Rating: 
Summary: Three characters trapped on an island
Review: Dark Harbor features Alan Rickman as David Weinberg, Polly Walker as Alexis Chandler-Weinberg, and Norman Reedus as the Young Man.
I hate "reviews" that are nothing more than plot synopses, especially those that give away surprise endings or get the facts mangled, so I'll try to avoid that trap. Dark Harbor is a claustrophobic film about a stifling marriage and what happens when a drifter gets drawn into the story. Alan Rickman is multi-layered and superb, as usual, in the role of the frustrated husband. Polly Walker brings a nice mix of edginess and innocence to the young wife. But Norman Reedus does not do a thing for me as the drifter; he's a skanky cypher, and I can't imagine anyone risking it all to connect with this character.
That said, the film does an effective build of tension among the threesome, with some ambiguous scenes and dialogue. A highlight of the movie is the little speech about love that Rickman's character delivers near the end of the story. Another highlight, also near the end, is when Rickman's character strips naked and goes skinny dipping in the harbor. Not many actors are that brave, especially ones over 50.
This film is a must for Rickman fans, and a "maybe" for all others.
Rating: 
Summary: A Treat for Alan Rickman Fans
Review: Dark Harbor is worth watching mostly for Alan Rickman's terrific performance as the unhappy husband. His brooding presence dominates the movie, and he is always exciting to watch (despite an unconvincing American accent). Polly Walker is well-cast as his rich, young, bored wife, but Norman Reedus lacked any appeal as the drifter. He needed more charisma and mystery (think: Kevin Bacon or Christian Slater). I recommend it for Rickman fans and thought the ending was good!
Rating:
Summary: A Dark Weekend at Dark Harbor
Review: Dark Harbor was released in 1998 and runs for 89 minutes. The studio is Artisan Entertainment and the director was Adam Coleman Howard. The three actors/actresses in the film were Norman Reedus as the Young Man, Alan Rickman as David Weinberg and Polly Walker as Alexis Chandler Weinberg.Dark Harbor is in the genre of psychological novel. The film took place during 1998 on an island in Maine. The main theme of Dark Harbor is that of a married couple on a weekend getaway trip to their island in Maine. The Weinberg couple (Rickman and Walker) has grown apart over the years and they clearly have communication issues. The plot was slow as it was continuous conflict between the Weinberg's and the young man (Reedus). The climax was clever, however, it was too little too late. The soundtrack enhanced the movie as suspenseful music played when something anxious was about to happen. On a scale of one to five stars, this film is a three. Most of the scenes in the movie are very "dark", hence the name "Dark Harbor". A few dark example scenes are: the couple is cooped up in a car while it is raining; they are in a seedy motel; they encounter fog at the island while in their boat. There is a feeling of confinement while watching the movie. The actors did do a good job of acting, particularly Polly Walker as Alexis Chandler Weinberg. She played a strong independent woman of the 90's while also being in touch with her husband's feelings when she wanted to be. If you are a viewer who enjoys adult dramas with a lot of bickering you will like this movie and the surprising twist at the end!
Rating:
Summary: Dark with an Unexpected Twist
Review: Dark Harbor was released in theaters January 1, 1998, released on video December 19, 2000 and runs 89 minutes. Artisan Entertainment is the studio and casts Alan Rickman as David Weinberg, Polly Walker as Alexis Chandler Weinberg and Norman Reedus as the young man. The movie takes place in the Northeastern US and begins with David and Alexis Weinberg driving to catch a ferry, but running late. It is rainy and foggy and the suspense begins to unfold when they find a beaten, young man on the side of the road. Alexis talks David into helping the young man and they give him a ride. When they reach the ferry, they drop the young man off and continue on their way to their country home. They believe this will be the last time they see the young man, however, their lives, unbeknownst to them, will never be the same. The young man shows himself again and spends time at their home with them. The last scenes are very dark and the end has a twist that noone could have seen coming. Dark Harbor deserves a three out of five star rating due to the story line and unexpected ending. If one were to watch it a second time, he may see signs of what is to come in the last scene of the movie. Viewers, though, will be anxiously watching to see where this thriller will take them.
