This modest story has been told a million times–loveless singles who find each other. However, that age old tale still works as a film when it’s done with the right details and fine actors. Such is the case with Last Chance Harvey; written and directed by Joel Hopkins (Jump Tomorrow) has all the nuances that make this rather ordinary movie well worth a look. The two leads, Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson are two of the finest actors working today, so the opportunity to have them on the same screen together is a true pleasure. Therer’s one thing I could help but notice though; Dustin Hoffman is a full three inches shorter than Emma Thompson and the height difference is even more pronounced when she wears heels, which she does for most of the film
Hoffman and Thompson, both justifiably revered in the acting community, do the kind of understated work in Last Chance Harvey that should be studied by actors as a lesson in how to shine without being over the top. The story itself is rather simple: Two middle-aged singles have a chance encounter, spend time together, and develop a relationship. That’s it. This simplicity could be the film’s downfall but Hoffman and Thompson (aided by a solid screenplay) make it sublime, a pleasant 93 minutes spent with in these two characters lives. It’s a romantic comedy but Hopkins has cast his net a bit wider than the usual clichés and petty misunderstandings that mark much of the genre; here the characters have some real depth of feeling that makes the story seem possible.
Harvey Shine (Hoffman) is a failed jazz pianist who found success writing commercial jingles. Thompson plays Kate Walker, an airport interviewer at Heathrow for a British agency. Harvey flies to London to attend his daughter’s (Liane Balaban) wedding and in less than 24 hours he learns he’s been fired (“It’s sound design now, not music,” he says.) and his daughter wants her stepfather (James Brolin) to walk her down the aisle. Watching him walk around the party the night before the wedding, it’s clear he’s an outsider in his own family; Harvey’s ex-wife (Kathy Bakre) seems to regard him as a pitiful figure. At the same time, Kate finds herself ignored on a blind date and is forced to deal with a needy mother (Eileen Atkins) who fears her new neighbor is Jack the Ripper reincarnated.
The film is clever in the way it switches between scenes of awkwardness for these two people. Harvey at the pre-wedding dinner, where he discovers the anti-theft tag is still on his suit coat; and Kate being set up with a slightly younger man and clearly not fitting in with his friends. The message is clear: There’s nothing wrong with either of them, they just don’t quite fit in where they are.
The two had met briefly when Harvey was rude to Kate at the airport. The next day, the two meet again at the hotel bar; Harvey in deep despair over being fired and passed over by his daughter at her wedding and Kate in no mood for men after a disastrous blind date. Perhaps feeling like he has nothing to lose, Harvey tries to start a conversation. She starts talking tentatively at first but soon the two are in full flow.
It’s obvious the two characters are developing a relationship as Hopkins then shows a montage of them walking around London. Smartly, Hopkins keeps them outside and therefore avoids the question of sexual intimacy. Too many films ruin the flow of a story by having the two main characters jump into bed together. But again, I imagine that’s an advantage of having two actors with talent of Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson involved; you don’t have to have a sex scene for the sake of it, those two elevate the script on their own without need for gimmicks.
One subplot works particularly well. After Kate starts Harvey talking about why his relationship with his daughter failed, she tells him he must attend her wedding reception. He says she must go with him. He buys her a dress and Harvey gets to make amends with his daughter and family in a touching speech.
Though much of Last Chance Harvey works remarkably well, the one major misstep is Kate’s mother’s obsession with her neighbor. She thinks she sees him carrying a body to the woodshed and dials up her daughter. Is this movie an ode to Hitchcock or a romantic comedy? The whole thing just seems terribly out of place. Thankfully, the subplot is a very small part of the film.
In the end, Last Chance Harvey is simply a pleasure to watch. Hoffman and Thompson make their characters seem completely real and believable. Watching these two great actors at work in what is essentially a dialogue driven movie is amazing; simply pitch perfect. Last Chance Harvey is the perfect movie for a rainy night or for film aficionados who just want to watch two of the greats ply their craft.
Last Chance Harvey comes to Blu-ray in 2.35:1 aspect ratio; rendered in 1080p Anchor Bay has provided a solid transfer. Much of the film takes place in London, outside. Locations include: the Victoria Embankment and the South Bank, so the Thames is in view a lot of the time. Colors are solid; the sky has the familiar bluish/gray look and the Thames is vivid in the background. While I can’t say I saw every thread in Hoffman’s suit for the wedding it was clear as was Emma Thompson’s black dress. There are several close-ups during conversations and fleshtones are good.
I didn’t notice any real digital artifacts–scratches, haloing etc. However, the limited inside scenes, particular those at the wedding reception, tend to be a bit on the dark side. I’m not sure if this is because of the way the lighting is inside Grosvenor House but some viewers will notice the difference. While not remarkable, Anchor Bay is to be commended for providing a solid transfer on this title.
Last Chance Harvey has a Dolby True HD 5.1 soundtrack mix. Since this is a dialogue driven film, there is nothing to knock your socks off her but the track does a more than adequate job. The music heard throughout offers a nice presence across the front. Dialogue is clear and precise. In the couple of scenes in which Dustin Hoffman tickles the ivories, his efforts fill the room.English subtitles are available for the deaf and hearing impaired.
Last Chance Harvey comes with a limited number of special features that are worth giving a look:
• Audio Commentary: Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson and director Joel Hopkins participate in this fairly laid back commentary. Hoffman and Thompson talk about what it was like working together and give us some insight as to what was going on behind the scenes. I found that Emma Thompson has this droll sense of humor I always enjoy listening to; I’ve often wondered what it would be like if she and Mel Brooks teamed up on a film. Joel Hopkins discusses his stars, reasons for certain scenes and things of that nature.
• Featurette: “Last Chance Harvey: The Making of an Unconventional Love Story” At nearly twenty minutes, this is fairly traditional EPK material. Interviews with Hoffman, Thompson, Hopkins and others as well as a peek behind the scenes.
• Theatrical Trailer
