In a scathing movie review of a new movie, Variety Magazine ruthlessly attacks the religiosity of a movie about a man’s faith journey after learning he hasn’t long to live. God forbid someone should start thinking about God after he’s learned he’s dying. The time would be much better spent railing against religion.
Because it’s billed as a more personal project for Mark Pellington after a string of interesting, idiosyncratic thrillers (“Arlington Road,” “The Mothman Prophecies”), “Henry Poole Is Here” is all the more disappointing. Pic’s tendency to lecture on the power of faith and religion and on the demerits of science seems to assume an almost childlike audience that needs to be spoon-fed Pablum. This tale of a single man whose medical death sentence is reversed in part by a neighborhood of believers won’t advance the profile of the always-likable Luke Wilson, and Christian moviegoers will have to show up in great numbers to keep the film from being doomed to something far less than sleeper status.
So insistent is the film that lack of belief in God is a personal failure, nonbelievers are likely to feel offended. Not since “The Passion of the Christ” has a mainstream Hollywood product insisted so firmly in faith while its deprecation of science and medicine has seemed singularly harsh.
I think he means the “Passion of the Christ,” you know the one that grossed something like a billion dollars.
The movie centers on a Los Angeles suburb where the very glum Henry Poole purchases a slightly rundown home and makes it clear to all that he wants to be left alone. The only other irritant for Poole is a large stain on an outside stucco wall of the house which many believe looks like the face of Christ.
Understandably peeved, particularly when Esperanza begins bringing over some of her church congregants and her priest, Father Salazar (George Lopez), to witness “the miracle,” Henry wants everyone out. Esperanza asks him, “Don’t you believe in God?”, the question seemingly a grave accusation, implying Henry has some growing to do. Albert Torres’ screenplay telegraphs that this eruption of faith will connect with and reverse Henry’s fatalism, which he expresses enigmatically with, “I won’t be here that long.”
When Millie touches a tiny blood stain that has appeared on the “face” of the stain, and is suddenly able to resume talking, Henry seems heartless for denying the church flock their new shrine.
It is clear this reviewer is “peeved” that faith exists at all. And how dare faith show itself in a movie. Well, I’ll be at this movie. I’ll get my big popcorn. My giant soda. And a spoonful of pablum.
Update: Here is the trailer from YouTube.
June 3, 2008 at 4:53 am
The parting of the red sea must surely fall into the category of “deprecation of science”. Cecile B DeMille’s 1956 Ten Commandments is an Oscar winner plus nominated in many categories, and is the 5th highest-grossing movie of all time locally, adjusted for inflation.
Probably some people just loves films which deal with “deprecation of faith” instead.
June 3, 2008 at 5:46 am
The trailer can be found here:
http://www.myspace.com/henrypooleishere
Enjoy.
June 3, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Or at Apple . Looks decent to me. And I don’t know if Mr. Gibson’s Passion ever depreciated science and medicine.
June 3, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Kevin, according to secularists to believe in miracles is insulting to science.
June 3, 2008 at 6:46 pm
reviewers are paid for their opinion. he gave his. You didn’t like it. What’s your problem?
Look, I consider myself a spiritual person who meditates often but I don’t want religion bashed over my head when I go to the movies.
This country has a separation of church and state. You don’t get to say that every movie must have religion in it, you know.
June 4, 2008 at 12:52 am
anonymous, if you’ve watched the trailer, then you’ll get my question: “I don’t know if you’re angry or sad, or both, but…” why are you so upset that Mr. Archbold, who doesn’t get paid for his opinion, gave his? On his own website?
And I’m pretty sure that no one here has said that every movie must have religion in it. Why is it always that when a movie has gratuitious violence/sex/language in it that the libs cry “So don’t see it!” but when a movie has religion/faith/values in it, it’s “pablum” or “bashing over the head”?
This country has freedom of speech. You don’t get to say what Mr. Archbold gets to say on his blog, you know.
But you do get to choose not to see the movie, although I think you’d benefit from it.
July 16, 2008 at 12:05 am
Really looking forward to checking out Mark Pellington’s latest film Henry Poole Is Here starring Luke Wilson. It’s about a guy who abandons his fiancée and family business to spend what he believes are his remaining days alone. Here’s a cool new poster I found for the film that alludes to a current poster for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. You can find it here:
http://www.filmdrunk.com/post.phtml?pk=2108&comment_saved=1#comment-113598
Henry Poole Hits theaters on August 15th
myspace.com/henrypooleishere