Henry Poole Is Here

Reviewed by the Michniacki's on 1/23/09

This movie review was a joint effort between Erin Michniacki and Iggy Michniacki. Erin's love for movies reaches as far back as Iggy's and she has wanted to contribute to the website for some time. Iggy wrote the presentation part and Erin took care of the rest.

The Movie Itself:
Henry Poole moves into a neighborhood in California with a bad attitude and just about nothing else. He wants to be left alone as he hides in his home and drinks all day doing nothing. It’s obvious from the get go that this man, played by Luke Wilson, has experienced some sort of tragedy. We are given no clues to his background other than a few details which lead the mind to be even more curious about his background. Much to Henry’s dismay, he finds himself in the middle of a miracle of sorts which draws unwanted people into his life. His nosy neighbor discovers a water stain which she decides resembles the visage of Jesus Christ. Suddenly he finds himself trying to keep wanderers off of his property seeking to be healed by this stain on his house. On top of all of this, the “stain” begins bleeding out of the face that now resembles Christ unmistakably.

For a film about a miraculous Jesus water stain that bleeds out the eye, it is neither religious nor sacrilegious. The film very tastefully presents something controversial in a matter of fact way that allows the viewer to sit back and enjoy this film without being offended. This allows for the major theme—hope—to shine through and tug on the strings of your heart.

While the film does maintain a good deal of moments that make my eyes tear up, it’s not a depressing film. It’s definitely a feel good movie that will make you laugh and cry. It’s hard to pull this off without coming across as predictable and cheesy; yet, this movie is far from being either of those things. The incredible writing and editing that went into this film makes for a flawless plot with hardly anything to complain about.

To top off what makes this such a great movie for anyone to watch is the fact that this has got to be one of the best Luke Wilson performances I have seen. The casting was perfect, I can’t imagine anyone to play the parts any better. George Lopez even surprised me a little with decent acting.
Rating: 8/10

The Presentation:
With how suprisingly strong the movie was, it was just icing on the cake to see a great presentation. 'Henry Poole is Here' comes to us in full 1080p thanks to Anchor Bay. Both the picture and audio quality faired quite nicely but in, some instances, could have been better. The video is obviously high definition from the get-go. Throughout the whole movie colors do their part in telling the story - shining bright and bold. The picture is never compromised with grain or dirt. Detail on the actors is enough that you can see skin blemishes and pores throughout. Blacks aren't washed out, but they aren't as strong as they could be either. And even though the picture is really bright and detailed, there isn't that three-dimensional feel you get with other Blu-rays. Overal, the video was strong but not demo material in the least.

The audio comes full-force with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound mix. This audio is as strong as a movie like this can be. Not once did I have to adjust the volume for any reason. Music sounded great and set the mood for the movie. Dialogue was loud and strong - never being drowned out by any other noises.
Rating: 7/10

The Extras:
The Making of Henry Poole is Here: Writer, Director and Producer all describe the making of the movie. Interviews from each of the actors in the film share their thoughts on what it was to work with each other and what it was to be a part of the film.

Deleted Scenes: Excellent deleted scenes with optional commentary. I recommend watching the deleted scenes both with and without commentary if you are really interested in finding out more about Henry Poole. The scenes include a lot about Henry Poole’s background, which is sort of up in the air more than anything during the final cut of the film. The deleted scenes definitely explain a lot and leave the film in a more resolved state. Basically, if you really enjoy the film, watching the scenes won’t change anything except give a bit more info on Poole.

Director Commentary: Simply audio added on top of the movie, you can watch it over again with the Director and Writer.

“All Roads Lead Home”, music video: For those of you who enjoyed the music in the movie, you get a nice music video.
Rating: 6/10

Overall:
Overall, don’t dismiss this film. Although it is a film that some will love more than others, it could show to be a pleasent surprise. For those of you not expecting that much, you will be in for a real treat, and even if it’s not your type, you will at least appreciate it for the great acting and pretty picture.
Rating: 7/10