Review of film: “LAST CHANCE CHARLIE”

2010, 02-12:

Review of film:  “LAST CHANCE CHARLIE”

Director:

Joel Hopkins

Writer:

Joel Hopkins

Starring:

Dustin Hoffman

Emma Thompson

Eileen Atkins

Kathy Baker

Liane Balaban

James Brolin           

Richard Schiff

Tim Howar

Wendy Mae Brown

Bronagh Gallagher

Jeremy Sheffield

Daniel Lapaine

Patrick Baladi

Adam James           

Michael Landes

MPAA Rating:

PG-13 for brief strong language.

Quotes:

“Enjoy.”

“They don’t need to see you.”

“Watch your back.”

“It looks like we’ve been set-up.”

“I’m afraid you’re going to embarrass yourself.”

“You were lots of fun.”

“Go a little easy.”

“Should I take that as a ‘hopeful’ sign?”

“Thanks for coming back, Dad.”

“You’re a bit older again.”

“I expected you NOT to show.”

“Mum, I love you--  but not now!”

MY Rating:

8.0 of 10 stars (based on a DVD of the 93–minute film projected at a local library)

Will “Harvey” Truly SHINE?…

Harvey Shine (DUSTIN HOFFMAN) always wanted to be a jazz pianist.  But, for various reasons, that didn’t work out as he wanted, & the “closest” he could get to that was becoming the writer of musical JINGLES for advertisements.  It provided him with money, but not real job satisfaction…

…  As the film starts, things are growing increasingly uncomfortable for Dustin:  his bosses including Marvin (RICHARD SCHIFF?) say that his assistant is all that’s needed to do a presentation of a planned jingle program to a long-time client, & make clear that his position with them is increasingly “SHAKY”… 

…  Dustin is urged to go forward with his planned trip to LONDON for the wedding of his daughter, & he does that reluctantly--  saying he wants to be at the presentation HIMSELF…  On the plane, he’s talkative, and not much “appreciated” by a seat-mate…

…  The scene switches to London, where a middle-aged woman named Kate Walker (EMMA THOMPSON) comes to visit her mother Maggie (EILEEN ATKINS) who’s gotten over a cancer problem & is clearly in need of having Emma around regularly.  Her mom seems sort of a worry-wart, & points out the new neighbor guy outside who’s seemingly come from Poland to live there…

…  Emma soon is seen at work at Heathrow Airport, where she does surveys for a governmental agency of people who go thru the airport.  She tries to ask DUSTIN her questions as he goes by, but he doesn’t want to be bothered with that & hurries to go to the hotel set up for him…

…  At the hotel, Dustin is surprised & deeply disappointed to learn that he’s the ONLY one in the wedding party who’s staying there:  the others are staying together at a house near his daughter & her husband-to-be who’s also an American who chanced to be working in the country…

…  Meanwhile, a co-worker friend Oonagh (BRONAGH GALLAGHER) has gotten Emma to reluctantly join her in going out, for what amounts to a “BLIND date” for Emma.  She’s upset when she sees that the guy invited for her, Simon (PATRICK BALADI), is considerably younger than she is, & they don’t seem to have much in “common” with each other... 

…  Her mother keeps interrupting the evening by calling her cell phone for no good reason, & during her excusing herself to answer one of them, her date starts talking to OTHER people (which leaves Emma feeling like a “5^th wheel”)…

…  Dustin takes a cab to the pre-wedding gathering (despite a problem with his suit).  Altho the groom Scott (DANIEL LAPAINE) is nice to him, when he finally meets his daughter Susan (LIANE BALABAN), they’re obviously extremely “ESTRANGED”, because neither she (nor Dustin) make any effort to kiss or even hug each other…

…  Dustin has made numerous calls back to the States to try to get himself more “involved” in the upcoming presentation, & he keeps getting interrupted by return calls.  He’s sort of happy for the interruptions, because he’s in a poor mood there & still in sort of a “snippy” mood when meeting his EX-wife (Susan’s mother) Jean (KATHY BAKER), & ill-at-ease around her new husband Brian (JAMES BROLIN) who’s long been step-dad to Susan…

