yris2002 Review of Last Chance Harvey

Last Chance Harvey (2008)

Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman make a difference...

[7/10 · 31 July 2009]

Last chance Harvey contains all the necessary qualities for a movie portraying the possible mature, but insecure and difficult, love story between two grown-ups, without risking resulting pathetic or unrealistic. Indeed, it distinguishes itself as delicate, sensitive, discrete and never too emphatic. We do not know much about Kate's and Harvey's previous lives, especially Kate's one, but can perceive clearly that disillusionment is still affecting their present lives. They no longer expect much from encounters, appointments, and do not believe in special occasions, however, they still believe in true affection and give themselves a chance, with no emphasis, no great vows, no high-sounding words. They just want to try, with all that sense and fear of failure that only life-experience can provide. And that's what I really appreciated throughout the movie: it intelligently lacks excess and passion, which would have sounded off-site, clichè, and improbable. The last scene where Kate simply asks Harvey to have a walk, without feeling the necessity to promise anything except her being there, is truly moving: we can perceive the sincerity of two conscious people, who do not know, despite age and experience, how everything will turn out, and if their relationship will work out, but know perfectly that time, personal knowledge and deep mutual understanding are the necessary components of any possible relation. The pairing of these two characters works perfectly, thanks to the great interpretations by Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman, we have known them for a long time as talented actors, but I think it should not have been easy for them, used to consolidated characters fit for them, mainly for the always impeccable Emma Thompson, more at ease with roles requiring great technique and not used to roles where she has to reveal human frailty, and a more natural acting is required. Indeeed, their acting sounds very simple and natural, and soon gets the sympathy of the viewer. A movie to be valued for its sobriety and intelligence.