Rating: 
Summary: Dark Harbor
Review: Dark Harbor, 1999
Length: 98 minutes Director: Adam Coleman Howard
Key Actors/Actresses: Norman Reedus; Young Man
Alan Rickman; David Weinberg
Polly Walker; Alexis Chandler Weinberg
Genre: Psychological Thriller Dark Harbor is set somewhere along a coastal road in Maine, and later on a private island off of Maine. Dark Harbor is a Psychological Thriller full of sexual fantasy and mysticism. It all begins with David & Alexis Weinberg rushing to catch the ferry which will whisk them away to their private island where they can remain in denial of their marital discord. Along the side of the road in the rain they see a young man lying. He seems beaten, but when they try to call for help he will not let them and instead they give him a ride to the nearby town causing them to miss their ferry. The following morning they catch the ferry and so does the young drifter. When the Weinberg's set sail into the mist they find themselves shipwrecked and at the mercy of the drifter who happens to be nearby. He helps them un-lodge their sailboat and they give him a ride back to their private island. He falls asleep after a shower and stays the night. The next day David leaves the island to go fishing and a day of teasing follows between Alexis and the young drifter. They play dress up in the shed, nap in the sun, write free verse poetry, and pick poisonous mushrooms in the woods. In the woods, the two of them have a short interlude which Alexis ends before it escalates out of control. When David returns he tries to take the drifter back to the mainland but the boat dies and they row back to the island. The tension in the house is so thick a knife couldn't pierce it. The obvious marital problems are numerous and the lack of trust obvious. The film has a surprise ending which will throw viewers for a complete loop. This film gets two stars, one star for the surprise ending and one star for the scenic fall views of Maine. The movie would have received a higher rating with more explanation of the marital discord, and surprise twist. In addition, the characters conversations were awkward and unrealistic. Even the story line could use some work, the shocking nature of the film left a lot of questions unanswered.
Rating:
Summary: Manipulating Mushrooms
Review: Dark Harbor
Theatrical Release Date: January 1, 1998
Run Time: 89 minutes
Director: Adam Coleman Howard
Studio: Artisan Entertainment
Actors/Actresses:
Lewis Flagg- Minister
Sasha Lazard- Funeral Singer
Janet Mecca- Alexis Sr.
Norman Reedus- Young Man
Alan Rickman- David Weinberg
Polly Walker(II)- Alexis Chandler Weinberg
Nominations/Awards: 1998 Nominated Gold Starfish Award
Best American Independent Film (Adam Coleman Howard) Setting: The film takes place on a private island in Maine.
Theme: To break up an unhappy marriage and find the true love
Plot: A bickering couple (Alan Rickman and Polly Walker) drive fast through a downpour to catch the last ferry to their island retreat. In a flash, they recognize a crumpled body laying at the side of the road after much argument they stop, onlt to find a young boy (Norman Reedus) battered and bruised. An offer of summoning the police firmly rejected, the two help the boy as best they can although it certainly means missing the ferry...and so startsthis thriller: a twisted sexual attraction and ulterior motives. Written by anonymous
The film is set in color The film was rated four stars because of the cleverness that was used in making the film. Adam Coleman Howard is brillant when he keeps the viewers bouncing back and forth throughout the film. He hints at the outcome from time to time like when the drifter is chasing Alexis screaming alond the beach with the rake in his hand and ended up being a game of tag. And when the drifter fist shows his manipulating magic trick with the cigarette and then again with the mushrooms you know what is about to happen. Another interesting part in the film is when Alexis asks david to oil her back and the drifter gets up and does it for her while David looks at them and then goes back to reading his paper. That shows the audience that he is unhappy with his wife. David gives the appearence through the movie that he has a femine side like when he is sitting on the log by the fire. A man does not sit like that. The camera tricks were fasinating when Alexis is upstairs and the camera starts from the living room and moves to her room, the camera flips into the room without opening the door and then Alexis walks to the door and goes downstairs. The whole time this is going on you are thinking the drifter is going up stairs to do something to her. That part was great! Overall the movie was good.This is because of the great looking Polly Walker and the tricks of the of the director Adam Coleman Howard.
Rating:
Summary: Alan Rickman fan service.
Review: Having not the faintest idea what this movie was I about, I rented it merely due to the fact it stars the illustrous and very sexy Alan Rickman. However, I soon found it was a many layered and sensual film, falling into the pyschological thriller genre I've come to enjoy. It plays out like a M. Night Shyamalan film, keeping the viewer confounded up until the very ended, and perhaps afterwards, assuring they'll watch it again the catch the tell-tale signs. Alan is enough reason to rent it, but the movie itself is worth buying.
Rating: 
Summary: If you must see it, rent and save your money.
