wished to see him break out of sugary or manic roles. His after dinner speech with the boy is mesmerizingly tender, and deservedly earns him the title, "The Voice", while Norman Reedus is a force to be reckoned with, clearly focused on getting what he wants in the end. Polly Walker is strangely touching as the wife without a clue of the poison brewing within herself, her husband, and the man they're both attracted and repelled by.

The final ten minutes of the movie is both powerful and, to some, disturbing. But if you watch "Dark Harbor" with an open mind, you, too, will have to wonder what you would or wouldn't do for love. END