Opening Day: 14 May 2009

Synopsis:

Changing his attitude will take a miracle. A disillusioned man goes hiding in placid suburbia only to discover he cannot escape the forces of hope. Returning to the middle-class neighborhood where he grew up, Henry chooses to live in indulgent isolation. Real life, however, refuses to cooperate with his plans. Nosy neighbors interrupt him with curious visits and prying questions. Then the situation escalates as a stain on Henry's stucco wall is seen to have miraculous powers. His last-ditch hideout becomes a shrine; his backyard turns into an arena for passionate debate about faith and destiny.

Movie Review:

Luke Wilson plays Henry Poole. Poole is diagnosed with a terminal disease and retreats to his newly purchased rundown house in his old neighbourhood with the intention of leaving the world in the company of alcohol, pizza and doughnuts. He meets nosy but well-meaning neighbours and even finds solace with the beautiful single mother down the road, Dawn (Radha Mitchell) and her really quiet (to the point of creepy) daughter, Mille (Morgan Lily). When a water stain on the wall of his house turns religious neighbour, Esperanza (Adrianna Barrazza) running to her priest, Father Salazar (George Lopez) for confirmation and proclamation, Poole retreats further into his shell. That is until, miracles occur to those who have touched the stain and Poole has to face up to something he can't explain away.

“Henry Poole is Here” is a rarity of sorts being a commercialised faith-based oddity of drama, comedy, romance and quirks. There's a sense that the film – wrought from Albert Torres' screenplay – comes close to proselytising points of religion, mainly Roman Catholicism but sticks to the idea of spiritual awakening in those that see no higher recourse. The film's problem, however, comes from a lack of understanding the complexities apparent in faithlessness, or rationalism, if one prefers. The film doesn't attempt to build bridges in the idea of rational skepticism and belief. It's a film with values that cannot be betrayed with doubt – one either buys into the idea of an existential plan and guiding lights or one doesn't.

The film brings a fable-like quality to the characters, their interactions, and their transformations. It recalls “Lars and the Real Girl” in its soulful virtues of community, optimism and kindness but rarely attributes these qualities to the ideal humanness inherent in everyone. Markedly different from anything he's previously done, director Mark Pellington (“Arlington Road,” “The Mothman Prophecies”) has shown a great handle on suspense before and here, attempts to use it in this film's central conceit of the mystery behind the miracles and on a deeper level, whether a wretch like Poole could ever relent his skepticism and cynicism. When it starts sliding down the mire of sentimentality and unfortunate preachiness that never works in any sort of film. For a film so enamoured with trusting the divine aspects of the world around us, it never has faith in the audience to be enamoured with the world it creates.

Movie Rating:



(Goes to uplift our heart but deepens the divide on the way)

Review by Justin Deimen