Hearts in Atlantis is a movie with a lot of heart . . .
I was immediately drawn into the characters in this adaptation of Stephen King's novel Hearts in Atlantis. Although the film most certainly didn't do the book the justice it deserves, it was a fabulously told story of the loss of childhood innocence and the existence of both bad and good in the same people.
While it is very easy to blame Bobby's (Anton Yelchin) mother (Hope Davis) for all of the bad that ends up happening in this film, I couldn't help but feel badly for her. I mean she is a single mom in the fifties when being a single mom was not very prevalent and she had to deal with some pretty bad people in her own right. I couldn't help but wonder, even through my reading of the book, if her vile words toward her dead husband weren't just her way of dealing with the fact that she was now all alone in the world to raise a young boy on her own.
I suppose that is neither here nor there for the true meat of the story has to do with the man who moved in upstairs that summer, Ted Brautigan (Anthony Hopkins). He and Bobby almost immediately form a bond and Ted makes a deal with Bobby to pay him one cool dollar a week for his services reading him the daily news and keeping an eye out for "low men". Who or what are low men you ask? Well that's hard to say. Are they people of another world sent here to capture Brautigan - or are they FBI agents who are trying to capture Brautigan for governmental spying? To me it was a question that was left a little open ended by the film.
Another big storyline in the movie was the friendship between Bobby and Carol Gerber (Mika Boorem). A friendship that slowly moved through a lazy summer and wound up with "the kiss by which all others will be measured". It was sweet really. And it is her death that ultimately brings Bobby back to the old neighborhood and floods back all those old memories.
Not really a horror film, but a bit on the supernatural side. There are no blood and guts in this one kiddies, but it was certainly both entertaining and endearing.
Hearts in Atlantis Movie Cast and Credits
Directed by
Scott Hicks
Writing credits
Stephen King (book)
William Goldman (screenplay)
Cast (in credits order)
Anthony Hopkins .... Ted Brautigan
Anton Yelchin .... Bobby Garfield
Hope Davis .... Elizabeth Garfield
Mika Boorem .... Carol Gerber
David Morse .... Adult Bobby Garfield
Alan Tudyk .... Monte Man
Tom Bower .... Len Files
Celia Weston .... Alana Files
Adam LeFevre .... Don Biderman
Will Rothhaar .... John Sullivan
Timothy Reifsnyder .... Harry Doolin (as Timmy Reifsnyder)
Deirdre O'Connell .... Mrs. Gerber
Terry Beaver .... Mr. Oliver
Joe T. Blankenship .... Richie O'Rourke
Brett Fleisher .... Willie Shearman
Joel F. Haberli .... Sully's Dad
Evan Moses .... Sully's Little Brother
Joshua Billings .... Cabbie
Valerie Karasek .... Sully's Widow
Graham Bardsley .... Minister
Keith Beyer .... Soldier at Funeral (as Keith H. Beyer)
Sean Edwards .... Soldier at Funeral
Robert V. Maine .... Soldier at Funeral
Mickey Leon McBride .... Soldier at Funeral
Wes Johnson .... Sports Announcer (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bourke Floyd .... Low Man
Jamie Watson .... Low Man
Eric Eggen .... Coast Guardsman at Carnival (uncredited)
Kathie France .... Rider at Carnival (uncredited)
Lawrence Gaughan .... Low Man (uncredited)
Sara Hamilton .... Hot Dog Vendor at Carnival (uncredited)
David Harscheid .... Old Man (uncredited)
Jim Hild .... Low Man (uncredited)
Terry Jernigan .... Bobby's Father (in photograph) (uncredited)
John Johnson .... Townsperson (uncredited)
Rick Kain .... Pool Shark (uncredited)
Kristina Lash .... Carousel Rider at Carnival (uncredited)
Steve Little .... Low Man (uncredited)
Joleen Neighbours .... Carnival Vendor (uncredited)
Bud Pezet .... Low Man (uncredited)
David Rivitz .... Shady Vendor (uncredited)
Jamie Watson .... Low Man (uncredited)
Joseph M. West Jr. .... Checkers Player (uncredited)
More Movie Reviews of Hearts in Atlantis
Review of Hearts in Atlantis from Tabula RasaHearts in Atlantis Movie Review and Information Page at The Internet Movie Database
