I've always thought that Dustin Hoffman seemed like a nice guy; he's one of those actors you just want to root for, isn't he? Often times, the characters he portrays have that same likable quality -- from Benjamin Braddock in The Graduate to Michael/Dorothy in Tootsie to Raymond Babbitt in Rain Man -- they all have an underdog-who-must-triumph thing going on.
It's been a while since Hoffman's been on screen in a starring role (nope, his voice work in Kung Fu Panda and The Tale of Despereaux doesn't count), so I was glad to see him back to form in Last Chance Harvey, which has been described as "Before Sunrise for the over-60 crowd" (though most critics agree that this new take on finding love in unexpected places is better than Richard Linklater's 1995 romantic drama).
Last Chance Harvey opens today in select cities and will expand in January. It may be hard for this one to get much attention in the coming weeks, however, thanks to the slew of big, bad mega-budget films fighting for glory as 2008 comes to an end. But all hope is not lost! My guess (and hope) is that as the new year rolls in, moviegoers will be finally be ready to watch excellent actors (did I mention that both Hoffman and Emma Thompson have scored Golden Globe nominations for this film?) do their thing without the help of special effects, explosions, animal hijinx or a bumping soundtrack. So don't give up, Harvey... you'll get another chance next month!
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