Hearts in Atlantis is an interesting movie. For one, it is based upon a story contained within a book named "Hearts in Atlantis" by Stephen King. But the story is called "Low Men in Yellow Coats" and the story "Hearts in Atlantis" has absolutely no bearing on the movie at all.
It's rather unfortunate actually, that the film makers couldn't find some way to incorporate all five of King's "Hearts in Atlantis" stories into the movie. But if they had to pick one - which they did, of course - "Low Men in Yellow Coats" is an excellent choice. And it makes for an excellent movie, but the book should be required reading.
Some of the complaints about the movie have been that the characters are not well developed. Perhaps they are, but as someone who's read the book, my mind filled in any gaps, so I couldn't say. In fact, knowing what was in the story did nothing but enrich this film. Because the movie was so close to the book, the background information supplied by King's plot filled in all the places the movie could not or would not go.
One bad aspect of the movie version however, is the elimination of all supernatural elements. Instead of making Anthony Hopkins' character a Breaker from the Dark Tower universe King has created, like Brautigan is in the book, he is a psychic sought by the FBI to root out communists (hey, this is 1960 after all). So the string is still intact: Of the more than 30 movies based on the work of Stephen King, not a single one even mentions the Dark Tower.
How unfortunate.
The movie itself is simply wonderful, especially after dealing with two weeks of absolute crap (The Musketeer and Glitter? Hmmm).
Anthony Hopkins has the pleasure of two Academy Award-worthy performances in 2001 (I don't care, Hannibal was still an excellent movie). His performance in Hearts is as understated as Hannibal was... well... Hannibal. He keeps to himself, stays quiet, and when he talks, he is close to divine. Hopkins continues to prove why he is one of the best actors of all time.
Anton Yelchin is simply amazing as little Bobby Garfield. He is the second coming of Haley Joel Osment, if not better than he. The plot is good if not great - although with the book already in mind, it assuredly makes any potential holes disappear - and the character development is superb. And isn't that a wonderful breath of fresh air after a summer's worth of movies that were cool, and some were even good, but overall brainless and similar.
For that alone, I give it a 10, even if it is perhaps closer to an 8 or a 9.
10/10
It's rather unfortunate actually, that the film makers couldn't find some way to incorporate all five of King's "Hearts in Atlantis" stories into the movie. But if they had to pick one - which they did, of course - "Low Men in Yellow Coats" is an excellent choice. And it makes for an excellent movie, but the book should be required reading.
Some of the complaints about the movie have been that the characters are not well developed. Perhaps they are, but as someone who's read the book, my mind filled in any gaps, so I couldn't say. In fact, knowing what was in the story did nothing but enrich this film. Because the movie was so close to the book, the background information supplied by King's plot filled in all the places the movie could not or would not go.
One bad aspect of the movie version however, is the elimination of all supernatural elements. Instead of making Anthony Hopkins' character a Breaker from the Dark Tower universe King has created, like Brautigan is in the book, he is a psychic sought by the FBI to root out communists (hey, this is 1960 after all). So the string is still intact: Of the more than 30 movies based on the work of Stephen King, not a single one even mentions the Dark Tower.
How unfortunate.
The movie itself is simply wonderful, especially after dealing with two weeks of absolute crap (The Musketeer and Glitter? Hmmm).
Anthony Hopkins has the pleasure of two Academy Award-worthy performances in 2001 (I don't care, Hannibal was still an excellent movie). His performance in Hearts is as understated as Hannibal was... well... Hannibal. He keeps to himself, stays quiet, and when he talks, he is close to divine. Hopkins continues to prove why he is one of the best actors of all time.
Anton Yelchin is simply amazing as little Bobby Garfield. He is the second coming of Haley Joel Osment, if not better than he. The plot is good if not great - although with the book already in mind, it assuredly makes any potential holes disappear - and the character development is superb. And isn't that a wonderful breath of fresh air after a summer's worth of movies that were cool, and some were even good, but overall brainless and similar.
For that alone, I give it a 10, even if it is perhaps closer to an 8 or a 9.
10/10