Handsome Harry (2010)
Movie Info
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Cast
as Harry Sweeney
as Professor Porter
as Peter Rheems
as Judy Rheems
as Thomas Kelly
as Kagan
as Gephardt
as Muriel
as Mrs. Kelley
as Pauley
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Critic Reviews for Handsome Harry
All Critics (26) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (5)
... it's nice to see men even acknowledging the fact that they are no more impervious to the effects of time than women, and far preferable to watching actors seeming not to notice that their female costars are now young enough to be their granddaughters.
Handsome Harry is a small film with more to say than its creaky exposition and formulaic plot would suggest. Frustration is perhaps the more appropriate critical response.
Sheridan (who also produced) is well cast as the good-looking, rugged Harry, and his performance is certainly adequate.
Like any low-budget production, Handsome Harry has some shakily staged scenes and erratic acting, but it also has wonderful moments...
David has honed this script for 30 years, and every word he utters is momentous. Handsome Harry transcends its somewhat melodramatic narrative.
Each of its miserable characters, especially Mr. Savage's Rheems, is a case study in a film that hits you like a strident polemical essay.
Audience Reviews for Handsome Harry
An interesting story. Acting is good, but the storyline isn't the most exciting. Decent, but seems to drag on, and on. Heavy-hearted ending.
Super Reviewer
Well into middle age, Harry Sweeney(Jamey Sheridan) is doing well for himself in his business as an electrician and has no plans to retire soon. Thomas Kelley(Steve Buscemi), an old pal from the navy who he has not talked to in 30 years, is not quite so lucky, as he lies dying in a hospital bed. Before he goes, he wants to apologize to a former crewmate, Kagan, of theirs who along with three others they brutally beat. But Kelley dies before he can locate him, leaving the task to Harry with a little help from Kelley's daughter(Emily Donahue) who provides him with her research. First stop, Peter Rheems(John Savage), another former crewmate. "Handsome Harry" is a low-key and meditative movie that is helped by a relaxed lead performance from Jamey Sheridan, along with a very good supporting cast that also includes Aidan Quinn, Campbell Scott and Titus Welliver. All of which is in the service of a story that seeks to explore the nature of forgiveness from an occasionally religious angle.(Harry confesses he wanted to be a priest at one point.) In short, are there some acts that cannot be forgiven? In any case, can we forgive ourselves or does guilt take over at some point? At one time, macho attitudes would not have allowed men to ask these questions of themselves but times are changing. So what may once have been impossible is now possible.
Super Reviewer
Interesting low key drama of a man in middle age forced to confront a shameful error in his distant past and try to make amends if possible. While it doesn't totally succeed and it's focus is sometimes off kilter the film still manages to entertain. Part of the reason why lies in the fact that for a small indie this has quite an impressive cast of higher profile quality actors, albeit that most appear briefly, than is usual in this type of film.
Super Reviewer
Handsome Harry Quotes
| Kagan: | I will forgive you Harry, if you truly believe that I should. And I will mean it. |
| Harry Sweeney: | Twenty minutes seems about the right amount of time for these little reunions. |