…  After answering a call in a side area, when Dustin returns to the table, he finds his daughter has MOVED his seat to the far end of the table, away from the “main” people, supposedly so he can more easily handle his “calls”…  That makes him feel even more “out-of-place” & unwelcome there, & the various “toasts” for the new couple do not go comfortably…

…  Dustin doesn’t feel really “welcome” at the event, & grows increasingly worried about his work.  Susan at one point advises him that, since she’s spent so many years with Brolin as her “dad”, she’s (suddenly) decided to have HIM rather than Dustin “give her away” as originally planned…

…  Hurt by that, Dustin says, he’s decided to return EARLY to New York, &, while he’ll be at the wedding ceremony, he will NOT attend the subsequent reception since he “needs” to return home for work…

…  Dustin leaves the gathering, & just misses meeting Emma at a cab…  When he goes to the airport to try to arrange for a flight home, he runs late & FAILS to get what he wants, & has to stay in town longer…  When talking to his boss, he’s told he’s simply not really NEEDED back at work, &, eventually, is bluntly told about his job with them that, “it’s OVER”…

…  Upset, he goes to a bar & starts drinking heavily…  There, he finally chances to meet EMMA.  He comes across badly to her initially (making fun of her reading a book).  Little-by-little, they start to talk, & he complains about what a MISERABLE day he’s had, explaining all that had gone wrong… 

…  As usual, her “MUM” calls her over & over, & she eventually starts to ignore the ringing…  In time, Dustin relates to her that he writes “jingles”, & wanted to be a professional pianist…  She tells a little about herself, & he practices having a “stiff upper lip”… 

…  Eventually, Emma tries to excuse herself to go to a CLASS she takes about writing.  To her surprise, he wants to come ALONG with her.  She’s reluctant to do that, but he follows her onto the train to there & waits for her hour-long class to be over… 

…  Once they’re back together, typically, Emma’s mother calls her--  worried that the Polish neighbor guy may be trying to move a “body” somewhere.  Emma explains to Dustin how her mom’s a worrier & a “distraction”, & she’s sort of made that her “hobby” in life…  When she asks him, “What HAPPENED between you & your daughter?”, he says, “I don’t KNOW…”

…  Emma said, she herself would like to have a “cabana” in her future.  Regarding himself, Dustin said his wife & daughter seemed to be “embarrassed by me”, & admits that, “I was NOT a great father…”   She encourages him to GO to the daughter’s post-wedding reception, in hopes that might “smooth over” things a bit between them…

…  Dustin is hesitant to go alone, & invites Emma to come WITH him to it.  She needs a dress for that unexpected situation, & they go out & buy her one…  They then GO to the Reception (after he attends the ceremony, where he sits in the far rear of the church)…  The Best Man speaks of how the groom was a “Chicago man” originally…

…  When he tries to turn the next speech over to “the FATHER of the bride” & gestures for James Brolin to get up, Dustin SPEAKS UP to the crowd & reminds it that HE’s the actual father…  He then provides a sincere & serious speech that TOUCHES everyone in the crowd, speaking of how he “learned” from a “FAILED marriage” how it’s the CHILDREN who suffer from such a thing…

…  Dustin’s words make his daughter behave more warmly towards him, & he dances with her & some of the other women--  while he unwisely leaves Emma all alone, causing her to start to leave…  He notices that “just in time”, & goes after her…  They have a nice time by a fountain, & make plans to get together the next afternoon…

…  Will Dustin actually MEET her as planned?  If not, why not--  & will he be able to “recover” from whatever situation arises?…  What will happen in his WORK circumstances?… 

…  Will Mum keep being obsessed with the Polish neighbor man? (-- Be sure to stay thru the CREDITS to see a little “add-in” scene about that latter matter!)…

…  This is an unusually WELL-ACTED film, which will remind you of just how GOOD Dustin could be in lead roles… 

…  It has a fine sensitivity and inherent “realness” (about looking for love as people get older) & a genuine charm to it, & getting the DVD will in part “make-up” for how it was usually “overlooked” by the general movie-going public…

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