Customer Reviews

What the Deaf Man Heard

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What the Deaf Man Heard is a poignantly funny story about a boy abandoned on a bus by his mother (telling you why spoils part of the plot), who tells him not to talk to anyone. When he reaches the end of the bus line, he doesn't talk, so everyone in the town assumes that he is deaf and dumb. The bus station manager (Tom Skerrit) allows him to live at the bus station and becomes his surrogate father. There are too many funny parts to mention here, but the events leading up to the boy, now a man (Matthew Modine), revealing that he really can hear and talk are funny and touching. James Earl Jones is fantastic (as always) as the only person in town to figure out the truth, though he keeps the secret for his own purposes. You'll laugh, you'll cry. It's better than Cats. You'll want to see it again and again.

I was wonderfully surprised with this movie. It ran the gambit of emotions for me: laughing, crying... Frankie Muniz and Mathew Modine were EXCELLENT in their roles. The rest of the cast was great as well. The story was interesting all along and you felt warmth and compassion for the 'deaf man' as he grew in stature.

I've recommended this to anyone who'd listen. Good job!!!!!

I was waiting for the DVD format to become available as I loved this movie and was wearing out my tape from rewinding and fast forwarding to my favorite scenes.

The VHS version contains interviews with the actors and behind the scenes making of the movie footage. I guess I expected that if footage was on the video, then it would be in the DVD. Boy was I wrong.

The DVD version was good quality, but contained no extras whatsoever. So if you are like me and hoping to replace your VHS with the DVD, you'll be disappointed. Now I have two copies of this movie depending on if I just want to see a particular scene or the behind the scenes footage. I guess the VCR is sticking around a little while longer.

It is a movie that you will watch again and again. You must see it once to realize how the first facts lead up to the end results. If you are a baby born to a unwed mother or if you are a unwed mother it will zero in on home. It shows that it does not matter who you are but what you are!

This story has a wide array of charming characters. It starts on a bus with Sam as a little boy with his mother. He is talking and she wants him to go to sleep so she tells him, "Not another word out of you." He finally goes to sleep. At the next stop, she gets out to stretch her legs and get a drink and she gets attacked. When Sam wakes up, he is at the last stop, his mother nowhere in sight. He remembers that she told him, "Not another word out of you", so he doesn't talk. People think he is deaf, and he likes how they open up around him, so he keeps on pretending. The rest of the story is about him pretending to be deaf and what people say around him. (He really hears some interesting things!) I do not believe this movie was ever intended to represent the deaf community, as another reviewer stated, because Sam was never deaf in the movie. It's about what he heard while pretending to be deaf. Sam has a wonderful, helpful nature, even to those who are terrible towards him. In the end, the bad guy gets caught, of course, which makes all things right. An excellent movie! It's one of my favorites.

This movie was one that truly made me feel better about the world when done watching it. The message was as simple as they come...the kindness of ones heart is the most important. Matthew Modine gave a wonderful performance while speaking only few words;along with a great ensemble cast including James Earl Jones,and Tom Skerret. This is one movie that I would recommend to anyone, old or young, and anyone in the mood for a heart-felt, touching story. Halmark has done it again.

The cast really seemed fluid, I loved the wit, the message and wish there were more quality movies like this today. The anti-use of swearing is a really great feature as well. The plot was terrific. I am surprised that I didnt find it until quite a while after it was released. Wonderful movie.

This is a show to be viewed by all, both young and old, big and small. It accentuates on kindness, hidden secrets, love, loyalty and don't forget, determination. I was impressed with it's quality and with it's humor and sentiment. I have only seen it once, when it was shown on television, but it has stayed with me for years, and will continue to be a desired DVD to add to our library.

This is one of my favorite movies. The acting is wonderful and the storyline amazing. It's a great family movie, husband/wife movie or chick flick. You cheer for the good guys and laugh with all the funny twists and turns.

This is an excellent story. We should always remember that what we say and do will come back to us in some way.