Jack Goes Boating (2010)

A limo driver's blind date sparks a tale of love, betrayal, friendship, and grace centered around two working-class New York City couples.

Director:

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Writers:

Robert Glaudini (screenplay) (as Bob Glaudini), Robert Glaudini (play) (as Bob Glaudini)

Stars:

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Ryan, John Ortiz

1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Jack
John Ortiz	...	Clyde
Richard Petrocelli	...	Uncle Frank
Tom McCarthy	...	Dr. Bob Thomas
Amy Ryan	...	Connie
Daphne Rubin-Vega	...	Lucy
Lola Glaudini	...	Italian Woman
Rafael Osorio	...	Ungainly Swimmer (as Ralph Osorio)
Stephen Adly Guirgis	...	MTA Worker
Mason Pettit	...	Drunk Man on Subway
Trevor Long	...	Waldorf Doorman
Stephen Mailer	...	Happy Husband
Elizabeth Rainer	...	Happy Wife
Theodore Mailer	...	Young Son
Count Stovall	...	Men's Room Attendant

Storyline

Jack is a shy and awkward man who drives a limo and lives an unassuming life. His friend and co-worker, Clyde, and his wife Lucy, feel sorry for Jack and set him up on a blind date with Connie. Connie shares Jack's shyness and awkwardness, but through each other they seem to be able to find solace within themselves. Trouble might be brewing in paradise though, as Clyde and Lucy's marriage stumbles just as Jack and Connie's relationship grows.

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Plot Keywords:

new york city | virgin | marriage problems | copping a feel | father daughter relationship | 

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Taglines:

In love you either sink or swim

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, drug use and some sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site (UK)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 December 2010 (France)

Also Known As:

Jack & Connie

Filming Locations:

Clinton Diner, Maspeth, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$28,916, 19 September 2010, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$538,808, 12 December 2010

Company Credits

Production Co:

Big Beach Films, Cooper's Town Productions, Labyrinth Theater Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Philip Seymour Hoffman reprises the role he originated on stage.

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Quotes

Connie: I even imagined it with you.
Jack: That's... yeah.
Connie: In a bathtub, I imagined I was with you.
Jack: You took a bath?
Connie: No, I was in a bathtub imagining it was a pitch black night. We were in a bed in a spaceship flying through superspace.
Jack: That... that's a long way off... space travel for tourists.

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Connections

Featured in Richard Roeper & the Movies: Jack Goes Boating (2010)

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Soundtracks

Rivers Of Babylon
Written by Brent Dowe & Trevor McNaughton (as James A. McNaughton)
Performed by The Melodians
Courtesy of Universal Music Group

User Reviews

Not bad for a first time effort. Not bad at all.

"You've never been in a relationship for any length of time. A lot happens."

Jack Goes Boating is a raw, hard to categorize directorial debut for Philip Seymour Hoffman, adapted from the play of the same title. 

I guess if I had to assign it a genre, it would be indie drama. The story follows the hesitantly blossoming relationship between Jack (Hoffman) and Connie (Amy Ryan), and the rocky, established relationship of their friends Clyde (John Ortiz) and Lucy (Daphne Rubin-Vega). 

Jack Goes Boating reminded me of Two Lovers in some ways. It involves flawed people making decisions that aren't always the wisest ones, and dealing with things in their past that make their current relationships more difficult. 

Don't expect this to be romantic or cutesy, it attempts to go for the "realistic" angle, with all the problems and realities that come with real adult relationships. That's derailed a bit by the occasionally awkward dialogue and characters that aren't really as fleshed out as they needed to be. We don't get much of a sense of who they used to be or what their past was like, and that would have added to the movie immensely. It's somewhat difficult to put into context the characters as they are now, without that information.  

Still, I think this was a pretty decent debut from Hoffman. He's clearly in the process of learning what works from the other side of the camera, and it's puzzling why they didn't adjust the odd, romance novel-like dialogue in some places, but overall, Jack Goes Boating hints at a promising future. There are some poignant moments that really stuck out, to me. Fans of Hoffman and Ryan (count me as both) should check it out.