Last Chance Harvey (2008)

Director:

Joel Hopkins

Writer:

Joel Hopkins (written by)

Release Date:

16 January 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

It's about first loves, last chances and everything in between.

Plot:

In London for his daughter's wedding, a rumpled man finds his romantic spirits lifted by a new woman in his life.

Plot Keywords:

Wedding | Shopping Montage | Father Daughter Relationship | Dating | Neighbor

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes.

Cast

Dustin Hoffman	...	Harvey Shine
Emma Thompson	...	Kate Walker
Eileen Atkins	...	Maggie
Kathy Baker	...	Jean
Liane Balaban	...	Susan
James Brolin	...	Brian
Richard Schiff	...	Marvin
Tim Howar	...	Johnnie (as Timothy Howar)
Wendy Mae Brown	...	Aggie
Bronagh Gallagher	...	Oonagh
Jeremy Sheffield	...	Matt
Daniel Lapaine	...	Scott (as Daniel LaPaine)
Patrick Baladi	...	Simon
Adam James	...	Josh Hillman
Michael Landes	...	Peter Turner
Jamie Sives	...	Doctor Butler
Kate Harper	...	Jill
Angela Griffin	...	Melissa
Alex Avery	...	Andrew
Tim Ahern	...	Barry
Charlotte Lucas	...	Gwen
Nadia Cameron-Blakey	...	Attractive Woman
Lauren Dennington	...	Airline Stewardess
Figs Jackman	...	Barman
Adam Astill	...	Business Man
Rhydian Jones	...	Check-In Steward 1
Andrea Harris	...	Check-In Steward 2
Vincent Brimble	...	Concierge
Paul Haley	...	Elderly Man
Gaia Wise	...	Girl at Wedding
Amy Younger	...	Girl at Wedding
Leslie Randall	...	Mild Mannered Mike
Imogen Byron	...	Niece at Wedding
Ginny Holder	...	Nurse
Pascal Scott	...	Paddy the Postman
Robert Jezek	...	Polish Neighbor
Heather Bleasdale	...	Receptionist
Femi Oguns	...	Room Service Waiter
Noah Marullo	...	Silent Boy
Mark Kempner	...	Taxi Cab Driver
Nick Cavaliere	...	Waiter Reception
Mickey Sumner	...	Friend of the Bride
Kitty Daisy & Lewis	...	Buskers
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tolula Adeyemi	...	Monique the Jazz Singer (uncredited)
Debbie Attwell	...	Shopper (uncredited)
Jemma Bolt	...	Sarah (uncredited)
James Currie	...	Cyclist (uncredited)
Tim Glanfield	...	Charming Man (uncredited)
Joanna Jeffrees	...	Girl at Theatre (uncredited)
Masato Kamo	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Sid Karne	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Javed Khan	...	Bar Cleaner (uncredited)
Tracy Redington	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Ian Stacey	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Gill Stoker	...	Woman in Airport (uncredited)
Chris Wilson	...	Airport Police Officer (uncredited)

Directed by
Joel Hopkins

Writing credits
Joel Hopkins		(written by)

Produced by
Robert Kessel	....	production executive
Jawal Nga	....	executive producer
Tim Perell	....	producer
Guy Tannahill	....	line producer
Nicola Usborne	....	producer

Original Music by
Dickon Hinchliffe

Cinematography by
John de Borman

Film Editing by
Robin Sales

Casting by
Ali Farrell
Elaine Grainger
Laura Rosenthal

Production Design by
Jon Henson

Art Direction by
Suzanne Austin
Patrick Rolfe		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Robert Wischhusen-Hayes

Costume Design by
Natalie Ward

Makeup Department
Francesco Alberico	....	makeup artist
Tricia Cameron	....	makeup and hair artist: Ms. Thompson (as Patricia Cameron)
Julie Dartnell	....	makeup artist
Daniel Erdman	....	hair stylist: Mr. Hoffman
Marilyn MacDonald	....	key hair stylist
Marilyn MacDonald	....	key makeup artist
Valli O'Reilly	....	makeup artist: Mr. Hoffman

