Henry Fool (1997)

Socially inept garbage man Simon is befriended by Henry Fool, a witty roguish, but talent-less novelist. Henry opens a magical world of literature to Simon who turns his hand to writing the... See full summary »

Director:

Hal Hartley

Stars:

Thomas Jay Ryan, James Urbaniak, Parker Posey

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Thomas Jay Ryan	...	Henry Fool
James Urbaniak	...	Simon Grim
Parker Posey	...	Fay Grim
Maria Porter	...	Mary
James Saito	...	Mr. Deng
Kevin Corrigan	...	Warren
Liam Aiken	...	Ned
Miho Nikaido	...	Gnoc Deng
Gene Ruffini	...	Officer Buñuel
Nicholas Hope	...	Father Hawkes
Diana Ruppe	...	Amy
Veanne Cox	...	Laura
Jan Leslie Harding	...	Vicky
Chaylee Worrall	...	Pearl (age 7)
Christy Romano	...	Pearl - Age 14

Storyline

Socially inept garbage man Simon is befriended by Henry Fool, a witty roguish, but talent-less novelist. Henry opens a magical world of literature to Simon who turns his hand to writing the 'great American poem'. As Simon begins his controversial ascent to the dizzying heights of Nobel Prize winning poet, Henry sinks to a life of drinking in low-life bars. The two friends fall out and lose touch until Henry's criminal past catches up with him and he needs Simon's help to flee the country.

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Plot Keywords:

poem | poet | drinking | nobel prize | basement apartment | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures Classics

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 June 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

As Confissões de Henry Fool

Filming Locations:

Elmhurst Hospital, Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$40,939 (USA) (19 June 1998)

Gross:

$1,334,786 (USA) (6 November 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shooting Gallery, True Fiction Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

137 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[reading porn magazines]
Henry Fool: I learn so much from these magazines Mr. Dang, and I refuse to discriminate between modes of knowing.

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Crazy Credits

Grip Dog - Edie

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Connections

Followed by Fay Grim (2006)

User Reviews

Imperfect (of course) but extremely worthy

I rented and watched "Henry Fool" last night and spent much of this evening tracking down reviews of this extraordinary film. I'm surprised that none of them invoked Dickens, or at least John Irving.

There's a constancy in Hartley films: beautiful photography, disciplined design, and (usually) extraordinarily attractive actors who mouth almost excruciatingly gassy dialogue in a deadpan style that seems to serve as ballast. "Henry Fool" is no different. But this film delves so deeply and sympathetically into the Big Issues -- love, obligation, and most of all ART -- that it delivers a wallop that reminds me of how I felt at the end of Irving's "Owen Meany". And I mean that as a high compliment.

"Henry Fool" is imperfect, at moments even ridiculous, but you just might be changed by it. Not bad for a movie.