Hearts in Atlantis

Hearts in Atlantis
Drama
2001
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 101 minutes
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Hope Davis
Directed By: Scott Hicks
Rating: 8 out of 10

Outline

A child’s story of a man that lived in the upstairs apartment and how it affected his life. This movie is based on Stephen King’s book of the same title.

Review

A very original and thought provoking movie there is something about this film that I fell in love with. Stephen King stories translated to the big screen are sometimes awful but it is a success in this case. The story is a very generic kids story growing up in the rather carefree sixties. The kids however were very believable in their acting and interactions which is great to see. The character that makes the film is no surprise in Anthony Hopkins playing Ted Brautigan. The older gentleman who is prone to fits is a true mystery and his knowledge seems endless. His calm demeanor and profound kindness radiate in his interactions with the children. He and child actor Anton Yelchin playing Bobby Garfield have this grandfather/grandchild connection and that relationship builds throughout the film. The story is what will captivate you though as you will soon find out that Ted is not just an ordinary man. He is on the run and it is not clear from what exactly. He seems at times to be just an old man and other times a man of mystery and power. Hope Davis playing Mrs. Garfield does a great job in delivering the strict mother figure that doesn’t believe in all that Ted is. Her disbelief is what makes the story that much more interesting. The clever dialogue and hidden and not so hidden moments is what makes this movie so neat. The movie is complimented well by a great musical score that brings you back to 1960’s and allows you to fall into the story a little bit more. The ending is fantastic and will probably bring a tear to your eye. The movie itself has times of blandness and is not just a straight dramatic story. Be wary as it takes an open mind to appreciate the nuances of this story. The start and very end when Bobby Garfield is grown up tends to be a little slow and pointless but brings you to a place from where the story can be told so be patient with it. I highly recommend this movie for just a powerful character and a story of feel goodness, intrigue, and mystery.


T Factor + If you think the child’s story is more interesting than I did then this could score higher on the rating scale.


T Factor – If you don’t like the unnatural side to the story then this could score lower on the rating scale.


If you liked this film reel recommendations: The Green Mile, or The Shawshank Redemption