VeteranLight
I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.
ActuallyGlimmer
The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.
Mandeep Tyson
The acting in this movie is really good.
Hot Rog
I still can't believe Hollywood made a movie like this one. It's story is one that the average person can relate too and even find deeper meaning. It's about Henry Poole (Luke Wilson), a man who is living what remains of his life in a pessimistic, waiting state. He stays inside, ignores his neighbors and isn't very friendly. When a stain on his wall begins to change the fates of the lives around him, he doesn't want to believe or hope, but sometimes faith finds us when we have none. I won't tell anymore, except that this movie is on my "must watch" list for anyone who asks. Truly an amazing film with good co-stars and a simple, yet powerful ending.
SnoopyStyle
Henry Poole (Luke Wilson) has lost all hope. He tries to buy his childhood home but he can only get a house in the neighborhood. There's a water stain on the wall. His neighbor Esperanza Martinez (Adriana Barraza) insists it's the face of Christ. It starts to bleed and she gets Father Salazar (George Lopez) to test it. More and more people arrive to see the miracle. Dawn Stupek (Radha Mitchell) and her daughter Millie (Morgan Lily) live next door. Millie has stopped talking since her father left a year earlier. She has her tape recorder and she befriends Henry.It's a really touching movie at times. It's a spiritual movie that isn't too preachy. I would have liked Henry Poole do more than mop. Also Luke Wilson is a little limited as an actor. However, the touching moments are really powerful. Esperanza starts out as an annoying neighbor but her story is much deeper than that. Morgan Lily is unbearably adorable. This is a surprisingly little movie.
intelearts
Poole really tries hard to be a film about anything except "religion". The simple tale is told very quietly and very strongly. Here is just a man lost in the world, played with even more hangdog than usual by an excellent Luke Wilson, whose neighbor thinks she sees a manifestation in a plaster stain on Henry's wall.I don't remember the last time a film started so slowly and just grew and grew into something this good. The film blossoms without losing its fabulous sense of pace: slow, almost meditative, but never boring, this is essentially a character piece and each character has been workshopped beautifully - they have impact and weight because they simply are as natural as possible.This is one of those unique and sneaky films that should never work yet does and in spades. A terrific little movie that is what movies are all about: takes you on an unexpected journey that's well worth your time. Recommended.
Mike Kiker
I thought that this movie was way to preachy. As an atheist, I was offended, because Henry, through the supposed 'image of Christ' on his wall, has Christian beliefs, almost literally, shoved down his throat during the entire movie. As for Henry's rare disease, seems to me like another 'Joe vs. the Volcano' situation. A disease that nobody has ever heard of, that turns out to be fake, for whatever reason. Henry was probably just in a rut, and moved to the suburb to get away from it all, until the s--t hits the fan with this Jesus image outside his house. And it seems to me that most of the 'miracles' in this movie are all things that could've been helped with psychology. (spoiler alert...) Then at the end, Henry finally has enough and destroys the image, which ends up destroying a good chunk of his house, he ends up in the hospital and again, is still bombarded by Christianity. Henry is left with no choice, but to conform, or else...I'm sorry, but to me, it just seems that this is another movie that says 'Believe what we believe or we will hurt you.' Roger Ebert said about this movie, "It shows that belief is real." Well, my response to that is, Disbelief is just as real, if that is what you want to believe.