Production Management
Kelly Howard-Garde	....	production manager
Michael Solinger	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jonny Benson	....	first assistant director: second unit
Samson Haveland	....	third assistant director (as Sam Haveland)
Sarah Hood	....	third assistant director: second unit
Henry Mackintosh	....	floor assistant director
Kate McLaughlin	....	second assistant director: crowd
Matthew Penry-Davey	....	first assistant director
Lance Roehrig	....	key second assistant director
Carly Taverner	....	third assistant director: additional photography
George Taylor	....	floor assistant director

Art Department
Caroline Barclay	....	stand-by art director
Bruce Barnes	....	carpenter
Jon Bates	....	stand-by props
Simon Bradbury Philip	....	stand-by: second unit
James Brooker	....	dressing props
Gareth Cousins	....	assistant art director
Dan Crandon	....	construction manager
Quentin Davies	....	prop storeman
Peter Davis	....	senior supervising painter
Peter Edge	....	stand-by painter
Bruce Gallup	....	hod painter
Nadine Herrmann	....	art department assistant
Prue Howard	....	assistant buyer
Ben Johnson	....	stand-by prop
Mark Larkin	....	graphic designer
Garry Moore	....	stand-by carpenter
Claire Pidgeon	....	production buyer
Nick Thomas	....	property master
Libby Uppington	....	dressing prop

Sound Department
Mark Appleby	....	adr recordist
Tim Atkins	....	adr recordist
Courtney Bishop	....	adr recordist
Simon Chase	....	dialogue adr editor
Lloyd Dudley	....	sound assistant
Peter Eusebe	....	sound maintenance
Nick Foley	....	adr recordist
Richard Fordham	....	dialogue editor
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer
Paul Hanks	....	foley artist
Mark Holding	....	sound mixer
Simon Jones	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eddy Joseph	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Mark Paterson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kevin Penney	....	additional foley editor
Mike Prestwood Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Colin Ritchie	....	dialogue editor
Jamie Roden	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris Sturmer	....	sound consultant: dolby
Oliver Tarney	....	supervising sound editor
Ceri Thomas	....	assistant sound editor
Andy Thompson	....	adr mixer
Simon Trundle	....	foley mixer
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist
Dillon Bennett	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Peter Staubli	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Alistair Anderson	....	special effects technician
Neal Champion	....	special effects supervisor
Bernard Newton	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Charlotte Gray	....	digital restoration
Jonathan Hanton	....	digital restoration

Stunts
Sid Karne	....	stunt player

Camera and Electrical Department
Jonathan Ames	....	video assistant
David Armstrong	....	grip: dailies
Chris Bailey	....	practical electrician
Lawrence Bewsher	....	video operator: additional photography
Carl Campbell	....	electrician
Luke Chisholm	....	grip: re-shoots
Wailoon Chung	....	electrician extra
Richard Churchhouse	....	electrician
Malcolm Cooper	....	camera truck driver
James Cronly	....	video assistant: pick-ups
David Cross	....	key grip
Paul Edwards	....	Steadicam operator: additional photography
Conor Finlay	....	lighting technician
Max Glickman	....	second assistant camera
Leigh Gold	....	a camera: first assistant
Merritt Gold	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Eugene Grobler	....	lighting technician
Rodrigo Gutierrez	....	additional photographer
Mark Hanlon	....	best boy
David Holliday	....	key grip: re-shoots
Paul Hymns	....	grip: "b" camera
Adam Lee	....	balloon light technician
Dash Lilley	....	camera trainee
Andy Long	....	gaffer
Brian Mcgivern	....	generator operator
James Perry	....	central loader
Laurie Sparham	....	still photographer
Zoe Whittaker	....	video operator

Casting Department
Brendan Donnison	....	voice casting
Ali Farrell	....	casting: USA
Maribeth Fox	....	casting associate
Kate Ringsell	....	casting associate
Laura Rosenthal	....	casting: USA

