Handsome Harry (2009)

I was simply blown away by this film, it far exceeded any expectations I had. The script, music, cast and direction and cinematography meld brilliantly and keep the suspense propelled throughout."Handsome" Harry (Jamie Sheridan), on the surface a successful electrical company owner, is pulled into his past when he gets a call from his old navy buddy (Steve Buscemi), who is dying, asking for help in putting to rest a dreadful incident in their shared past in which a horrific beating of another navy buddy takes place. The buddy wants him to make amends to their victim. Thirty years later.The plot is propelled forward by Harry's road journey, meeting all the participants in that dreadful, shameful night.The only flaw I found in the film was in Harry taking over a professor's class and punching the professor for denying their former friendship. It seemed oddly out of character and jarred me out of the film for a few minutes as I mentally rewrote it.The denouement when it comes is heartbreaking.Beautifully cast, and particularly riveting performances from Mr. Snider and Mr. Scott.8 out of 10. I would watch again.

You know, if you don't have a good script you don't have a chance of ending up with a good movie. The exposition in this film is way long and is filled with flat dialog and cardboard characters. The "plot twist", which did surprise me, was unfulfilling because there is never a point in the story where any suspense, or empathy for the characters, is built up. If you blink you will miss Steve Buscemi and Campbell Scott, who are both very good for the short time they appear. It really is a shame because the plot is very intriguing: two men reunite, former lovers in the Navy, whose relationship ended when the more closeted one at the time joined in with other sailors in gay bashing the other to cover for himself. While I wouldn't presume to suggest "how" to write a screenplay around this story, I would say don't do it this way. It was like watching paint dry. Paint that's a color you don't particularly like. The story ends without forgiveness or resolution, which in and of itself is not a bad way to end. But, if you never developed an interest in the characters, their struggles, or the story itself, that it remains unresolved is just one more sour note on top of all the others. As compelling as this story is on paper, it was delivered with such detachment and hack dialog that it really just comes off as a wasted opportunity. How they got Steve Buscemi, Campbell Scott, and John Savage, to board this nose dive is inexplicable. I wish it had been good. I really do...

A Vietnam veteran, Harry Sweeney, goes on a quest to help a dying ex-Navy buddy. Instead, Harry unravels a deep, dark, dormant secret that brings understanding – and maybe hope – to two friends who never should have parted ways.Handsome Harry is a perfect example of lean and tight writing. Every frame tells a story. Kudos to director Bette Gordon for taking Nicholas T. Proferes' ponderable screenplay and providing a highly polished and realistic story.This film has nothing to do with the military. It has to do with ignorance, intolerance, and fear. Ignorance, intolerance, and fear exist everywhere.Yet, one man, affectingly played by Campbell Scott - the only man who exudes love - lived his life the way he started it, true to himself. I can only say, "Wow, what a powerful statement director and writer make in the final scene." Here's hoping viewers catch Profere's lessen: Don't wait until you're middle-aged and look back and say, "I wish I had done it differently." Life's too short to be under the thumb of ignorance, intolerance, and fear. Love should guide us all. Never be afraid to love someone.I bow to all the actors, blow a kiss to Ms. Gordon, high-five Nick, and enthusiastically clap to the music creator/director.

Here is an interesting indie production which feels like an adapted stage play. It certainly wanders along like one and must be the slowest 94 minutes I have ever spent in a cinema. The film has excellent dialog and some terrific acting, especially from the guest professionals John Savage, Aiden Quinn and Campbell Scott. Steve Buscemi also appears with main actor Jamey Sheridan who has no chance of stardom until he spells his name properly. A 50 year old actor called Jamey? no. Sorry. Also HANDSOME HARRY is completely the wrong title for this film. basically it is about unrequited love and in this case between reminiscences and a possible crime of passion. While I admired the skill in creating such a well populated acting roster, the editing and the story sequence became mired in being a vanity project for Sheridan who appears in 95% of the film and is also the Exec Producer. Conscious of this from the opening credits, I felt the film dragged in order for him to have great long scenes with the more famous actors he hired to be seen on screen with. Fortunately all the scenes are good but they are all-so-slowwwwww and the film becomes tedious. Also, the final sequences with Campbell Scott come far too late in the film to have the real impact they should. The sequence with John Savage is by far the best and proves what a major actor he still is. I wanted to like this well made and very well written and acted film more but it negates itself by being 15 minutes too long. If edited to a tighter 80 minutes it would have flowed better and got to the point quicker. Also the Teenage sailor sequences needed to all happen at the start of the film rather than being in glimpses scattered throughout.