Harvey Shine, a jingle writer, is hitting the bottom of the barrel when he goes to London for the wedding of his daughter. There he gets even lower when he discovers that his ex-wife’s second husband is more of a father to his daughter than he is.
Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson Strike Up a Friendship
While waiting for a flight back to the U.S. after he misses his original flight, he strikes up a conversation at the bar with a woman who works at the airport, and to whom he was rude when he first arrived. Kate (Emma Thompson) is sympathetic to his situation and the two find it easy to talk to each other. Harvey just got fired over the phone and is extremely down in the dumps.
After some discussion Harvey ends up changing his plans and takes Kate to the reception dinner, an event he had planned on skipping all together. Kate, whose life is not anything to jump up and down about, sees something in Harvey that no one else does. Together they discover that in some ways, they fulfill each other.
At the reception, Harvey is a different man. Kate has given him the self-esteem and courage he was previously lacking.
As the two learn more about each other, they form a bond that is new to both of them. There is something about Harvey that bolsters Kate, and vice versa. But is it too late for second chances?
Hoffman’s Performance is Endearing
Hoffman is a perfect Harvey. His character’s emotions go from the very bottom to great heights, and Hoffman takes viewers along for the ride. As usual, he turns in a first rate performance. What else?
Last Chance Harvey is an endearing story of life, love, and second chances. It is heartening with wonderful performances by the entire cast. It’s a story of life and love. Dustin Hoffman, thinking about this story, says, “The older you get, the more you understand love. I think the older you get, the more you can understand life.” He adds, “And I think that as you get older, you begin to understand what intimacy is - on a level that you didn't before.”
Hoffman Discusses Working with Thompson
Hoffman explains that working with Emma Thompson was a wonderful experience and off camera they formed a strong bond. “You know, in acting, it's an intimate experience, even though it's short term, and it's a marriage, and it's an ordered marriage. It's an arranged marriage. In other words, you don't get to pick your (partner), and so when you decide to go with someone in life or get married, whatever it is, then you know you have things in common, hopefully. You laugh at the same stuff, you know, and it goes on and on, really, really, you like this, you know there are similarities and you have a similar feeling about life. That doesn't happen often in film, even though it's an arranged marriage. But it did this time. It's just one of those things - with the help of a little sake of course, to loosen things up,” the actor adds with a sly grin.
The DVD Bonus Feature
The DVD contains a bonus feature taking viewers along in the making of the film. Both Hoffman and Thompson discuss their off screen friendship and how that made making this film so special for them. The DVD includes both Widescreen and Full-Frame versions of the film.
