Henry Poole Is Here
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Adriana Barraza, Cheryl Hines, George Lopez, Luke Wilson, Radha MitchellBrand: STARZ/SPHE
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 101 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2009-01-20
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Movie Reviews of Henry Poole Is Here
Movie Review: Changing "was" to "is" is as difficult as you make it.
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Are you here?
Seriously, are you making the most of your time, here?
Yeah, life is short... but how short?
Do you live putting off what you could do today?
Do you wallow in self-pity, or do you appreciate the cards you've been dealt?
Do you seen the Virgin Mary in your toast?
... profit from the vision?
... keep the vision to yourself?
... share the vision?
... or ignore any vision and complain about the toaster burning and toasting unevenly, again?
Ok... so, those are the type of provoked thoughts I started thinking about during and after watching this (substantial as you allow it to be) film.
There is depression in every life, and some have the means to accept it, and use it to work toward something better. Some just give up, and let someone else do the work, if they have anyone to do the work for them. Henry Poole is introduced to us as a mysterious man with a secret, that he'd rather not share, but in reality knows that he should. Played by the often under-appreciated actor, Luke Wilson, in a very well cast role. His life is changing in a direction he did not plan or hope, and he has embraced the change by choosing loneliness. We don't understand his situation, and can only assume along the way. All we know at the beginning is that we feel sorry for him, and it's exactly how he wants you to feel.
Henry's mysterious life changing event brings him to a neighborhood familiar to most anyone, where every house is made of ticky tacky. However, he is determined to live in this specific neighborhood, and desires a specific house ... but it's not for sale. He tries his best to buy the house at any cost, but the owners refuse. He settles for the closest property near the house, and buys it at full price, without any care of negotiation or renovation. He simply moves the bare necessities in which include a mattress, a reclining lawn chair with plenty of junk food and bottled beverages. Let just say the beverages become his only spirit.
You can curb your enthusiasm about Cheryl Hines being in the film as she is in and out at the start of the film. Cheryl plays the Realtor of the home, and it's clearly the easiest sale she ever had. Though Henry says he'll take it at the asking price, she still tries to lessen her commission with guilt, as the home needs some work. She urges Henry to at least accept her offer to fix the exterior of the home. He refuses, but, she had the work done regardless of his wishes. This is where the story begins.
We soon meet various neighbors, and one exceptionally friendly (i.e. nosey gossiper) woman offering a plate of welcome tamales and her name. Henry takes the plate and offers her only the door. But that does not seem to deter her persistence in an ongoing effort to learn more about the mysterious Mr. Poole. Her name is Esperanza, and she is the fuel of the movie. Played by Adriana Barraza, a major star of Mexican entertainment and movies, and most notably in America for her Oscar nominated role as Amelia in the Brad Pitt film , "Babel". She brings the much needed comedic breaks in the film and works well against the brief appearances of her Priest, played by comedian, George Lopez. But with her comedy comes drama, and she has a connection to the house he chose, as he has a connection to the house he would prefer. Soon after meeting Esperanza, she becomes obsessed with a water stain on the newly applied stucco to Henry's exterior wall in his backyard. He cannot keep her out of his yard, and soon many make their way to his yard against his wishes. He soon becomes hostile with the defiance of his simple demand to be left alone, and for people to stay off his property.
Enter mysterious little girl, lonely mother, insecure checkout girl concerned with Henry's beverage and food choices, and Jesus... if you choose to believe.
A beautiful film and visually intriguing. You feel boxed in and wonder what is outside the box, and never get out of it until the end. The confinement is very affective and necessary. Directed by Mark Pellington most known for some great music videos by some of my favorite artists including Keane, The Fray and even Leonard Cohen, along with major names such as Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam etc. A few notable feature films under his belt include The Mothman Prophecies, Arlington Road and U2 3D to name a few.
The Henry Poole Is Here soundtrack is quite inspired with songs that oddly work well together. I love Vince Clark's "Only You" sung by Joshua Radin and Eels, along with some great indie acts are quite welcomed doing obscure covers of Ben Harper, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and more. There was a MySpace contest that apparently was looking for a song that would appear in the movie and a music video would be directed by Pellington. The music video is included, and was great, the song is called "Henry Poole is Here" by Ron Irizzary. A nice song, but it has the feeling that the title replaced an original title. But, it's ok, it works.
Look for some brief appearances from familiar faces of favorite character actors such as one of those faces you know once you see her, Beth Grant from well over 100 films and TV shows. Most surprisingly, Richard Benjamin from some great obscure favorites of mine like Westworld with Yul Brynner, the short-live sci-fi TV series Quark - The Complete Series (Buy this boxed set, it's so cheap!), and probably his most expected work directing the remake of Neil Simon's The Goodbye Girl (2004 TV Movie) , not to mention a great run of films from the 70's and 80's. It was great to see his random face here, albeit briefly, but key to the plot. ... Sorry, I get a bit respectful with unsung names of Hollywood.
What transpires in the film are several lives with many secrets, varied hopes, determined beliefs, but all need the power to continue their hope. Henry changes several lives without knowing it, which soon will change his. The result is truly inspirational, and possibly unexpected, depending on how you choose to watch the film.
Will he live in the past?
Will he live in the future?
Or will he simply live for the moment?
It's all revealed with who (and what) he touches along the way.
Summary of Henry Poole Is Here
HENRY POOLE ABANDONS HIS FIANCEE AND FAMILY BUSINESS TO SPEND WHAT HE BELIEVES ARE HIS REMAINING DAYS ALONE. THE DISCOVERY OF A 'MIRACLE' BY A NOSY NEIGHBOR RUPTURES HIS SOLITUDE ANDRESTORES HIS FAITH IN LIFE.Similar DVD Movies
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