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Henry Fool [1998]
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Simon (James Urbaniak), a shy garbageman, lives with his sister (Parker Posey of Party Girl and Waiting for Guffman, among dozens of other movies) and mother, both of whom treat him with minimal respect. Into Simon's life comes Henry Fool (Thomas Jay Ryan), a heavy-drinking self-proclaimed great writer who encourages/provokes Simon to write an enormous poem--a poem that becomes the source of great controversy, proclaimed by some as a great work of art, by others as perverse trash. As Simon's star rises, he tries to draw attention to Henry's work as well, to little avail. Though the premise seems simple, Henry Fool takes on something of an epic sweep as it follows the effects of fame on Simon and Henry's lives. This rumination on art and inspiration was hailed by some critics as the best film yet by writer/director Hal Hartley (Trust, Simple Men, Amateur), while others felt it brought out his worst indulgences. All of Hartley's movies defy easy interpretation, and Henry Fool is no exception. Still, it is a rare film that even tries to tackle such subjects, let alone does so with a combination of intelligence and humour (ranging from verbal quirkiness to scatological embarrassment). Hartley's films, surprisingly enough, feel warmer and more accessible on video; perhaps watching them in one's home makes them seem more intimate and less abstract. --Bret Fetzer
An absolutely brilliant, mesmerizing film
Review date: 2007-05-27 Rating: 10 out of 10
One tries not to throw the word brilliant around too often, as doing so robs the word of any meaning, so I am quite sincere when I bestow the word brilliant on this remarkable film - after all, what is artistic brilliance if not the ability to call forth beauty from the midst of ugliness? This story takes place against a depressing backdrop of poverty, desperation, and dysfunction. Simon Grim (James Urbaniak) works as a garbage man, endures physical attacks on the streets, and comes home each night to a thoroughly dysfunctional family. His mother is obviously depressed and, at times, nonresponsive, while his sister Faye (Parker Posey) is irresponsible and only interested in fulfilling her own [...] needs as often as possible. Simon himself seems anti-social if not mentally challenged. Then a stranger named Henry Fool (Thomas Jay Ryan) shows up and changes everything. He has a magnetic personality, albeit one that pushes some people away while drawing others in, and he befriends Simon. Beaming literary pretentiousness, Henry goes on and on about his personal memoirs (or confessions), which he assures Simon will revolutionize the world and society when they are completed and published. When Simon begins following Henry's lead, he produces a new kind of poetry, one which Henry hails as cutting-edge and revolutionary. While his mother and sister ridicule him, Simon is encouraged by Henry to keep writing, rightly pointing to some amazing changes that occur in individuals who read a sampling of his work. Critics initially hail his great poem as poorly written and [...] (the ultimate put-down), yet Simon perseveres through doubt, tragedy, and controversy, eventually meeting with great success - which changes the lives of these characters irrevocably.
In many ways, this film really is all about Henry Fool himself. He's a mystery for much of this film, a strange external force that shows up out of nowhere and changes the lives of those around him. He is an exceptional fellow - but not necessarily what he appears. As the film progresses, we learn more and more about his troubled past and witness his emotional decline in both the present and the future. His darkest secrets and weaknesses are revealed, he becomes more and more dependent on alcohol and cigarettes, and the mask covering the ugliness of his life begins to slip. Even at his worst, though, he is thoroughly human and morbidly fascinating (and something of a mirror to the souls of many of us, if we're honest enough to admit it), especially at the end when the story has basically come full circle.
There is no character like Henry Fool, and Jay Henry Thomas is absolutely amazing in the role. Great performances abound in this film, while Hal Hartley's direction is impeccable. I don't know what to call the world Hartley has created in this film: it's hyper-surreal yet completely realistic at the same time. It deals with an amazing range of issues head on; oftentimes shockingly direct yet always poignant and surprisingly deep. As others have said, this is not a film that could ever have been borne of a major studio; only an independent filmmaker can take the kind of chances that Hartley takes here, or take such a seemingly simple idea and imbue it with such depth, emotional resonance, and integrity. Henry Fool is nothing less than a stellar, bloody brilliant film.
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Reviews
Henry Fool - dont be fooled this is a gem of a film
Review date: 2003-05-19 Rating: 10 out of 10
Hal is such a sensitve director and this film excels on so many levels. With a fantastic music score with a continuous theme that allows the viewer to absorb themselves into the feelings, action, emotions and situations of the characters. Saturated with "real" and giving us the dramatic effect the written word can have on people - this literally is story telling at its best.
Surprisingly perfect
Review date: 2000-06-12 Rating: 10 out of 10
This film discusses, in Hal Hartley's typical quirky manner, the essence of art. The film starts with the arrival of gift-of-the-gab stranger Henry Fool to rent the dark basement room of a suburban house. He is shown in by Simon Grim (Urbaniak), the reputedly slow elder son who is limited to a career as a garbarge collector, and who lives with his tranquilised mother and sister (Parker Posy) who doesn't seem to do anything. When Simon tells Henry that people think he is slow, he is given an exercise book and told to write whatever he feels unable to say in it. Simon duly fills the book and collapses in an exhausted sleep. What then follows is Fool's campaign to get the 'poetry' within the book, published. By sticking pages up in the local store for all to read, emotions are fired as people are disgusted at the pornography, drop-out kids are tempted into politics, and Fool and Grim's notoriety and fame increases. The film is a highly entertaining, witty and amusing look at what makes something art: is it just well managed hype or is content important? Every character has a strong development, including people you thought you hadn't noticed, and the ending ... is perfect.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Parker Posey
Maria Porter
Thomas Jay Ryan
James Urbaniak
James Saito
Creators:
Thomas Jay Ryan (Primary Contributor)
James Urbaniak (Primary Contributor)
Hal Hartley (Producer)
Hal Hartley (Writer)
Daniel J. Victor (Producer)
Jerome Brownstein (Producer)
Keith Abell (Producer)
Larry Meistrich (Producer)
Thierry Cagianut (Producer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Columbia Tristar home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Columbia Tristar home Entertainment
EAN: 3259190668232
Binding: VHS Tape
Number of items: 1
Format: Colour, Dolby, PAL, Surround Sound,
Release date: 2002-07-01
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Running time: 132 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1998-08-26
Language: English (Original Language)