Review: Having recently become fascinated with Alan Rickman as a performer, I bought this DVD because the plot sounded interesting. Perhaps on paper, this story is more captivating. The visual presentation left a lot to be desired. The director did not seem to make full use of the camera's abilities. It felt clumsy and seemed more like one was watching a play rather than a film. The best performance was by Polly Walker. She does an excellent portrayal of a wife who is confused by her husband's aloofness. My only objection to her performance in this film was that subtle as a sledge-hammer scene where she is being pushed on a swing by the young man. She is nearly panting in faux-ectasty, "Harder...oooooo.....faster...." Give me a break. Alan Rickman gives a solid performance, as always, but his attempt at an American accent was way too distracting for me. Instead of being seduced into the illusion of the film, I was forever being jolted out everytime he'd mess up...which is a shame because it took something away from the rest of his performance. The character of the drifter was completely unappealing to me. It would have been more believable if he had an ounce of charisma, charm, humor, something redeeming that would make us believe that this woman would take sympathy on him. Instead, he comes off as a creepy stalker who alternates between sounding like Keanu Reeves and your annoying little brother. I suppose I do see what they were attempting to do in this story. Polly Walker's character was from a wealthy, established, old money family. Alan Rickman's character was the crass, whiney, nouveau riche husband who was the unwelcome, barely tolerated intruder to this world (hence, the attempted American accent). This is probably fully developed on the written page, but is only touched on near the very end of the film. The film would have done better to establish that fact in some way nearer the beginning of the story. It would have drawn the audience closer to understanding this couple and their problems. The way it plays out in the film, they're just plain irritating. All in all, it's worth a one-time rental just to see Alan's delicious nude scene and hear his beautiful speech about love near the end of the film. That is something I would love to have as a recording. It's the type of speech that (dispite the fake accent)only his voice can wrap around and deliver in such a beautiful way.
Rating:
Summary: If you must see it, rent and save your money.
Review: Having recently become fascinated with Alan Rickman as a performer, I bought this DVD because the plot sounded interesting. Perhaps on paper, this story is more captivating. The visual presentation left a lot to be desired. The director did not seem to make full use of the camera's abilities. It felt clumsy and seemed more like one was watching a play rather than a film. The best performance was by Polly Walker. She does an excellent portrayal of a wife who is confused by her husband's aloofness. My only objection to her performance in this film was that subtle as a sledge-hammer scene where she is being pushed on a swing by the young man. She is nearly panting in faux-ectasty, "Harder...oooooo.....faster...." Give me a break. Alan Rickman gives a solid performance, as always, but his attempt at an American accent was way too distracting for me. Instead of being seduced into the illusion of the film, I was forever being jolted out everytime he'd mess up...which is a shame because it took something away from the rest of his performance. The character of the drifter was completely unappealing to me. It would have been more believable if he had an ounce of charisma, charm, humor, something redeeming that would make us believe that this woman would take sympathy on him. Instead, he comes off as a creepy stalker who alternates between sounding like Keanu Reeves and your annoying little brother. I suppose I do see what they were attempting to do in this story. Polly Walker's character was from a wealthy, established, old money family. Alan Rickman's character was the crass, whiney, nouveau riche husband who was the unwelcome, barely tolerated intruder to this world (hence, the attempted American accent). This is probably fully developed on the written page, but is only touched on near the very end of the film. The film would have done better to establish that fact in some way nearer the beginning of the story. It would have drawn the audience closer to understanding this couple and their problems. The way it plays out in the film, they're just plain irritating. All in all, it's worth a one-time rental just to see Alan's delicious nude scene and hear his beautiful speech about love near the end of the film. That is something I would love to have as a recording. It's the type of speech that (dispite the fake accent)only his voice can wrap around and deliver in such a beautiful way.
Rating:
Summary: don't watch the end
Review: I admit I rented the movie so I can watch Alan Rickman. Just stare at him. Which I did and was very entertained by him. I wasn't sure why he was trying for an American accent because his wife didn't have one. But it was fun watching him try. The problem is that it would have made a better romance than a thriller. If they cut out the stalker completely, I'd have given this five stars. The ending will have me in therapy for a while, I'll admit. There's an excellent nude shot of Rickman hopping off a boat. But, really, once you see the naked boat scene, turn it off because the last scene is disturbing for all you people out there who fantasize about the man. Please tell me the actor did NOT do what they showed him do. I think it was a camera trick but it grossed me out just the same. Good rental. Bad purchase.
| 
