Review of Hearts in Atlantis (2001) by Zach S — 12 Jun 2007

The fine line between the nostalgic and the macabre has never been as seamless as Scott Hicks' masterful adaptation of Stephen King's "Hearts in Atlantis." The movie begins as a pining reminiscence of "simpler times" in the summer of 1960, when 11-year-old Bobby Garfield yearns for a shiny new bike and goes swimming with his best pals.

A stranger named Ted Brautigan moves upstairs, and befriends Bobby. But soon, an unusual and mystical bond is created between the two. The time and place are stunningly evocative, and the performances by youngsters Yelchin and Boorem always ring true.

The film solidifies Hopkins' standing as one of the finest actors of our generation, able to summon feelings of love, remorse, and tremendous fear all at once. Director Hicks' use of period music (i.

E. Chuck Berry and The Platters) along with Mychael Danna's haunting score create an atmosphere that is warm one moment, chilly the next; the juxtaposition of the two is rather remarkable. Yet another great movie about the power of memory, and its hold on those who were never able to fully grow up.