IMDb > Duane Hopwood (2005)
Duane Hopwood
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Duane Hopwood (2005) More at IMDbPro »

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Duane Hopwood (2005) -- A down-on-his-luck divorced father struggles to get his life and family back together before it's too late.
Duane Hopwood (2005) -- MoviesTrailer.org - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   1,502 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Matt Mulhern (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Duane Hopwood on IMDbPro.
Genre:
Tagline:
When the odds are against you, your best bet is a second chance...
Plot:
A down-on-his-luck divorced father struggles to get his life and family back together before it's too late. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
1 win more
NewsDesk:
Judah Friedlander Keeps Truckin'
 (From IFC. 1 July 2009, 9:02 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Shows you life's little rainbows over the puddles of rain more (34 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Daisy Ang ... Frank

Bill Buell ... Wally
Dick Cavett ... Fred

Rachel Covey ... Kate
Mia Dillon ... Female Judge
Marty Dunn ... Beefy Bartender

Josh Flitter ... Jake

Judah Friedlander ... Anthony
Jim Fyfe ... Linda's Lawyer

Janeane Garofalo ... Linda

Jerry Grayson ... Carl
Joan Griffith ... Mrs. Wakely

Chance Kelly ... Tommy

John Krasinski ... Bob Flynn
Susan Lynch ... Gina
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for language.
Runtime:
84 min (Sundance Film Festival)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Filming took only 21 days, and was shot entirely in Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, Longport and Ocean City, New Jersey. more
Movie Connections:
References Alien (1979) more
Soundtrack:
ON YOUR SIDE more

FAQ

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful.
Shows you life's little rainbows over the puddles of rain, 2 April 2007
8/10
Author: movedout from http://thescreenbug.blogspot.com

There's a certain tenderness that sifts its way through "Duane Hopwood", a post-Friends starring vehicle for David Schwimmer that navigates the tentative dialogue between alcoholism and the dark cloud that hangs not just above the individual, but those who surround themselves around the afflicted throughout their darkest days. Take comfort in them, as they are the saints who prop you up when you're down and show you life's little rainbows over the puddles of rain.

There's considerable sincerity in Matt Mulhern's second feature and credit has to go to its cadre of performers who are mainly made up of fairly well known stand-ups and comedians. They shed their onstage personas to become real people and it shows that the understanding they share also allows these actors to have better chemistry among themselves. Schwimmer, in particular, breaks his personal mould and gives a nuanced, careful portrayal of a man teetering on life's edge. His perpetual hangdog exterior allows Duane some measure of sympathy even through the most appalling decisions that he has made.

In one astoundingly bad decision, he drives his youngest child home while drunk and in the process loses the only things that has tethered his life together in an uncaring courtroom that does not deal in circumstances but the cold, hard facts of Duane's unforgivable mistake. That instance proves too much for his wife, Linda (Janeane Garofalo) to handle. She's not an uncaring woman in any respect, just a mother who does not gamble the lives of their two young daughters with the hope of her husband changing anytime soon.

"Duane Hopwood" does not make a caricature out of its titular character, and it does not pile on the disheartening melodrama out of alcoholism. While not concerning us with the issues of why and how Duane becomes who he is, it does specify that it's a whole different world for alcoholics especially the ones deep in denial. It truly excels in crafting a delicate and carefully drawn portrait of an alcoholic who's made mistakes in his life and has to find a way to live through them. Understanding in only a way that comes to those who observe life through fortitude, it's genuine in the sense of showing ordinary people in ordinary situations who react in ordinary ways. They cope and the film is thoughtful enough to refrain from putting cinematic spins on issues that are already inherently interesting.

Thankfully, it's mindful of not becoming too much of a downbeat, despairing approximation of Duane's life. Despite everything, he is surrounded by friends and family who still love and yearns for him to be happy. They never forget that he is a good worker, a good father and a good husband cursed with flaws that are slowly taking him over. It's frequent, but low-key sense of humour does hint of the redemption that waits around the corner for the wretched. "Duane Hopwood" is ultimately about picking up the pieces and moving on, and not about fixing what's broken.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Duane Hopwood (2005)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
One of the best endings! Inkolani
Duane didn't deserve to lose his kids xdayton
Really good, but it should have ended with MPFourEedz
It Hits Home CKlubStriP
Poorly written, manipulative tripe, in my opinion Aissez
Cavett + Buell Characters a couple? civildiscussion7
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