Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Last Chance Harvey Blu-ray Movie Review

Take a chance and give 'Last Chance Harvey' a spin.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 7, 2009

There are no more chances, Harvey.

Though titled Last Chance Harvey, this winning Dustin Hoffman/Emma Thompson Romantic Drama is about more than just a last chance. It's about new beginnings, about wiping away years of hurt, frustration, anger, and despair and instead revealing the true person buried deep inside, scarred and forgotten by the pains of the world. It's about gentle souls gone astray in a world of broken promises, broken families, and broken hearts. It's a film about rejuvenation and revitalization, about the absence of limitations and the gift of eternal youth that may be found not in the reflection of a mirror but instead in how a soul reflects in another's eyes. Last Chance Harvey tells the story of two lost people that look for solace in everything but that which defines their very essence, the result frustrations and disappointments that cannot be remedied with a blind date or a successful business venture, but rather in a chance encounter of long-standing pains that find answers and understanding in the context of another's broken pieces. Together, they become one, a single bright light in a dark world that had seemingly left them behind to wallow in the contentment of expected disappointment.

It's just my high heels that make me look taller than you. Really!

Pianist Harvey Shine (Dustin Hoffman, The Graduate) is traveling to London for his daughter's wedding, though he is eager to return home to seal a music deal that could make or break his career. Upon his arrival, Harvey uncomfortably mingles with his ex-wife, daughter, soon-to-be son-in-law, and others, his presence more of a distraction and embarrassment than a benefit. Meanwhile, airline employee Kate Walker (Emma Thompson, Stranger Than Fiction) lives a routine and lonely life, a middle-aged single woman who must deal with a nagging and intrusive mother. A chance meeting at an airport lounge leads to a night of redemption for both Harvey and Kate. Through their understanding of each other's pains, they not only make amends with past wrongs but find in one another the person they've long sought, another wounded soul that is capable of forgiving and willing to move on and accept one last chance at true love.

From a purely technical perspective, Last Chance Harvey is nothing to write home about. The film plays about as simply as a movie can and offers up a story that's as predictable as they come. It's a classic tale of happiness burgeoning from despair, of love stemming from a chance encounter between two wayward souls that have otherwise given up on finding happiness but, more importantly, given up on finding themselves. Nevertheless, it's told with such an abundance of sweetness and innocence that its several shortcomings may be easily overlooked in favor of the feel-good experience. The picture even manages to overcome an artificial plot development that interrupts the flow of the film and does little more than add some questionably-needed drama to the story. In the end, Last Chance Harvey makes for a moving and emotionally satisfying picture because of its simplicity and charm. It's escapist entertainment that reminds its audience that there is no such thing as hopelessness, that no matter how many times life has kicked someone to the curb, someone will always come by with an extended hand and a smile, or in the case of Last Chance Harvey, two souls that find themselves broken and hurt, their only means of recovery through what one can offer to the other.

Last Chance Harvey delivers a nicely-written and smartly-directed story. The film's opening act that sees both Harvey and Kate struggling to come to terms with their respective lots in life nicely frames the movie and develops its characters thoroughly. They are seen as two individuals uncomfortable not in their own skin but rather with their place in the world, detached from others, and clinging to the very things that seem to be restricting them the most, Harvey his job and Kate her overbearing mother. No matter where they go or how they try to avoid them, their problems are but a phone call away and with every ring, both Harvey and Kate seem to lose a little more of their individuality as their world becomes darker, more unrelenting, and seemingly impossible to escape. Both Hoffman and Thompson play their parts superbly, each emoting a palpable and unsettling level of defeatism. Such scenes play as both fascinating and depressing all at once, though through every revelation of old hurts and new wounds, the film moves one step closer to closure for each character as fate seems destined to bring them together for a chance at a new life, a fresh start, the healing of old wounds, and most importantly, of finding inner happiness and meaning in a world that has otherwise long ago rejected them both.

Last Chance Harvey Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Last Chance Harvey features a rather uninteresting 1080p transfer presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Neither a reference-quality image nor problem-filled transfer, this one suitably delivers the film's visual content in this high definition presentation. Most notable are slightly disappointing blacks that crop up from time to time, appearing a bit too bright. However, the entirety of the image appears faintly saturated and features an ever-so-slight soft glow about it, so the bright blacks don't particularly surprise in context. The image is generally sharp but colors don't appear incredibly vibrant. Fine details are adequately reproduced, most impressive are the several daytime outdoor London scenes where green leaves and brick façades appear nicely rendered. There is nothing earth-shattering with this one, but it suffices for the style of film it accompanies.

Last Chance Harvey Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Last Chance Harvey travels to Blu-ray with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The film's light, pleasing score plays nicely but not at an overly aggressive volume, almost as if it is hovering in the background just to support the story but not to dominate it. A nice bit of ambiance may be heard across the front, though the back speakers don't feature all that much sound of any variety; atmospherics, music, and discrete sound effects rarely flow from the rear. Ambient noise at the wedding reception in chapter 10, particularly the slight reverberations of applause and the echoing effect of the microphone please the senses and recall the feel of a live event. Live music heard at the same reception also features a nice bit of bass and strong clarity. Certainly not a reference-grade track, this mix -- much like the video -- supports the tone of the film nicely enough but nothing else.

Last Chance Harvey Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of Last Chance Harvey features a couple of bonus features. First is a feature-length commentary track with Writer/Director Joel Hopkins and Actors Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. With Hopkins and Thompson in London and Hoffman in New York, the trio offer a decent commentary that points out small factoids throughout the film, the chemistry between the actors, the casting of secondary characters, the film's structure, discussions revolving around the decision to keep or delete certain scenes, and more. One of the better commentary tracks in recent memory, it's as simple and intriguing as the movie, with Hoffman not necessarily dominating the track but certainly offering up the most interesting information. Fans of the actors or the film will want to give this one a listen. An Unconventional Love Story: The Making of 'Last Chance Harvey (1080i, 16:29) is a piece that recounts much of the same information as found in the commentary track but this time with video accompaniment. It's still a good making-of piece that is assembled with the basic intercutting of interview clips, behind-the-scenes footage, and film clips. Also included is the Last Chance Harvey theatrical trailer (1080p, 2:32) and additional 1080p trailers for Mad Money, Henry Poole is Here, Traitor, Sunshine Cleaning, The Visitor, and "Crash." Rounding out the special features is BD-Live (Blu-ray profile 2.0) functionality.

Last Chance Harvey Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

They don't come much more simple than Last Chance Harvey, but they don't come much more touching, either. Its simplicity its strength, Last Chance Harvey demonstrates that no matter one's place in the world, no matter how beaten and bruised, no matter how accustomed to defeat and disappointment one may be, there is always one last chance at a new beginning, for healing old wounds, and finding oneself amidst the chaos of life. Well-written, smartly-directed, and superbly acted, Last Chance Harvey makes for good cinema that lifts the spirits and emotionally satisfies its audience. Starz presents Last Chance Harvey on Blu-ray with suitably good quality, featuring a decent video transfer, an average lossless soundtrack, and a few supplements. With the movie the main attraction and the technical quality of the disc acceptable, Last Chance Harvey earns a hearty recommendation.