Henry Poole Is Here (2008)

Such a frustrating disappointment

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Henry Poole (Luke Wilson) has lost all hope. He tries to buy his childhood home but he can only get a house in the neighborhood. There's a water stain on the wall. His neighbor Esperanza Martinez (Adriana Barraza) insists it's the face of Christ. It starts to bleed and she gets Father Salazar (George Lopez) to test it. More and more people arrive to see the miracle. Dawn Stupek (Radha Mitchell) and her daughter Millie (Morgan Lily) live next door. Millie has stopped talking since her father left a year earlier. She has her tape recorder and she befriends Henry.It's a really touching movie at times. It's a spiritual movie that isn't too preachy. I would have liked Henry Poole do more than mop. Also Luke Wilson is a little limited as an actor. However, the touching moments are really powerful. Esperanza starts out as an annoying neighbor but her story is much deeper than that. Morgan Lily is unbearably adorable. This is a surprisingly little movie.

Mark Pellington's 'Henry Poole Is Here' could have easily become just another one of those 'depressed loner finds hope in company' films but even though the story isn't particularly original, it is Mark Pellington's treatment of Torres's script and Torres's writing that really make this film standout from the usual. Just to get this out of the way, religion is a key theme but one doesn't have to be religious to enjoy this film (many atheists seem to have liked this too). The key theme of 'Henry Poole Is Here' is hope, that even at the worst of times when everything appears pointless, hope can make that much-needed difference in someone's life.The writing is solid. Much of the film is dialogue driven. The dialogues themselves are loaded with some clever humour and interesting philosophy. Moreover, I like it when a lot could be said with a few words. The characters are quite well developed. Even the minor ones are very well defined.Given the themes, this could have easily been just another special effects dominated flick, but I liked that Pellington managed to avoid that by keeping it simple. Instead, fine use is made of Eric Schmidt's cinematography, especially in the sequences where the camera is in motion. The soundtrack is likable. Although it could have been slightly toned down in places. Lighting is excellent.The performances are brilliant. Luke Wilson does a first rate job. Ditto for Radha Mitchell. Child actress Morgan Lilly is good too, especially in the scenes where she's doing the talking with non-verbal gestures. Adriana Barraza is superb as Henry's religious and kind neighbour. Rachel Seifert too does a brilliant job in a small role. Cheryl Hines provides good support.This may not be a one of a kind movie but it's nice to watch a feel good engaging film that reminds us what's important and lift ones spirit.

Poole really tries hard to be a film about anything except "religion". The simple tale is told very quietly and very strongly. Here is just a man lost in the world, played with even more hangdog than usual by an excellent Luke Wilson, whose neighbor thinks she sees a manifestation in a plaster stain on Henry's wall.I don't remember the last time a film started so slowly and just grew and grew into something this good. The film blossoms without losing its fabulous sense of pace: slow, almost meditative, but never boring, this is essentially a character piece and each character has been workshopped beautifully - they have impact and weight because they simply are as natural as possible.This is one of those unique and sneaky films that should never work yet does and in spades. A terrific little movie that is what movies are all about: takes you on an unexpected journey that's well worth your time. Recommended.

Why is everybody reviewing this wonderful film saying they did not like it because they do not like how it depicts a supposed miracle from a supposed god? I myself am a profound atheist. Hell, i'm even an anti-Christian. I'm not even baptised and I never went to church once in my life. I'm just happy that way :) But does that make this a bad movie? No it doesn't. The actors are absolutely brilliant and feel real-life. The camera-work pulls you right in. The story is simple yet powerful. The music is well-chosen, touching and stands on it's own in little moments of self-reflection. It had been long since I was this moved by a movie. Just watch it ... without presumptions ... without thinking ... and maybe you too will be moved.