Henry Poole Is Here (2008)

Director:

Mark Pellington

Writer (WGA):

Albert Torres (written by)

Release Date:

29 August 2008 (South Africa)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Changing his attitude will take a miracle.

Plot:

Henry Poole moves in to a house in his old neighborhood, to spend what he believes are his remaining days alone. The discovery of a "miracle" by a nosy neighbor ruptures his solitude and restores his faith in life.

Plot Keywords:

Stain | Neighborhood | House | Blood | Nosy Neighbor

Cast

Luke Wilson	...	Henry Poole
Radha Mitchell	...	Dawn
Adriana Barraza	...	Esperanza
George Lopez	...	Father Salazar
Cheryl Hines	...	Meg
Richard Benjamin	...	Dr. Fancher
Morgan Lily	...	Millie Stupek
Rachel Seiferth	...	Patience
Beth Grant	...	Josie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dan Callahan
Earl Carroll	...	Mr. Lawrence
Noah Dahl	...	Young Henry Poole
Nick Dash	...	Security Guard
Gizza Elizondo	...	Cancer Survivor
Elaine Anne Furst	...	Supermarket Shopper
Gloria Garayua	...	Female Worshipper
Molly Hagan	...	Pediatrician
Marcus Maria Jung	...	Mortician
Michelle Krusiec	...	Young Nurse
Stephanie Mace
Kate Mulligan	...	Waitress
Andrew Santino	...	Orderly
Don Smith	...	Supermarket Shopper

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements and some language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #44201) | Finland:K-3 | Netherlands:6 | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

La Mirada, California, USA

Company:

Camelot Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: When Henry and Mrs. Wyatt are talking in the backyard about the lousy stucco job he tells her "it's REALLY just a waste of time", but when Millie is playing back the recording she made of them talking, Henry says "it's KINDA just a waste of time". This shows that Millie's recorded playback was not their original conversation but was prerecorded.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2008-08-16)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Not Dark Yet

I believe in "Henry Poole Is Here."

On a marque crammed with tired summer offerings of over-the-top comedies and action films, I spotted the sweet, small film, "Henry Poole is Here." Like a name sprawled under an aqueduct bridge, it was barely noticeable.

"Henry Poole is Here" is a quiet little film with a big premise. What do you do when you're an atheist and you learn you have six weeks to live? If you're Henry Poole, (Luke Wilson), you buy a house in a neighborhood where nobody knows you, numb yourself with booze, and wait around to die - alone. Henry's plan to fade away unnoticed is disrupted when his neighbor, Esperanza, (Adrianna Barrazza) starts worshiping a water-stained image of Christ she sees on his stucco wall.

To make matters worse, Esperanza is moved to share this miracle with her church and friends. A silent little girl tape records Henry's pleas to be left alone. But Henry never gets his wish. The little girl and her luminescent mother (Radha Mitchell) enter his life to show him that we are all here for a reason. In fact, the whole neighborhood is there for him - whether he likes it or not.

The director, Mark Pellington, leaves it for us to decide whether we believe it's a miracle or not. At first, we don't even get to see what Esperanza is looking at. Later, we see the stain, but the face is kind of illusive - sometimes it's there, sometimes it's not. The film doesn't tell you what to believe. But it shows the strength in believing and especially our belief in others.

Hopefully, this film doesn't fade away unnoticed amidst the jungle of summer releases. Hopefully, it finds a community that believes in it. This is a movie about hope, after all. I, for one, believe.

Movie blessings! Jana Segal reelinspiration dot blogspot dot com