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AFI festival reviews (Hollywood Reporter -Mon., Oct. 25, 1999)
The
AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival continues through Friday, screening
U.S. and international films at locations including the Egyptian Theatre, the El
Capitan Theatre, the Vogue Theatre, the Writers Guild Theatre, the Samuel
Goldwyn Theater and Sotheby's.
HENRY
HILL
(Vogue) 9:30 tonight
After almost shooting his brains out in New York and injuring only an ear, a
young, struggling classical musician retreats to a dull life in a small Maine
town. He works at the family cafe until a beautiful young woman on her way to
the big city drives into his life and stays awhile.
The feature debut of writer-producer-director David G. Kantar, "Henry
Hill" stars Jamie Harrold ("I Shot Andy Warhol," "Erin
Brockovich") as a gifted, shy violinist who finds the courage to face
difficult truths about his past and overcome an acute case of stage fright. With
the encouragement and romantic attentions of friendly gal-on-the-loose Cynthia
(Moira Kelly) to make it all worthwhile, Henry overcomes his rocky start down
the road to a fulfilling destiny and eventually brightens up the lives of his
worried family.
Is it inspiring? You bet. Is it compelling cinema of a high quality crying out
for wider exposure? Now, there's a gamble because "Henry Hill" looks
to be of limited interest at best. Nothing much happens in the 82-minute U.S.
indie that hasn't happened before at least a few times in the tortured-artist
genre. Still, Harrold, Kelly and the supporting cast try very hard to put this
one over, and they achieve some success when the movie is at its most playful.
David Hunter
 
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