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Henry Poole Is Here, 2008

Henry Poole Is Here

English

USA

Rating:6.5
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Profile of Henry Poole Is Here

The mood of Henry Poole Is Here is witty, feel good, and touching. The plot centers around redemption, hopes, and themes of life is a bitch. It is a drama and comedy movie. In approach, Henry Poole Is Here is realistic. The pacing is slow. It takes place, at least partly, in the suburbs. Henry Poole Is Here is set in California. It happens in contemporary times. It is especially suggested for a date night.

Summary of Henry Poole Is Here

Director Mark Pellington (THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES) wrings a miracle from a stucco wall in HENRY POOLE IS HERE, a kind, minimalist tale of finding faith where you least expect it. Henry Poole (Luke Wilson) is a dying man with a mission to spend his final days alone. He relocates to a sparse home in a rundown suburb and makes fast friends with a stash of vodka bottles, but the solitude just won't stick; every neighbor on the block wants to befriend the newly arrived curmudgeon. Most persistent is Esperanza (Adrianna Barrazza, BABEL), an energetic woman who comes to Henry's house to salve her own tragic connection to it, but stays when she sees a stain on the wall that appears to be the face of Jesus. Despite Henry's pleas (and angry missives) to the contrary, word of the miracle spreads, and the solitude-seeking Henry is soon under siege: Esperanza brings by her priest (played by George Lopez); recently divorced Dawn (Radha Mitchell) shows up with Millie, her silently emotive little girl (Morgan Lilly); and even a prying grocery store clerk makes a visit to the world's least likely shrine. With each passing pilgrim, the conversation about hope and the renewing properties of belief grows louder, until even Henry cannot resist being moved. He may not yet accept Jesus, but he just may begin to accept the message of love.

What Pellington leaves ambiguous about the "miracle" of the stain he makes up for with a resounding celebration of the miracle of human connection and the uplifting power of compassion. All the characters in HENRY POOLE IS HERE have pasts that could lead them to drink themselves into an early grave, but in the end, they each mine their misery for deep stores of faith in humanity.

Details

Language: English
Country: USA
Release date: 21 January 2008
Runtime: 99 min

Cast and Crew

Luke Wilson as Henry Poole in Henry Poole Is Here
Luke Wilson

as Henry Poole

Radha Mitchell as Dawn in Henry Poole Is Here
Radha Mitchell

as Dawn

Photos

Henry Poole Is Here (2008)
Henry Poole Is Here (2008)

Clips

Henry Poole Is Here
Henry Poole Is Here: Official Trailer
Henry Poole Is Here
Henry Poole Is Here: I thought of you and Millie
Henry Poole Is Here
Henry Poole Is Here: Water balloons
Henry Poole Is Here
Henry Poole Is Here: Walking montage

Critics Reviews

San Francisco Chronicle
A strange and thoughtful little movie.
The Hollywood Reporter
The biggest hole in this picture is not so much whether an audience will buy its miracles but whether an audience will care about Henry Poole. Wilson hits the same notes in virtually every scene without any change to his physical rhythms or moods.

Users Reviews

Until the last 10 minutes, I was watching one of the most thoughtful and interesting movies in years about faith and doubt, life and death and all that stuff. Then, apparently, the writer got lazy, and wrapped it up in a big fat contrived hurry,...
3 STARS: Satisfying. An Enjoyable Movie. This movie is poignant and a bit of a tearjerker. It is witty, understated, inspiring and emotional. If you cry at movies get ready to pull out the kleenex. There are a few funny moments but it really isnt a...
Likely to see
Not for me

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