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Dark Harbor

Dark Harbor

List Price: $14.98
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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: the ending made it all worth it
Review: "Dark Harbor" was a very mediocre movie, overall. It was boring at times, often confusing, and the little action there was always happened a bit too quickly or too slowly. However, the unexpected and undoubtedly amusing ending made it all worth it. Rent it, don't buy it, fast-forward to the end, and love Alan Rickman to death.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Manipulating Mushrooms
Review: (...)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: 4 stars
Summary: Munipulating Mushrooms
Review:

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 munipulating 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: 3 stars
Summary: Go watch Quigley again.
Review: Absolutely the longest 89 minutes of my life. Were it not for Mr. Rickman's always strong performance and a surprise ending that left myself and a couple of friends startled, I cannot recommend this unless you are really bored,or a die-hard (no pun intended) Rickman fan.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: From the Ocean
Review: Alan Rickman does a fine job of being a perfect jerk of a husband, but outside of his great performance, the movie lacks interest. The movie could have had potential, but seems cut-up and fragmented in parts that just don't make sense or play well with the story line. Those who think they are great at guessing the end of a movie before it's over will have a challenge and a surprise here. If I had viewed this before purchase, it would never had made it to my personal library.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Disappointing
Review: As an avid Alan Rickman fan, I was excited about this movie because the plot line sounded interesting. As the movie went on, the plot was fairly predictable. I believe that the writers noticed this flaw also and tried to spice up the ending. When the movie ended, I was left gaping at the screen in confusion. I think that any Alan Rickman fan should definitely try it because he definitely offers a strong performance, but be warned about the ending.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Worth it just to see Alan Rickman in the nude.
Review: Being an obsessive Alan Rickman fan, I was compelled to see this movie. It was well worth the entire 89 minutes just to see some very comedic moments and naughty bits in a well-acted drama...but of course, the biggest reward was getting to see a completely naked Rickman dive from a boat and then give me the extreme pleasure of watching him walk up an outdoor flight of stairs the same way. Indeed, not many actors are so brave-but I am unspeakably happy that Alan was! (Obvious note: not a movie for kids, should they show any interest in it anyway.) Listening to the DVD's audio commentary reveals that Alan dove into harsh freezing water multiple times to shoot that scene, only able to remain in it safely for less than 10 seconds at a time. Doctors said no. But sweet, noble Alan said yes. I must admit I'm glad he did.

As always, Alan gives an amazing performance in this film (which has the smallest cast I've ever seen.) It's a psychological thriller that, at first, won't make much sense. The first 88 minutes were enjoyable. Then the last minute left me asking, "Excuse me, what?" I had to listen to the commentary to discover that the whole movie is full of subtle hints at the originally confusing end, which was sort of non-believable for me. If you watch it, you will understand. But overall, a great movie.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Dark Habor
Review: Dark Habor released in 1998, in color, directed by Adam Coleman Howard. The lead actors in this movie are Norman Reedus, who plays the young man and Alan Rickman who plays David Weinburg. There is only one main actress in this movie, Polly Walker who plays Alexis Chandler-Weinburg.
Dark Harbor is set in coastal Maine in the year of 1997. This movie centers around a couple, David and Alexis Weinburg, that is taking a mini-vacation to their weekend house. The plot took a turn in a different direction when the couple picked up a young man on the side of the road. The Wienburgs give the man a ride to the dock where they part company with him. They encounter the young man again after they have boat trouble and land on a small island. The Weinburgs invite the young man to their home for the weekend this is where all the trouble begins.
The whole movie centers around three people, so the characters are well developed and very "real". This adult mystery movie had some very wierd twists and turns, very unpreditable to the end. Some of the scenes in the movie are cut-off or end without meaning or clearification. This movie does keep you guessing to the end, would reommend Dark Harbor to anyone that loves twisted mystery.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Something Happens
Review: Dark Harbor (1998) Director: Adam Coeman Howard
Hart Sharp Productions Running time: 96 minutes
Billed as a thriller, this film contains very little action to justify this description. In fact, it is probably the lack of action that holds the viewers' attention. On the way to catch the last ferry of the day to their island vacation home, David Weinberg (Alan Rickman) and his wife Alexis Chandler Weinberg (Polly Walker)see a Young Man (Norman Reedus)stumble through the bushes, on to the roadside and into their lives. Trying to help the young man, whose name one never learns, the not so happy couple give him a ride to the ferry port. During the ride, nothing happens. Through some very unlikely events, the young man ends up staying with the couple for the weekend. The following day, David goes off to play golf and leaves the stranger and the attractive wife to drink, play dress up games and frolic around the island together. A young man, an unhappy wife, a secluded island and nothing happens. The non-action continues that night as Alexis has an almost erotic dream about the young man. But in the dream, nothing happens. The weekend continues basically uneventful. Without giving away the ending, during the last ten minutes of the film, something finally happens. This is a decent film to rent on a rainy, winter Sunday. Curl up with a glass of wine and take the trip across the harbor.

Rating: 3 stars
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.


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