Simple Men

1992

Simple Men

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Simple Men Photos

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Movie Info

A pair of brothers dodge the law while trying to locate their long-lost father in this third feature from independent New York filmmaker Hal Hartley. Robert John Burke stars as Bill McCabe, a failed computer thief who's just been doublecrossed by his girlfriend and partner. Vowing revenge on the next beautiful blonde he encounters, Bill meets up with his younger brother Dennis (William Sage), a philosophy student concerned about their father William (John A. MacKay). It seems the McCabe paterfamilias was a former major league shortstop who became an anarchist bomber in the 1960s, nearly blowing up the Pentagon. On the run for twenty-three years, William was recently caught by the FBI but escaped again. Based on information from their mother, the McCabes travel to Long Island, where William may be hiding. Along the way, the brothers meet the epileptic Elina (Elina Lowensohn) and her friend Kate (Karen Sillas), a beautiful blonde with whom Bill is instantly smitten. While Dennis figures out that Elina is somehow connected to William, Bill contends with Kate's ex-con husband Jack (Joe Stevens) and Jack's best friend Martin (Martin Donovan), both of whom are also in love with her. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Rating:

R
Genre:

Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Comedy, Romance
Directed By:

Hal Hartley
Written By:

Hal Hartley
In Theaters:

Jan 1, 1992 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Jan 27, 2004
Runtime:

105 minutes
Studio:

Zenith Entertainment

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Cast

Robert John Burke
as Bill McCabe

Bill Sage
as Dennis McCabe

Karen Sillas
as Kate

Elina Löwensohn
as Elina

Holly Marie Combs
as Kim

Martin Donovan
as Martin

Chris Cooke
as Vic

Jeffrey Howard
as Ned

Mark Chandler Bailey
as Mike

Joe Stevens
as Jack

Damian Young
as Sheriff

Marietta Marich
as Mom/Meg

John A. MacKay
as Dad/William McCabe Sr.

Bethany Wright
as Mary

James Prince
as Frank

Richard Reyes
as Security Guard

James Hansen Prince
as Frank

Ed Geldart
as Cop at Desk

Vivian Lanko
as Nun

Alissa Alban
as Waitress

Margaret Bowman
as Nurse Louise

Jo Perkins
as Nurse Otto

Mary McKenzie
as Vera

Matt Malloy
as Boyish Cop

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Critic Reviews for Simple Men

All Critics (11) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (1)

This original film features extreme factions of America: Bill (Robert Burke) is a robber-mechanic, an amalgam betweenn 1980s Reagonomics overachiever and a thug, and Dennis (William Sage), a scientist-philosopher.

Jan 14, 2007 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…

Emanuel Levy
Variety
Top Critic
Hal Hartley's formula is to tease us with what appears to be a succession of crazy red herring but, defying all credibility and charming us at the same time.

Jul 24, 2018 | Full Review…

Vanessa Letts
The Spectator
Irresistibly charming!

Dec 5, 2004 | Rating: A | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

View All Critic Reviews (11)

Audience Reviews for Simple Men

Oct 05, 2012

Pairing Hal Hartley with Martin Donovan and folks always seem to produce memorable films and this one is as well.

John B Super Reviewer
Jan 04, 2008

This is my second Hal Hartley movie and the first thing that comes to mind to describe his style is "weird". The acting in the openning scene was so exaggerated, I thought it was a film within a film, that it was a parody of a crime movie but no it was for real! When you read the story, it may seem like a minimalistic road movie but think again cause it ain't! You will see the strangest characters (oh, The sherif!), weirdest dialogs and silences and an unusual style of directing in this one. If you are tired of mainstream and wanna see something different, come this way.

Serdar C Super Reviewer
Oct 17, 2006

Very bad acting makes for a funny film...

Leigh R Super Reviewer