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Annette Allen	....	set costume assistant
Peter Edmonds	....	costume assistant
Tom Hornsby	....	wardrobe master
Gilly Martin	....	wardrobe supervisor
Steve O'Sullivan	....	set costumer
Tamsin Wright	....	personal dresser: Mr. Hoffman
Lucilla Simbari	....	costume assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Matthew Benns	....	digital intermediate data manager
Paul Ensby	....	digital color timer
Todd Kleparski	....	digital intermediate producer
Jonathan Sales	....	first assistant editor
Dominic Thomson	....	digital editor
Nick Moore	....	additional editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Hal Cazalet	....	piano consultant
Gary Chester	....	score recording engineer
Michael Hill	....	music supervisor
Dickon Hinchliffe	....	orchestrator
Adam Klemens	....	conductor
Petr Pycha	....	orchestra contractor
Nigel Stone	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Julian Anthony	....	unit driver
Gavin Ball	....	minibus driver
Gwyn Ethall	....	minibus driver
Barry Goodwin	....	unit driver
Tony Jayes	....	driver: dustin hoffman
Pete Newman	....	unit driver
Lol Smith	....	driver: cast
Piotr Walczak	....	transport facilities manager: reshoot

Other crew
Chris Allies	....	title designer
Libbie Barr	....	script supervisor
Francesca Budd	....	assistant: Mr. Hopkins
Fiona Carruthers	....	assistant: Ms. Usborne & Mr. Perell
Peter Clark	....	first assistant accountant
Celine Coulson	....	floor runner
Lauren Dark	....	floor runner
Andrew Gwyn Davies	....	production coordinator
Glenn Diot	....	assistant production coordinator
Richard George	....	assistant location manager
Marilyn Goldsworthy	....	production accountant
Paul Hayes	....	floor runner: dailies
Will Haynes	....	production assistant: additional photography
Lisa Heathcote	....	food stylist
Phil Hounam	....	location manager
Tom Howard	....	location manager
Viv Irish	....	assistant: Ms. Thompson
Carlton Jarvis	....	medical advisor
Stacy Mann	....	unit publicist
Natalie Moore	....	assistant accountant
Tom Routledge	....	medical consultant
Matthew Shapiro	....	assistant: Mr. Perell, New York
Rory Shaw	....	assistant: Mr. Hoffman
Charlie Somers	....	supervising location manager
Kate Penlington	....	post production co-ordinator (uncredited)

Thanks
Stephanie Allin	....	the producers wish to thank
Alison Simmons	....	the producers wish to thank: The Grosvenor House
Jenny Tobin	....	the producers wish to thank
Jim Todd	....	the producers wish to thank

Production Companies

• Overture Films
• Process Productions

Distributors

• Alliance (2008) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2009) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Entertainment (2009) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Entertainment (2099) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Klock Worx Company, The (2010) (Japan) (theatrical)
• La Fabrique de Films (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures (2009) (UK) (theatrical)
• Noble Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Overture Films (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Alliance (2009) (Canada) (DVD)
• Amero PT (2009) (Indonesia) (all media)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2009) (Switzerland) (all media)
• BIM Distribuzione (2009) (Italy) (all media)
• Concorde Filmverleih (2009) (Germany) (all media)
• Eastern European Acquisition Pool (EEAP) (2009) (Bulgaria) (all media)
• Eastern European Acquisition Pool (EEAP) (2009) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• Eastern European Acquisition Pool (EEAP) (2009) (Hungary) (all media)
• Eastern European Acquisition Pool (EEAP) (2009) (Lithuania) (all media)
• Eastern European Acquisition Pool (EEAP) (2009) (Poland) (all media)
• Eastern European Acquisition Pool (EEAP) (2009) (Romania) (all media)
• Eastern European Acquisition Pool (EEAP) (2009) (Slovakia) (all media)
• Future Film (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• Gulf Film (2009) (Saudi Arabia) (all media)
• Gussi Films (2009) (Chile) (all media)
• Gussi Films (2009) (Colombia) (all media)
• Gussi Films (2009) (Mexico) (all media)
• Imagem Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (all media)
• Lusomundo (2009) (Portugal) (all media)
• Midget Entertainment (2009) (Denmark) (all media)
• Momentum Pictures (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Myndform (2009) (Iceland) (all media)
• Odeon (2009) (Greece) (DVD)
• Overture Films (2009) (Canada) (all media)
• Pacific Marketing & Entertainment (2009) (Thailand) (all media)
• R Film (2009) (Turkey) (all media)
• RCV Film Distribution (2009) (Belgium) (all media)
• RCV Film Distribution (2009) (Luxembourg) (all media)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• United King Films (2009) (Israel) (all media)
• WEG (2009) (India) (all media)
• Wide Pictures (2009) (Spain) (all media)

