Henry Poole Is Here (2008)

From my favorite movies..

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

Did not like the constant close ups, the main and secondary plots, or the characters. Only watched because it was classified PG comedy and liked other Luke Wilson's performances.

I agree with all the other comments here that call this movie far-fetched, treacly, hard to stomach, etc. It may begin with the air of something different, something unHollywood, but soon it reveals itself as Hollywood all the way, with a predictable plot, stupid sentimentality, brainless deference to religion (oh, faith! oh, hope! oh belief! the answers to all life's hardships), wonderful coincidences (gee, I'm lucky, just as I settle down to wait to die I find myself next door to a beautiful, available woman who falls for me) and a standard fairy- tale ending. All that is enough to rate this movie a waste of time. But I would add to what other critics have said that it is S-L-O-W, which is not far off from saying it's boring. Finally, about that sound track--it can sometimes be pretty hard to take; you'll get the feeling of it if you imagine one folk singer after other alone on a stage strumming and bleating.

Most people who want to believe in divine apparitions, spot iconic forms in the most incredible places. Their perception of what they find is based on the representation we all have been led to accept as the way those saintly individuals have been depicted in paintings dating from ancient times.This is exactly what a nosy neighbor, Esperanza, sees on a wall that had been recently painted in the backyard of Henry Poole, a depressed young man that is suffering from sadness and depression. Henry decided to buy a house near the one where he grew up. That place was not for sale, so Henry opted for the next best thing, a house in the same block. In flashbacks we get to know the root of his problems; he is afflicted by a rare disease that is terminal. While Henry awaits for his death, he decides to spend his time alone near the place where he was happy once.What Henry didn't bargained for was a neighbor like Esperanza. She stirs things up when she brings her church's pastor to take a look of that mysterious form believed to even drip blood. Henry couldn't care less about miracles, or supernatural things. The young woman next door, a single mother, begins to warm up to Henry. Her little girl Millie, goes around with a portable tape recording eavesdropping on her neighbor, who doesn't find it amusing, until he is told the girl doesn't speak because of the trauma caused by her deserting father who has gone away without explanation.Henry Poole has to reflect on his life and his death; he drinks a lot, something the friendly cashier, Patience, at the supermarket he shops, tells him. Patience shows up at Henry's backyard one day to see the famous image on the wall. Suddenly, she can see without using her thick glasses, something she thinks is a miracle. Something similar occurs to Millie. The little girl begins to speak without any logical explanation. Esperanza suggests him to ask for a miracle as she finds out what's wrong with him. Unfortunately, he has had it with people and he knocks the wall down.Mark Pellington directed this interesting film that questions how humans deals with matters of faith. The discovery of what is perceived to be sacred and what is just not so. It also deals with the way we cling to hope when a crisis, such as an illness, or a situation, that will be a test in one's faith. The screenplay is by Albert Torres.Luke Wilson, an actor that has played a lot of comedy in his career, shows a serious side of himself, no doubt guided by Mr. Pellington to give an outstanding performance as Henry, a man that finds himself at a crossroad in his life. The wonderful Adriana Barraza, who plays Esperanza, makes a tremendous contribution to our enjoyment of the film with her well intentioned, but gossipy neighbor. Rhada Mitchell does a fine job with her next door neighbor, Dawn. Also in the cast, Cheryl Hines, Richard Benjamin and the adorable Morgan Lilly."Henry Poole is Here" is a serious film that deserves a viewing because it will disarm even the skeptics.

Luke Wilson is hard not to like. I've tried to dislike him but he slipped by me.I wish this film had maintained a more consistent comic tone. I think if JD Salinger had been on the set, he would have said, "hey, can we throw some jokes here near the end?" At the beginning of the film, I like when Luke chastises the ladies for their trespasses, then he singles out the old woman and they cut to her. It seems to break the damn "tone" of the film but I liked it anyway.Not much later, he and the little girl are in the yard and he makes a joke WHICH SHE DOESN'T LAUGH AT, that "he has to go/he's busy" then he hops on the stationary bike. This is a sophisticated joke, very dry and subtle to deal to a little girl and it suggests that he's respecting her intelligence. She doesn't laugh and neither does he. Of course, she's "mute" but she also doesn't FAKE laugh, to indicate that she gets it. Neither does he. That's a nice moment. Also nice because he's depressed out of his skull but the girl brings intentional humor out of him. It's hard for a kid to dislike an adult who doesn't insult their intelligence as it's hard not to like a kid who shuts up once in a while.Then there's the bit about the clumsy blood-taker. Unnecessary but still appreciated, trying to keep it light.This is an ambitious film that tries to say a lot with music, light, some video-style editing, sun and memory. All the indy music was a bit much but who am I to criticize indy music? Nobody, that's who.Esperanza Martinez, who plays the irritating neighbor, is so good I sometimes wanted to kill her and wished Luke would, she was so damn irritating.When Luke woke up in the hospital and found Esperanza, if he had just called for security, I'd have been more happy.I just wish the film hadn't lost it's sense of humor somewhere along the line.