Fans of The Green Mile and The Shawshank
Redemption will feel a similar affection for
Hearts in Atlantis, a Stephen King adaptation
that again finds the horror writer in more
mainstream waters, with a bit of dabbling in the
supernatural. When mysterious out-of-towner Ted
Brautigan (Anthony Hopkins) moves into the
boarding house that 11-year-old Bobby Garfield
(Anton Yelchin) shares with his self-involved
mother (Hope Davis), Bobby jumps at the chance
to befriend an adult who talks to him
straightforwardly. Ted enlists Bobby to read him
the newspaper daily--and to keep an eye out for
the "low men" bent on capturing Ted, who
possesses a strange mind-reading power. Hopkins
is in fine form, ably matched by the phenomenal
young Yelchin, but director Scott Hicks (Shine)
more often than not flattens out the dramatic
arcs of the story, despite all the intriguing
turns the film takes. Thankfully, though, the
schmaltz factor is kept to a minimum, making
Hearts in Atlantis a heartfelt coming-of-age
drama. --Mark Englehart
Directed by: Scott
Hicks
Written by: William
Goldman
Produced by:
Michael Flynn, Kerry Heysen, and Jodi Zuckerman
Original music by:
James Newton Howard
Cast:
Anthony Hopkins .... Ted
Brautigan
Anton Yelchin .... Bobby Garfield
Mika Boorem .... Carol Age 10
David Morse
Will Rothhaar .... Sully Age 11
Dierdre O'Connell .... Mrs. Gerber
rest of cast listed alphabetically
Rachel Brewer .... Smooth Operator
Hope Davis .... Elizabeth Garfield
Eric Eggen .... Coast Guardsman at Carnival
Bourke Floyd .... Lowman
Kathie France .... Rider at Carnival
Sara Hamilton .... Hot Dog Vendor at Carnival
Jim Hild .... Lowman
Wes Johnson (I) .... Sports Announcer
Kristina Lash .... Carousel Rider at Carnival
Steve Little .... Lowman
Timothy Reifsnyder .... Harry Doolin
David Rivitz .... Shady Vendor
Joseph M. West Jr. .... Checkers player
(uncredited)
