Watch Duane Hopwood For Free

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Admirable film.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Duane Hopwood (David Schwimmer) is distraught over his recent divorce and turns to the bottle for comfort. It is probable that his drinking problem contributed to his split from his wife, Linda (Janeane Garofalo). He maintains his job in an Atlantic City casino but, after hours, he is acting irresponsibly. One night, he is pulled over by a police officer, on suspicion of driving under the influence. It is all too apparent that Duane is, indeed, drunk, but complicating the matter is the fact that he has one of his young daughters in the back seat. Linda is fit to be tied and wants the court to decide if Duane's contact with the girls should be severed. This drives Duane into a further depression, for he is a good father when he is sober. Then, too, Linda has a new man in her life and Duane is upset over that, also, for he still loves his former wife dearly. How can Duane keep himself together? This is a touching film about alcoholism and its deep impact on those in its grasp. As Duane, Schwimmer gives an outstanding, heartfelt performance that clearly shows that a man under the influence can stand to lose it all, even though he is not a "bad" human being. A blonde and glamorized Garofalo, too, gives a strong turn as a woman who has reached the end of her patience with a topsy-turvy home situation. The rest of the cast is quite fine as well, including the two lovely little girls. As for the settings, costumes, and photography, they perfectly realize the Jersey shore and its mixed bag of poverty and affluence. In truth, Duane's descent into misery seems a bit harsh, as he demonstrates time and again that he is a good dad and that his DUI was his first criminal offense. Yet, where children are involved, their ultimate protection is the main determining factor, of course. In this light, Hopwood is a potent cautionary tale for those who like their drink a bit too much, for it can ruin lives. Yet, the film is not without hope and could serve as an inspiration for those who are in the grip of any addiction. All viewers who like Schwimmer, too, will find this a good watch, as his performance is very, very strong.

Excellent movie. The cast is perfect, great length, plot, point, etc. I can't say enough great things about it. The best you'll ever feel watching a dark movie. Yeah, it's a feel good, dark movie. But not so much a comedy. And David Schwimmer is great. Don't worry about watching a "Ross" movie, cause this definitely isn't it. If you've seen it, you probably know what I'm talking about, if not, you don't know what you're missing. Sorry to sound so extreme on the descriptive words, as I generally try to avoid those reviews as being "extreme." But this is worthy of the praise. I've tried to get friends of mine to watch it, but they usually just dismiss it as another "Ross Geller" movie, which it is not.

This film certainly includes some good performances. Schwimmer is believable as a drunken loser, but also maintains his likability. Judah Friedlander succeeds in bringing much-needed levity and humor to the film.But, overall, this one just misses the mark. Lacking any real story, we are led through a series of events that never culminate in anything. Yes, there are some serious themes brought up (my dad drank and it didn't destroy our family; friends can become our surrogate families; etc.) but none are played out enough.Poor editing leads to uneven pacing throughout, terrible music choices create a disjointed feel, some of the worst DP work I've ever seen--unattractive angles, poor lighting, too many close-ups--make the viewer cringe at times. And Garofalo--whose work I usually like--seems miscast and out of her element here.Where is the climax of the film? I don't think there was one. Where is the ending? That's also missing.It's a mess. The question I kept asking myself was "Why this story?" Why did this story need to be told?

Mulhern and Schwimmer and the rest of the cast should be proud of themselves for this determined effort to make a movie that does so many things right, without falling into all the predictable traps for indie character-driven movies. Schwimmer gives a heartbreaking performance and Mulhern deserves a lot of credit for getting him there. The writing is distinctive, with a kind of overlapping free flow that seems almost improvisational, but is clearly rooted in the script. The supporting cast is so wonderful, from the kids to the smallest adult role - no character is left functioning to serve some silly plot, but rather has a stake in the story, not usually seen in screen writing. All in all, a truly moving and enjoyable experience.