Last Chance Harvey (2008)

an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

...at first sigh. and not only. because it is the expected love story film. bitter, amusing, realistic, with few crumbs of fairy tale, fascinating for the lead actors, escaping from many cliches and using part of the most familiar from them, proposing a mature romance, a real rare virtue among the romantic films of the last decades, being more than a film with Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman , elegant, nostalgic, familiar and the right choice for middle age public. so, just perfect. sure, in a special sense.

I may have heard about this film a little bit because of the leading actor and actress in it, and I assumed it would some kind of unlikely love story, and despite the critics giving a slightly low rating I was looking forward to trying it. Basically Harvey Shine (Dustin Hoffman) works as a jingles writer for music television advertising and commercials, but he really aspires to be a jazz composer and pianist, and his boss Marvin (Richard Schiff) is paying little attention to him while there is younger talent in the industry, and despite being somewhat alienated since the divorce from his wife Jean (Kathy Baker) he is in London, England to attend the wedding of his daughter Susan (Liane Balaban). Single Londoner Kate Walker (Emma Thompson) works in the airport collecting statistics and asking questions to passengers passing through the terminals, this is how she has a very quick meeting with Harvey as he passes through and dismisses her, and she has to deal with neurotic mother Maggie (Eileen Atkins) who thinks her Polish neighbour is a murderer burying bodies, and calls her during blind dates. Harvey is able to attend the wedding as he promised, but he disheartened when Susan wanted Jean's new husband Brian (James Brolin) to give her away at the ceremony, and when Harvey plans to go back to America he misses his flight, and calling Marvin is fired, and he goes to the airport bar to drown his sorrows, and Kate is there too after feeling left out when her bad date invited other people. He recognises her from the terminal and tries to start a conversation, which she initially does not feel like doing, but they find they are both down on their luck, Kate agreeing that Harvey had the worst day, and soon after they walk together to her writing class, and she agrees to meet him afterwards to spend more time together. He tells her that he is missing her daughter's wedding reception because he feels like he is an unwanted guest, but she urges him that he must go for her and try to build on his family relationship, he says he will go if she comes with him; he even buys her a dress. They arrive at Grosvenor House Hotel in time for the speeches, but when the toast is to be given by the father of the bride Harvey insists to Brian that he should be allowed to speak, he does so and manages to move the audience and redeem himself with Susan, and he is allowed to stay and join in the celebrations, including a dance with his daughter. Feeling left out again and not having Harvey show her some attention Kate originally plans to walk out, but Harvey spots her near the elevator and grabs her attention playing his own composition on a piano, and she smiles and is happy to return and join him in the dancing and celebrations. The following morning they share a single gentle kiss and agree to meet each other again at noon, but returning to his hotel Harvey experiences a serious heart attack and is rushed to the hospital, and unaware Kate is upset that he does not show up, and after recovering Harvey may return to America after all with Marvin calling him to give his job back. Harvey dismisses Marvin however to take his last chance and make up with Kate, he finds her after her writing class and explains about being in hospital, with so many disappointments in the past Kate is cautious to have a relationship, but Harvey persuades Kate to give their feelings a chance, and walking down the bank he invites her to ask the questions she would have in the airport. Also starring Final Destination 2's Michael Landes as Peter Turner, Alex Avery as Andrew and Patrick Baladi as Simon. Hoffman gives a likable charming performance once he gets past the depressed initial personality, Thompson is lovely as the woman who finds it hard to fit in but finds a nice friendship and then more, they may be an unlikely couple because of age but they are sweet, I think the critics were a bit hard on the film, it may be slightly predictable at times, but it is good to see a romance film without having to go into sex and nudity and just relying on conversation and polite manners, and there are amusing bits, a nice romantic comedy. Worth watching!

Two people, completely out of place with their own life find each other on London. That's the premise of the movie.Aside from the cliché moments, this movie starts really slow and depressing. Harvey is set out to play into a very unpleasant meeting with her daughter and his fiancée in party before their marriage.Harvey is devastated by the cold feeling the whole family has with him and this really gets to the viewer, let me say that even when Harvey meets Kate after the very depressing first part, the movie does not have the "up-beat" we should be expecting, somehow, the whole tone for the movie is downright depressing and this is even with the nice music that is played in the background all the time. The whole idea and story is short and simple, the acting is OK but, being a fan of Huffman and Thomson myself, this is not their best performances, not by a long mile.The movie may be classified as a romantic drama but the tone feels like just a drama,it develops slow, emotions are toned down and Harvey's life is miserable, somehow, Kate does not bring the light we're all hoping for and this is the director's fault.Sadly, the balance for the movie is OK, not nice, just OK, not Oscar material, not even very good.A drama trying so hard to be romantic and somehow failing at it. With the two first class actors and a script designed for them, this is unforgivable.6 out of 10

'Last Chance Harvey' is a decent film, in all respects. It tells it's story well and the performances, by Dustin Hoffman & Emma Thompson, are top-notch. 'Last Chance Harvey' focuses on two lonely people who tentatively forge a relationship over the course of three days.Joel Hopkins Screenplay is sweet & entertaining. Also, the subtle romance between the 2 protagonists, is infectious. Hopkins Direction, on the other-hand, is neat. Cinematography, Editing, Art Design & Background Score, are efficient. Performance-Wise: Hoffman & Thompson are top-notch. Also, they share a very infectious & lovable chemistry on-screen, from start to end. Eileen Atkins does well. Liane Balaban & Kathy Baker are passable. Other lend the required support.On the whole, 'Last Chance Harvey' is a decent watch.