Henry Fool cover art

Henry Fool Details

1998 Certificate 18
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 302 members

Hartley has crafted here what many consider to be his crowning achievement: a sprawling epic of a story that tackles any and everything he decides to mock, satirize, or challenge. Simon is a factory worker who lives with his nymphomaniac sister and manic depressive mother. Along comes Henry Fool, a convicted sexual offender who .. Read more

Starring Parker Posey, James Urbaniak, Thomas Jay Ryan, Maria Porter
Director Hal Hartley
Genres Comedy, Drama

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Henry Fool cover art

Henry Fool

Hartley has crafted here what many consider to be his crowning achievement: a sprawling epic of a story that tackles any and everything he decides to mock, satirize, or challenge. Simon is a factory worker who lives with his nymphomaniac sister and manic depressive mother. Along comes Henry Fool, a convicted sexual offender who moves into Simon's basement. Henry sparks Simon's mind and challenges him to write "the great American poem." To everyone's dismay, he does just that. From there, events spiral even further, until Simon must eventually make an important decision: remain loyal to his friend and help him flee the country, or turn his back on what they shared together in the past. Funny, shocking, and impressively grand in its ambitions, Hartley's script takes turns that most writers would never consider actually writing down. This is an original work that will stand as one of 1998's most exhilarating motion picture experiences.

Starring Parker Posey, James Urbaniak, Thomas Jay Ryan, Maria Porter, Kevin Corrigan
Director Hal Hartley
Studio ARTIFICIAL EYE
Run time DVD: 2 hrs 17 mins
Certificate Certificate 18
Genres Comedy, Drama
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 27 Jul 2009
Production year: 1998
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews of Henry Fool

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  • Looser, more expansive and certainly more scatological than Hartley's earlier work, this very funny, finally touching... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 07 May 2009

  • Most helpful member's review of Henry Fool

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  • 19 out of 19 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Hilarious, touching, unexpected black comedy!

    I first saw this film in 1998. Since then I've probably seen it about ten more times and I'm not really someone who watches films over and over. So why? Because it's beautifully constructed, with great direction, witty, sharp scripting, brilliant camera work and a very atmospheric soundtrack ( which contributes one hell of a lot). The characters are eccentric and yet very real. It's also a very quirky story that'll make you chuckle, but also shock you, and has a dark edge that keeps you thinking, wondering. There are moments that are just hilarious, and Hal Hartley is able to bounce you between great empathy for a character and then a sudden sense of uncertainty, shock, detachment. I love the relationship that Fool develops with the community he lands in. I shall probably watch this film another 2 or 3 times again this year. And I'll find more in it again. Watch it!

      • Jo H from Somerset, England
      • Posted 22 Jan 2007 08:31

  • Most recent members' review of Henry Fool

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  • 19 out of 19 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Hilarious, touching, unexpected black comedy!

    I first saw this film in 1998. Since then I've probably seen it about ten more times and I'm not really someone who watches films over and over. So why? Because it's beautifully constructed, with great direction, witty, sharp scripting, brilliant camera work and a very atmospheric soundtrack ( which contributes one hell of a lot). The characters are eccentric and yet very real. It's also a very quirky story that'll make you chuckle, but also shock you, and has a dark edge that keeps you thinking, wondering. There are moments that are just hilarious, and Hal Hartley is able to bounce you between great empathy for a character and then a sudden sense of uncertainty, shock, detachment. I love the relationship that Fool develops with the community he lands in. I shall probably watch this film another 2 or 3 times again this year. And I'll find more in it again. Watch it!

      • Jo H from Somerset, England
      • Posted 22 Jan 2007 08:31

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Rating breakdown

302 Member ratings
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25
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25
  • 80
60
  • 70
68
  • 60
50
  • 50
18
  • 40
14
  • 30
6
  • 20
27
  • 10
9

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      • Hartley has crafted here what many consider to be his crowning achievement: a sprawling epic of a story that tackles any and everything he decides to mock, satirize, or challenge. Simon is a factory ...