Product Details

• Actors: Anthony Hopkins, Anton Yelchin, Hope Davis, Mika Boorem, David Morse
• Directors: Scott Hicks
• Writers: Stephen King, William Goldman
• Producers: Bruce Berman, Jodi Zuckerman, Kerry Heysen, Michael Flynn
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: September 3, 2002
• Run Time: 101 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (205 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005UQEI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #283,679 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

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

From The New Yorker

Based on a Stephen King story, this adaptation directed by Scott Hicks is treacly beyond all reason. The screenplay-pure mush-overflows with scenes that allow the characters to be caressed by a golden, understanding light. The film is so lacking in movement that there seems to be no direction, just gloppy cinematography. Anthony Hopkins plays the joyless lead role; he's a huggable psychic stranger who befriends a fatherless boy. -Bruce Diones
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars VERY GOOD COMING OF AGE FILM..., March 23, 2002

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Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hearts in Atlantis (DVD)

Not having read the Stephen King book upon which this movie was based, I had no expectations of this film. In fact, after seeing the film, I was surprised that it had been based upon a Stephen King book, as it seemed so far removed from anything to do with horror, the supernatural, or science fiction. It also has nothing to do with the lost continent of Atlantis.

The movie is, essentially, a coming of age film, and a particularly good one, at that. It opens with a middle aged man, Bobby Garfield (David Morse), returning home for the funeral of his childhood best friend. While there, he stops by his old home and begins reminiscing in his mind's eye, remembering growing up with those with whom he had lost touch, his now deceased friend and his first girl friend, Carol Gerber (Mika Boorem).

The viewer then sees eleven year old Bobby Garfield (Anton Yelchin) living with his selfish, self absorbed, widowed mother, Liz Garfield (Hope Davis) in that very same house. A mysterious older man, loner Ted Brautigan (Anthony Hopkins), takes up residence in an upstairs apartment in that house. He becomes a sort of a grandfather figure to Bobby, and a warm relationship develops between the two. Bobby gets from Ted what he is unable to get from his mother. Ted helps Bobby at a time in his life, when he sorely needed an interested adult, as his mother seems unable or unwilling to step up to home plate.

Ted reveals to Bobby that some mysterious people, referred to only as the "low men" are after him. Ted enlists Bobby's aid in looking out for them. It also appears that Ted has some kind of extra sensory perception. It is a gift of which Bobby becomes aware, as Ted and Bobby begin to look out for each other. This apparent psychic ability, however, is not the focus of the movie and is somewhat incidental.

The film is simply an atmospheric, well rendered coming of age film, marked by nostalgia and the strong performances of its actors. Velvet voiced Anthony Hopkins is superb as the perceptive Ted Brautigan, giving yet another beautifully nuanced performance. Anton Yelchin is wonderfully natural in the role the young Bobby Garfield. The rest of the supporting cast is excellent, as well.

The only thing that mars the film is the reference to the "low men". At first, I thought it was to "law men" that Ted was referring. I found the use of the term "low men", without some explanation, distracting. Since William Goldman had apparently made changes to the book when he wrote the screenplay, he should have excised this term, as it serves only to be distracting rather than mysterious, especially as the "low men" seemed likely to be simply some sort of secret government agents.

The DVD provides the usual excellent sound and audio a viewer has come to expect from a high quality DVD. It has a feature length audio commentary of the film by its director, Scott Hicks, as well as a fairly lengthy interview with Anthony Hopkins, that makes the price of the DVD well worth it.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Low Men sans Yellow Coats, February 16, 2002

By 

KStateKev "a_man_who" (Edmond, OK USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hearts in Atlantis (DVD)

After Rob Reiner pulled Stephen King movies out of the B-movie cellar with Stand By Me (and later Misery), it is hard to remember the late seventies and early eighties era when a Stephen King movie meant cheesy production and bad acting. I think the resulting improvement in quality actually inspired better writing from Mr. King, though I have nothing to support my opinion. Perhaps King was simply improving with age and experience.

What I find most amusing is that the theatrical films based on King novels have become the most literary and introspective works, while the chills n' thrills are relegated to TV miniseries, i.e. Rose Red.

Hearts in Atlantis continues the string of successful King adaptations such as Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and the underrated Dolores Claiborne. Anyone who has read the book already knows the story of Bobbie Garfield and Ted Brautigan in the fateful summer of 1960. "Low Men in Yellow Coats" was the most powerful story in the collection that make up Hearts, and the title actually comes from the second novella in the book, which features different characters in another time and place. In the book, the Low Men were tied to Stephen King's Dark Tower mythos, and I was hoping the movie would keep that connection; however, the screenwriters decided to make the movie self-contained and turned the Low Men into shadowy government figures, definitely human and not nearly as scary. But that's a minor thing.

Anthony Hopkins was his usual excellent self, but I was especially impressed by Hope Davis in the thankless role of Bobbie's mother. She managed to convey bitterness, sadness, love and fear in a very understated performance. I totally bought this character and felt that she was far more complex than the character of Brautigan.

The supporting players were not as well fleshed out, and I didn't care for the hackneyed subplot with the bullies. Most of the secondary characters and events from the book were cut severely for the film version in favor of concentrating on the three principal characters, which is kind of disappointing but understandable for reasons of length. However, I still felt at times as though I were watching the Cliff Notes version of the story.

Hearts in Atlantis is a quiet and effective coming-of-age tale that marries the strength of Stephen King's writing with a smart screenplay (courtesy of William Goldman), top-notch acting, and direction (Scott Hicks of Shine fame). I 'heart'-ily recommend it.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo, Stephen! One archtype after another!, February 15, 2002

By 

Lori B "Lori" (Grants Pass, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hearts in Atlantis (DVD)

Revisiting his boyhood home, Robert Garfield flashes back to age eleven, and his vivid memories as a rather sad, fatherless boy coming of age. Portrayed during the cold war era, Bobby (Anton Yelchin) lives alone with single-mom (Hope Davis). Befriended by mysterious new renter from upstairs, Ted Brautigan (Anthony Hopkins), Bobby receives his rite of passage into manhood from Ted's quiet statements about life, such as, "You think your mother knows your thoughts, but she doesn't. That's a mother's power." and other empathic messages. For those who are seasoned literary artists, this statement, found at the heart of the film, arcs several situations being portrayed, the present one at the table where they're sitting, the certain abilities the "low men who wear dark hats and coats and cast long shadows" have in seeking out and finding Ted Brautigan, and again the overshadowed undercurrent an entire country felt during the hush hush of the cold war era about "mother Russia" (who at the time was deeply involved in harnessing certain powers). Have I left any out, Stephen? This is indeed a powerful film written by a Master that appeals to both the literary and general audiences. From the beginning of his career until now, his audience has also made it's rite of passage on the tidbits Mr Hopkins has shared with his faithful viewers. Who could pass up a King and Hopkins film? Bravo! Hearts in Atlantis is one of the most successful and heartwarming films of the century with a perfect cast of characters to carry forth the meaning of each role. Excellent job!