Hearts in Atlantis Film Review

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HEARTS IN ATLANTIS

Anthony Hopkins' commanding screen presence imbues anything he says or does with a reverence and weight that can make the flimsy seem profound. It's once the spell is broken and you are left to reflect, you realise the film's true shortcomings. So is the case with Hearts In Atlantis, an engaging enough distraction for an hour and a half whose appeal all but evaporates by the time you exit the cinema.

Directed by Scott Hicks (Shine) and based on two stories from Stephen King's 'Hearts In Atlantis' collection, 'Low Men In Yellow Coats' and 'Heavenly Shades Of Night Are Falling', with a screenplay by the venerable William Goldman, Hearts In Atlantis possesses a relaxed air of self assurance only achieved with such a wealth of experience. While it's comforting to be in so qualified hands, it's also difficult not to feel manipulated, as though you're being led deliberately and adeptly by a tour guide on a tight schedule. You get to see the facades, but are never allowed to glimpse what lies behind.

When successful photographer Bobby Garfield (David Morse) attends the funeral of Sully, one of his best friends growing up, and discovers Carol, the third member of their childhood gang, has also died, he mourns both their loss and that of their innocent youth together as the film flashes back to the world of the 11-year-old Bobby.

After his father left, the young Bobby (Anton Yelchin) is being raised by his self-centered and bitter mother Liz (Hope Davis). She pleads poverty when handing Bobby a library card for his birthday instead of the bike he'd set his heart on, but has no qualms about lavishing money on her stylish wardrobe. Deprived of parental guidance, Bobby quickly latches on to the enigmatic Ted Brautigan (Anthony Hopkins) who moves into the apartment above.

Ted opens Bobby's eyes to the wonder of books while offering him the opportunity to earn money with which to buy the bike he covets. With failing sight Ted promises Bobby a dollar a week to read him the paper. But it's the second task that alerts both Bobby and us to the fact that Ted is a little strange. He asks Bobby to keep a look out for any signs of the "low people". All efforts by Bobby to glean more information are met with polite evasion. Having arrived with just two carrier bags and little in the way of an introduction, everything about the quiet spoken and laconic Ted is a mystery, causing Liz to be suspicious and Bobby to be intrigued.