Hearts in Atlantis (2001)

The title of this film refers to the title of a collection of novellas and short stories by Stephen King. This collection contains two novellas and three short stories with recurring characters: "Low Men in Yellow Coats," "Hearts in Atlantis," "Blind Willie," "Why We're in Vietnam," "Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling." The film only concerns the first and the last sections of this book. Ted Brautigan is an old man on the run who one day arrives in the house where a young boy Bobby Garfield lives with his mother. A relation is constructed between the two and it is this very theme of the friendship between an older man and a young boy whose father is dead that the film studies after Stephen King. It is a very pregnant and important theme in Stephen King. Children are always, in a way or another, the victims of the world, of grown-ups especially. Bobby is thus confronted to bullies and he learns how to confront them and defeat them. He is confronted with what might have become love with Carol after a first kiss if he had had the opportunity t-o stay around, but his mother moves away after having been molested, at least, by her own boss during a professional seminar away from home. When back she overreacts against Ted Brautigan accusing him of some crime he did not commit.Yet there is mystery behind Ted Brautigan because he is supposed to be "WANTED" by some low men in yellow coats and he is finally taken away soon after Bobby's mother return. And the betrayal of Ted by Bobby's mother who calls the low men to tell them about where they can find Ted Brautigan could have brought some complete different future to Bobby, but he does not go with Ted and remains with his mother. The film then is very short since we miss everything after that departure and before his return for the burial of his and Carol's friend John Sullivan. The end is even made kind of sentimental with Bobby re-visiting his old home and meeting Carol's daughter, Carol being dead, and he presents her with an old picture of Carol as an angel in some school play.The film misses what some see in the book: the fact that baby- boomers missed their historic challenge to produce a better world that is, instead, drowning under a heavy hurricane of consumer's goods. We are far from "love and peace = INFORMATION," as Carol used to state. Love has become self-centered satisfaction of hormonal impulses. Peace has become the crisscross pattern of simultaneous limited wars all over the world. And information has become the meaningless soup of being over-bombarded by a constant flow of undecipherable news, fake or not. Even the central theme of the friendship between an older man and a young boy is rather schematically reduced to something that is always seen as fishy, fuzzy, maybe false, definitely failed when ending with no hope, like in the book, no hope of Ted Brautigan being free again. That's a shame because such friendships are essential for the simple maturing of boys into responsible and strong adults, and the breaking of it meant for Bobby a ruined youth with two periods in juvenile detention facilities. I regret that mellowing of the book in this film.Dr. Jacques COULARDEAU

Based on Stephen King's novella, 'Hearts' is a coming of age tale; this time focusing on Bobby (Anton Yelchin), a young boy growing up in 60s America. He's without a father and has a workaholic, self absorbed mother (Hope Davis). One day, a mysterious stranger, Ted (Anthony Hopkins), arrives to rent the top floor of the house. From these on, it becomes a truly magical summer for Bobby as he begins growing into manhood, learning love, responsibility and ultimately, courage in oneself, while bonding with Ted, who seems to be in possession of certain 'abilities'.While it won't reinvent the wheel of coming-of-age films, 'Hearts' is still a well produced tale in its own right. Huge part of this goes to.two solid leads in Hopkins and Yelchin; Yelchin is absolutely believable as Bobby, going from brash to caring to loyal to his newfound friend, as many children can be, while giving the role conviction and never sounding whiny. Hopkins is, well, Hopkins; he does great as the enigmatic but friendly stranger, and it's not hard to see why Bobby would look up to him. As for other pros, well, it is masterfully directed by Scott Hicks (Shine), making use of a warm colour palette as befitting the nostalgic-summer vibe of the tale, and Mychael Dynna's score is suitably idyllic and sweet without being overt or bombastic.Now of course, this film's forgotten status is not entirely inexplicable; even with a few bit of great emotional 'punch' throughout, there's no getting around its somewhat formulaic nature. This is very much in keeping with all the tropes of these stories, and never really does anything to break from the mould, so a lot of things you can see coming from a mile away. That, and the wrap around stuff & bits of narration with older Bobby in present times never feels woven in often enough to really matter.Despite that however, I was pleasantly surprised by 'Hearts in Atlantis', and if you enjoyed the more dramatic King adaptations, give this one a whirl. It's simple, sweet and exactly what it says on the tin. Nothing more, nothing less.

I loved this movie, with Anthony Hopkins playing Ted a mysterious renter in the house with Bobby Garfield and his mother. There is a mystery surrounding Ted which we slowly learn more about, and the rest is small town kids growing up. There are some wonderful lines in the movie, presumably penned by Stephen King. The acting is superb by everyone. Anton Yelchin as "Bobby-O" is outstanding, but you will also be charmed by Mika Boorem's Carol. Hope Davis is terrific as the self-centred mother. Hopkins character is very likable, but he doesn't dominate this tale because he treads lightly throughout.All of the supporting characters are interesting and convincingly portrayed. The story will probably leave you misty-eyed, and wishing there were more movies like it.

It's been many years now but every once in a while I go through this story/movie again, bringing up the same emotions and fondness of it. This movie is nothing spectacular, not a major hit by any standards, but personal experience for intelligent and thoughtful people. Behind it is some brilliant work of Mr. King (at his best, when not writing horror stories), which makes him (for me, at least) one of the best writers America ever had. And this story has been told through an excellent movie, with carefully picked up cast, to give probably their best, yet simple, performances. It is a very smooth movie, very well and sensibly directed. I'm highly recommending it but not to everyone - just to the ones who know how to appreciate a little masterpiece. To them it will be timeless. Everyone else – just forget it.