Jack Goes Boating (2010)

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

I really enjoy the output of Philip Seymour Hoffman. I think Hoffman was one of the absolute greatest actors of his generation. Hoffman's death was a huge blow to film lovers worldwide. An interesting note in his career is his sole directorial effort from 2010, Jack Goes Boating. Starring Hoffman himself in the titular role, alongside his love interest Amy Ryan, and John Ortiz as Jack's best friend, Jack Goes Boating tells the very human tale of a group of troubled friends trying to navigate life while living in New York City. It's a story Philip Seymour Hoffman would gravitate towards, a raw look at the emotional makeup and triggers of everyday people. Dealing with difficult people in troubling situations, Jack Goes Boating examines love and life through the eyes of a simple man who doesn't know too much about either subject.Jack (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a quiet, incredibly reserved man who keeps to himself and is usually seen wearing headphones listening to the reggae music that relaxes him. Jack drives a limousine for a living and spends most of his time with Clyde (John Ortiz) and Lucy (Daphne Rubin- Vega) when he is not at work. Clyde and Lucy seem to be all Jack has, as he is never seen with, or talking about, any family. Clyde and Lucy feel sympathy towards Jack for having no one else in his life and never experiencing love or being in a relationship, so they set him up on a blind date with Lucy's co-worker, Connie (Amy Ryan). Connie is also a simple, unassuming woman who is incredibly shy. Jack and Connie together, however, are able to encourage each other to find solace within themselves, and break out of their shells a bit and enjoy life. Amidst their budding romance, Jack discovers deep painful secrets in the relationship of Clyde and Lucy. The secrets come out in the open, bringing with them great pain and betrayal that the two are unsure they can overcome. The stark difference of watching one relationship bloom and another crumble, really expose the human element Philip Seymour Hoffman always aspired towards.Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of those actors that is difficult to watch now that he's passed away. He died so young and unexpectedly, it's so disappointing to think that we'll never again have another Philip Seymour Hoffman performance. As brilliant of an actor as Hoffman was, he faltered as a director. Character development was extremely weak in Jack Goes Boating. Other than their obvious character traits, we never really learn anything about each individual. It was also a bit tough to stomach the film's message that there are expected challenges that accompany relationships and infidelity may be among them. Such a distorted view of relationships may have been more indicative of the director's feelings towards them rather than the intent of the film, making the story of his life a little more difficult to bear. Overall, Jack Goes Boating was a decent directorial effort from a brilliant actor, though it is not a surprise that he directed only one film.

Right from the start the world is beautified by that simplistic aesthetic so typical of independent cinema. The framing is mostly quite tight and the visual palette is consistently minimalist, leaving room for the audience to concentrate on the complex characters and themes of the film.The film achieves so much through the undeniable human charm of its four central characters, especially the enigmatic Jack who's sensitively portrayed by Philip Seymour Hoffman. There are a couple of moments in the film that verge uncomfortably close to the cliché and contrived, but not enough to detract from the overall value of the film.The film takes a look at the nature of love in modern relationships by comparing it's starkly contrasted characters and their perception of love. This film contains some truth and insights that will resonate amongst many of the audience members.Ultimately, a well-crafted and relatable film that allows audiences to invest in its superb characters and reflect on its meanings. At 89 minutes it's easy to digest and easy to enjoy. It's a visually pleasing piece of textbook independent cinema that Philip Seymour Hoffman should be proud to call his directorial debut.Read my full review on my blog: http://ionlyaskedwhatyouthought.blogspot.com/

I like Phillip and was excited to watch this movie but this is my third time attempting to watch this. I give up. It's so slow and uneventful I just fall asleep or get distracted. An annoying thing about this movie was they played an entire album, didn't even bother to be creative and pick a bunch of artists (until they ran out of songs on the album). It was so consistent with the music it felt like I had a CD playing rather than a movie. If you are looking for a nice movie to sit down with and enjoy don't bother with this one. Personally I would find writing the word 'Apple' 10,000 times over and over more exciting. Rating: G'ay out of 10

We get no back-story. We drop right into the middle of the lives of these 40-something New Yorkers. He is a NY limo driver, she is just starting in telephone sales. Somehow they get together when a mutual friend fixes them up for dinner over Chinese take-out brought in."He" is Philip Seymour Hoffman as Jack. He is planning to apply with MTA for a better job, a career. "She" is Amy Ryan as Connie, training for a new job in phone sales for Dr Bob's seminars. As far as we can tell neither has been married, probably neither in a serious relationship. It would be an understatement to simply say their approaches were unconventional.It is the type of story you have to stick with, because the first few minutes seem pretty dull. But sticking with it pays off. P.S. Hoffman also directs, as far as I can tell his first time, and it is effective.Their close friends are a couple, John Ortiz as Clyde and Daphne Rubin-Vega as Lucy. They have a back-story of sorts, which involved a short term stray from their marriage vows, but they seem to have moved past it. But not completely.Jack seems to lack normal social graces but seems to be learning. Somewhat a perfectionist, when he decides to cook dinner for Connie after an incident on the subway where she was mugged, he takes lessons from a chef, and prepares the exact meal several times at Clyde's apartment, to make sure he gets it right. Then, when something happens to distract him, and the meal is spoiled on the big night, he doesn't cope very well.Still Jack and Connie seem to have a "connection", as the movie ends in summer Jack and Connie are in a row boat in Central Park. Jack learned to swim just for the occasion!