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Watching Hearts in Atlantis brought back those warm
feelings of childhood and while the movie is not set anywhere
near a beach, the friendships developed in those young years
are similar.
The death of one of his childhood mates gets Bobby Garfield
(David Morse) to thinking about the old times and when he
discovers his first love has also died he begins a journey
to relook at where he grew up and of the time the mysterious
stranger Ted Brautigan (Anthony Hopkins) moved in upstairs.
Young Bobby (Anton Yelchin) takes to Brautigan immediately,
although his mother (Hope Davis) is suspicious and doesn't
like the chap. She is a young widow always bemoaning the fact
she has no money - and yet has a pretty damn fine wardrobe
of clothes. Bobby, meanwhile, has to save his pennies for
a new bike he wants.
Brautigan senses something in the youngster and forms a strong
grandad-like friendship with the boy and pays him to read
him the newspaper and keep his eyes out for sinister strangers,
or low people, who seem to be hunting the old fellow down.
Deliberately paced, Hearts in Atlantis is a flashback-driven
story of love and hope, lies and truths, betrayal and tragedy
that builds up into a rather exciting finish. By the by, it
is based on a book by Stephen King.
The video transfer of Hearts in Atlantis is absolutely
superb and its clarity, richness of tone and just-about flawless
imagery will heighten your enjoyment. The sound is just as
good and in a movie where picking up the dialogue is so important
never lets you down.
And a special commendation for whoever picked out the soundtrack
songs. They are so fitting and so good you'll be humming them
for the rest of the week.
This is a first-class, character-driven movie in which all
the players are marvellous, the photography superb, and the
story a winning one.
Conclusion: Movie 85%, Extras 60%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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