Product Description: A loud egomaniac self-styled intellectual moves in with an unassuming garbage man and his family changing their lives forever. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 03/22/2005 Starring: Parker Posey James Urbaniak Run time: 137 minutes Rating: R
Amazon.com: Simon (James Urbaniak), a shy garbage man, lives with his sister (Parker Posey of Party Girl and Waiting for Guffman, among dozens of other movies) and mother, who both treat him with minimal respect. Into Simon's life comes Henry Fool (Thomas Jay Ryan), a heavy-drinking self-proclaimed great writer who goads Simon into writing an enormous poem. The poem becomes the source of great controversy, proclaimed by some as a great work of art, denounced by others as perverse trash. As Simon's star rises, he tries to draw attention to Henry's work as well, to little avail. Though the premise seems simple, Henry Fool takes on something of an epic sweep as it follows the effects of fame on Simon's and Henry's lives. This rumination on art and inspiration was hailed by some critics as the best film yet by writer-director Hal Hartley (Trust, Simple Men, Amateur), while others felt it brought out his worst self-indulgences. All of Hartley's movies defy easy interpretation, and Henry Fool is no exception. Still, it's a rare film that even tries to tackle such subjects, let alone does so with a combination of intelligence and humor (ranging from verbal quirkiness to scatological embarrassment). Hartley's films, surprisingly enough, feel warmer and more accessible on video; perhaps watching them in one's home makes them seem more intimate and less abstract. --Bret Fetzer
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - One fo the best movies ever!
Brilliant movie, especially for the down and out or for writers, or writers of the down and out. Watch this if you like Jim Jarmusch movies.
This DVD is no frills, just the movie.
Rating: - Weird, but in a good way
Judging from what I have read about this film on IMDb and here, "Henry Fool" is a film that you will either love or hate with a vengeance. I liked it very much, but I can also see how people could hate ... Read More
Rating: - Entertaining, kept my attention all the way through.
Once again Hal Hartley has a very entertaining movie with interesting characters. I think his characters are the strongest parts of his stories. I did like Fay Grimm a little better. I expands on the Henry ... Read More
Rating: - One Line Review
I know people think that Hal Hartley craps gold, but after 2 and half hours of boring, I'd have to disagree.
Rating: - Hal Hartley's Universe
Hartley's 7th film, Henry Fool is a dark comedy that takes place in Queens NY and revolves around the main characters who's personalities seem to fit their names. James Urbaniak plays Simon 'Grim', a timid ... Read More
- One fo the best movies ever!
- One Line Review