Movie Review: Henry Poole Is Here
Henry Poole Is Here
Director: Mark Pellington
Starring: Luke Wilson, Radha Mitchell, George Lopez, Adrianna Barraza, Cheryl Hines, Richard Benjamin and Morgan Lily.
Release Date: August 15, 2008
Rating: PG
From director, Mark Pellington, this is a project that is seemingly contrary to his repertoire of films such as Arlington Road and the Mothman Prophecies. His newest endeavor, Henry Poole Is Here, takes a turn and explores the idea of faith vs. no faith. The film is seemingly a lecture on the power of faith and demerits a more scientific view on things.
The film takes on a personal religious tone than that of the Passion of Christ and is something the will resonate with anyone regardless of belief. This tale of a single man whose medical death sentence is reversed in part by a neighborhood of believers who find an image on the side of Henry’s house that looks like the face of Jesus Christ.
The film succeeds in the area of the story’s structure. Our main character Henry is plagued by this Christ formation on his new house’s side wall and the nuisance of his neighbors who intrude as much as they can on his life trying to get a touch or a feel of the face they believe to be the savior. Henry desires to be alone and unbothered as we find him moving into this quaint suburbia neighborhood. Poole is obviously bothered and in some sort of frame of mind to where he wants nothing more than to be alone. Wilson’s ability to bring this closed depressed character to the screen is surprising at best and uncomfortably brings to mind his very own brother’s depression, which probably offered some inspiration into him embodying this character.
The film tries to balance the faith vs. science topic but ultimately becomes an argument that the pro-religious will rally on. The film is deeply spiritual, embodying hope, love and living in the moment. Henry faces a choice to except this miracle of the face of Christ appearing on his house and believe in its impact upon his interesting neighbors. This proves to be hard for him as we questions his own problems and refuses to believe.
Henry ultimately finds his way through the help of his warm and caring neighbor Millie, a little girl who hasn’t spoken since her father walked out of her life. Millie, records people’s conversations and plays them back, this intrigues Henry and it is the catalyst in which his love interest and he meet as well as springs him into analyzing his own faith.
The movie has some humor but in a more subtle way. The story is fairly simple but this is film that makes a great alternative to the action heavy, crude humor movies we have seen this summer. The film is graceful and is deeply personal. I believe this is a great movie for those who like indie films but also those who are seeking a film that brings you emotional connection.
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