Regarding Henry (1991)

This is one of the best movies I have ever seen.

I highly commend Harrison Ford for playing the lead role & sending quality messages to the public through film, which has become the leading form of world-view communication. Family & the importance of remaining faithful to your spouse is portrayed in a wonderful, positive way. It also sends the message that lying is wrong--which it is--& a true friend doesn't gossip behind your back. Throughout the movie, Harrison Ford's performance remains consistent & gripping, & frequently comical--as in the scene in the library & at the breakfast table. The only problem I found with this film was the soundtrack--WOW. However distracting the music, Regarding Henry deserves to watched over & over again.

Fmovies: Regarding Henry is about a man who projects a cold, emotional shell and seems as if he cares nothing for anyone but himself, full of malice that seems like simple inconsideration, a self-centered cockiness, and an extreme difficulty with allowing mutual understanding amongst those close to him, especially his uneasy wife and unhappy daughter. When he is shot incidentally in a robbery, because his emotional shell drops for no one, not even an armed thug in a convenience store, he recovers over the course of a few months, with serious brain injury, reverting him to an almost childlike state, thus a primal, basic form of himself, and a truly sensitive, caring person emerges, completely naive to the value system of his former self. His barefaced heart wrenched by all the decisions and actions he made leading up to the incident, he intends to fix them.

This is a wonderful premise and even more truthful and honest about the human condition that one may think, but to be honest, it is plagued by an almost unbearable lightness. A story this emotionally stimulating needs weight, further development, a script untouched by formula, and all these needs were fulfilled, the film would be yet even more fulfilling and the moral of the film would be less obvious and more provoking of insight and thought. I think it's a good movie, and tears will be shed, but in its requirements that had to be reached for fear of mainstream rejection or misunderstanding, not enough tears were should and it is left in a condition where its full potential is not reached.

Just as Mike Nichols, in the midpoint of his career around this film's time of release, began giving his films less atmosphere, less edge, less intensity (which would later return with films like Primary Colors and Closer), Harrison Ford's performances are normally quite stilted, even if he tends to be in very enjoyable movies, many of them classics. In Regarding Henry, he delivers one of his very finest, really feeling his character deeply and expressing emotion very realistically and compassionately.

Roger Ebert wasn't particularily fond of "Regarding Henry," because it is contrived, predictable, and sitcom-ish. And in retrospect, he's right on all accounts. But being a sucker for Harrison Ford, I had to watch Henry and I did like the movie, despite some obvious parts where scenes seem to be...well, missing. We do realize fairly quickly that this is going to be one of those "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" tales: the big, bad, dishonest lawyer who is turned into a new man. Albeit, Ford has a rough road to that reformation, via head injuries, a coma, physical therapy, etc, but we can see it coming a mile in advance. However, "Henry" boasts some touching moments, at least for me. When Henry begins therapy, the therapist asks the once-prominent lawyer to pick out the triangle from among some blocks. Although we don't see Henry's choice, we hear the therapist's encouraging voice: "Close. I'll give you a hint, that's not it." At that moment I couldn't help but wonder how desperate a situation it would be if someone I loved was there, struggling among rectangles and circles. Annette Bening and Ford are both intelligent actors who succeed in their roles, however underwritten they may be. But I wondered how probable certain situations were: Would Henry automatically love his wife because he's supposed to? What about their money problems?? Too many unanswered questions, but still worth a spin.

Regarding Henry fmovies. First, I won't lie to you. I love Harrison Ford. That doesn't mean that I instantly love everything he does (*cough*SABRINA*cough*). That said, this film really shows him off and also deals with a very real topic.

Many people say this film is manipulative, but I don't see it, and I'm usually the first one to roll my eyes at something being overdone. The characters were believable, though Harrison Ford easily outshines the others. Playing someone with a disability is very, very difficult, yet he does it so flawlessly that you really believe that he is brain-damaged.

The plot: Harrison Ford, as Henry Turner, is a cutt-throat lawyer who seems to have lost sight of life. Yea, he's a total jerk, but this first segment is pretty crucial. This movie has a habit of bringing back seemingly unimportant things (for example, Henry's opinion of the table). However, one night after winning a case defending a hospital in a malpractice suit, Henry is off to buy cigarettes and winds up being shot by a panicked robber at the convenience store (The robber is played by John Leguizamo, by the way-probably jealous that Ford is a much better actor). The bullets hit Henry in the head and he is brain-damaged. Now, he must slowly start his life over again, trying to re-learn speech, tying shoes, and remembering who he used to be. Of course, once he learns what an a**hole he used to be and the rotten people he was associated with, he is forced to make some choices about his life.

There are some really great scenes in here. In particular, the entire mystery of why Henry remembers the word "Ritz" actually plays a major role in the film. Annette Bening is good as the wife who is trying to help her husband regain his own life and aquainting herself with the new Henry. It cannot be stressed enough how stellar Ford's performance is. Even if you hate the script, you'll have to admit that he is completely convincing as Henry. This role is a real change for someone well-known for playing Han Solo and Indiana Jones.

This movie is definetly worth a rental, if just for seeing Harrison Ford's Oscar-worthy acting job.

...at the horrible ratings this film is getting.

How can anyone not see & savor the multiple emotional trips upon which this film takes the viewer.

From the lead male, to the lead female, the young girl - even the dog - the story steers viewers throughout the scope of humanity. Supporting cast are well-selected.

If you're looking for Han or Indy, move on, for you'll be seeing a side of Harrison Ford not duplicated. Open your heart and mind, and embrace a lovely yet provocative film.

I am Harrison Ford Fan Especially since his Dr. Jack Ryan Days. I had first seen this movies in 97-98 on TV. At that time I'd probably have given like 3/10 or some such and called it a tear jerker.

But after doing my own 3 months in Hospital and 1 yr. in Rehabilitation, I saw it again on TV. This time it made a huge impact on me although I knew the story. Suddenly I was able to relate to Henry and his problems and frustrations, especially his love to live life Fully.

Not many people will agree with me. But I do wish to tell you that take his advice. You never know about Tomorrow.