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Henry Fool

Play trailer Poster for Henry Fool R 1997 2h 17m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
89% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
An egocentric bum (Thomas Jay Ryan) transforms the lives of a shy New Jersey garbageman (James Urbaniak) and his sister (Parker Posey).

Critics Reviews

View All (28) Critics Reviews
Anton Bitel Little White Lies it is as philosophical, political and pornographic as Henry describes his own work to be - an expansive comic book 'novel of ideas' all at once provocative and funny, which will come to be regarded as Hartley's life work. Feb 19, 2018 Full Review Globe and Mail Rated: 3/4 Apr 12, 2002 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times You watch, you are absorbed, and from scene to scene, Henry Fool seems to be adding up, but then your hand closes on air. I am left unsure of my response -- of any response. Rated: 2.5/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Rated: 3/5 Mar 12, 2008 Full Review Jake Euker F5 (Wichita, KS) Rated: 5/5 Feb 25, 2007 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Embracing Hartley's motifs, such as the vicissitudes of fame and fate, the film is sharply uneven, meditative and touching in moments but also pretentious and overlong; it's the last decent movie Hartley has made. Rated: C+ Apr 30, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (254) audience reviews
Cem Y Watched it, liked it I guess. This was one of the few movies that I was not sure of what I have really felt after the experience. Is it good or bad? Did I like it or not? Was there something that is delivered or not? All blank. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/03/23 Full Review white b a product of it's time you'll either love it or hate it if you love it - there's two more (Fay Grim and Ned Rifle) Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member An all time classic. Deals with the timeless struggle of artists vs reality of the working world. But it has a ton of intense sub themes(modern religion, fame, age-inappropriate sexual promiscuity, depression, artistic hedonism, the business of art). The performances are amazing, particularly by the genius actress Parker Posey and the totally unknown lead actor Urbaniak). Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Odd indie picture from the late 90s about a garbage man named Simon who befriends a pretentious writer named Henry Fool that believes he is writing a masterwork that will change the world. He is encouraged by Henry to write and his work quickly gets some local attention, and eventually leads to world fame. It is a weird movie that just constantly stayed within the realm of odd and a little unexpected. I enjoyed it for that reason alone. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member my fave Hal Hartly pic, so far anyway. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Unique and absorbing. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Henry Fool

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis An egocentric bum (Thomas Jay Ryan) transforms the lives of a shy New Jersey garbageman (James Urbaniak) and his sister (Parker Posey).
Director
Hal Hartley
Producer
Hal Hartley
Screenwriter
Hal Hartley
Production Co
Shooting Gallery, Possible Films, True Fiction Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.3M
Runtime
2h 17m
Sound Mix
Surround