Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Take a chance with love

“I take that as a hopeful sign,” Harvey says as Kate rejects an incoming call on her mobile. “If only you can give me a wider smile…” he continues teasing her. 

Kate (Emma Thompson) breaks out into a wider smile.

That is a scene where the despondent Harvey Shine (Dustin Hoffman) meets Kate Walker, who is finding solace in her own company and a book, for the second time in a bar at the airport in the film Last Chance Harvey. 

Harvey tries to spin off a conversation between them while Kate seems only interested in finishing her novel and not to have anything to do with this stranger. But as the minutes ticked, Harvey’s attempts slowly paid off: All because of one simple technique, since Shakespeare’s days, and still an effective way to make friends and build relationships – flirting with words.

Not only did he used his words cleverly to melt away any hostility that Kate feels, Harvey also manages to shift her mood into a more relaxed state, as opposed to the grim look she wore before he came.

Yes, I was hooked on to the dialogue in this movie.

The dialogue helps immensely in the smooth gradations of the feelings from slight dislike to comfort to eventually the kind of deep longing for someone between the two lead characters.

For example, how Harvey surprises Kate by saying, “You mean instead of me walking you to class, carry your books?” when she’s expecting him to go on his way at the subway station. 

In another instance, Kate, learning that Harvey’s estranged daughter’s wedding reception – for which he was there in London—is still on, eggs Harvey to go. “You have to go, she’s your daughter!”

“You come with me?”

“I can’t go to a wedding reception in green polyester?”

“You trying to get me to buy you a new dress, is that it?”

“No, no, no!”

Joel Hopkins expertly directs the movie in a way that it shows the intricacies of the feelings and emotions of two middle-aged people—a man and woman—feeling lonely and hopeless in their own lives and how this encounter may really be their last chance at happiness.

But, when one is so used to being in the shadow and to deem oneself as a failure in life, how does one get out of the rut? 

Kate touches me when she says to Harvey, in between tears, “I’ve been so used to getting disappointed, and I’m angry at you for taking this away from me.”

I’ve seen this many times, of people who are afraid of receiving love and happiness in their lives, who don’t believe that they too deserve to be happy like everyone else.

Fortunately, Kate did take a leap of faith.

“Shall we walk?” she asks.

Harvey nods her head, and both of them continue their long stroll under the twilight.

I like this movie, really! 

P.S. The actual dialogue in the movie may differ slightly from what is produced here, as they are mostly from what I remembered, and some came from the trailer clips.