Other Companies

• Access Bookings  accommodation
• Act One Script Clearance  script research
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies/mobiles
• CNSO Studios  recording studio
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Gallagher Entertainment  insurance
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  additional Pro Tools Systems Supplied by
• Goldcrest Post Production London  sound post-production
• HireWorks  editing equipment
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Lightworks  edited on
• Media Services  stationery supplier
• Mediscene  medical equipment
• Movie Lot, The  security
• PMA Production  epk services
• Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, The  orchestra
• Soundelux  sound post-production
• Technicolor  release printing
• Tenon Media  UK audit and accountancy
• Translux  facilities and trucks
• Translux  facilities

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44804) | Australia:PG | Singapore:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Netherlands:AL | Finland:S | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Mexico:A | Ireland:12A | Sweden:Btl | Argentina:Atp | Brazil:12 | Japan:G | South Korea:12

Filming Locations:

Belsize Park, London, England, UK

Company:

Overture Films

Trivia:

At the wedding banquet, the girl who speaks to Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson ("You do know this is the children's table?"), is played by Gaia Wise, Emma Thompson's daughter. Director Joel Hopkins's daughter is also seated at the table.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Kate leaves the wedding and is standing in front of the elevator, there are 2 rooms between the elevator and the room Harvey goes into to play the piano. When he starts to play, the camera picks up a shot of her peeking into the room where Harvey is playing while she is still standing at the elevator. This is impossible at the room Harvey goes into is clearly down the hall from the elevator, not the room next to the elevator.

Quotes:

Kate Walker:You - You just dive in there, don't you just, whoosh, anywhere, deep end. And I'm not, I'm not a bloody swimming pool Harvey.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Angela and Friends: Episode #1.14" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Hi Ching

Excellent Performances

Last Chance Harvey (2008)

**** (out of 4)

Dustin Hoffman plays Harvey Shine, a man on his way to London for his daughter's wedding but at home facing problems with his job. When he lands in London he learns that his daughter doesn't want him walking her down the aisle. Hurt, he goes to the airport bar where he meets a woman (Emma Thompson) also facing her own share of problems. The two hit it off and head out for the night hoping they can find comfort in each other. I wasn't sure what to expect walking into this movie but it was certainly very worthwhile and I must admit that this was one of the most memorable movies of 2008. The movie isn't brilliant but I don't think it was trying to be. The movie doesn't have a lot to say about relationships nor is it trying to be deep or thoughtful. The movie just tries to be entertaining and lets two great actors do their thing and the end result is something very moving, touching and at times funny. I was really surprised at how depressing the movie was but the screenplay allows both characters, and for that matter the viewer, to hit rock bottom in depression because the eventual climb up. I give screenwriter/director Hopkins a lot of credit for trying to stay as real as possible without trying to go over the top with any of its subject matter. To me the film felt very real and that's hard to find these days especially for a romantic comedy. Hoffman, one of our greatest character actors, does a masterful job here and really turns in his most memorable performance in several years. It was so much pleasure seeing Hoffman work this character because of the charm and pain he brings to the role. I've always found Hoffman to be a great comic actor and working with charm is a strong suit for him and that's on full display here. That smile of his mixed with his swooning ways were great to watch and he really nails it. The depressing scenes are brilliantly done as well with Hoffman replying a lot on facial gestures and not words. Many of these depressing scenes are done without words so Hoffman must rely on other emotions. Thompson is just as good and keeps up with Hoffman making the two the perfect couple that you really want to see together. Thompson's issues in the film are a lot different than Hoffman's but she too is able to be charming, funny and sad as well. Kathy Baker, James Brolin and Richard Schiff are all very good in their supporting roles. Again, this is the type of film that just lets the actors do their thing and to me it really comes off excellent in the end. I didn't like what happened to Hoffman's character towards the end as I felt the movie should have ended the scene earlier but this is just a minor issue. Seeing Hoffman and Thompson work their magic was great fun even though the more depressing scenes. It's a shame to see this movie not doing so well at the box office but it's true people enjoy more lightweight stuff. Oh well, as it's really their loss.