HEARTS IN ATLANTIS

US, 2001, 101 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Hopkins, Anton Yelchin, Hope Davis, Mika Boorem, David Morse, Alan Tudyk, Tom Bower, Celia Weston, Adam Lefevre.
Directed by Scott Hicks.

Hearts in Atlantis is based on a short story in Stephen King’s collection of the same name, Low Men in Yellow Coats. The principal comparison would be with Stand by Me, the focus on children, young boys and their growing up.

Although this is a gentle film, especially in the detailed relationship between Bobby and Ted, there are ominous suggestions in the background: Ted’s psychic powers, their being used by the FBI for tracking people, Ted and his not being settled, his having trances; and the sexual attack on the young girl, Carol, by the older boy as well as on Bobby’s mother by her boss.

Bobby is played by Anton Yelchin at the beginning of his career, a fine performance which led to a strong adult career in film and television. Anthony Hopkins is rather restrained in his sympathetic portrayal of the enigmatic older man, Ted. Hope Davis is Bobby’s mother and David Morse appears in the book ends of the film, the older Bobby going to a funeral, visiting his home town, encountering the daughter of the girl he had kissed.

The intelligent screenplay was written by William Goldman, expert at screenplays including Butch Cassidy and Marathon Man. The film was directed by Australian, Scott Hicks, who made such an impact with Shine and went on to make films in the United States including, Snow Falling on Cedars, No Reservations. He returned to Australia in 2009 to make The Boys are Back.

1. Stephen King story? Subtext of horror? A film about human relationships, adults and children, mother and son?

2. The 1959 setting, Richard Nixon as vice president? The newspapers? The focus on sport? The focus on politics? The FBI and the use of psychics?

3. The town, the house, the hill, the woods, the streets, cinema, clubs? The musical score? Songs?

4. The title, as explained by Ted, happiness in Atlantis? Not obtainable here on earth?

5. The opening, Bobby, adult working, going to the funeral, his friendship with Sully, inheriting the baseball glove? The news that Carol was dead? His visiting the house, the memories? The end, going back to the adult Bobby, meeting Carol’s daughter, reminiscing, the photo and the gift? His driving away, his comment on the impact that this summer had on him?

6. The flashbacks: Bobby, aged 11, his birthday, getting the adult library card, no money for the bike, his mother’s comments about her dead husband’s leaving debts, blaming him for gambling? Her work, working back, the attention of the boss – and her later going to the seminar, the sexual attack by her boss and its effect on her? Bobby, a sensible young man, accepting reality? His friendship with Sully and with Carol? Their meetings, discussions, play? The ferris wheel and Bobby kissing Carol – the kiss against which all other kisses measured?

7. The arrival of Ted, his manner, cases, going upstairs, Bobby’s mother and her instant dislike, suspicions of him, questions about inappropriate behaviour, his settling in? Ted and his manner, not giving much information? Friendship with Bobby, the dollar for reading the newspapers? His wisdom, talking about books, A Tale of To Cities, Lost Horizon? His knowledge of sport, the long story about the elderly football player and his crawling to the goal? Bobby telling him that his father was at that match?

8. The effect on Bobby, a father-figure, enjoying his company? Not able to touch Ted? Ted as a psychic? His trances? His knowledge about people, names, the attack on Bobby’s mother…? The discussion with Bobby, about the people looking for him, the notices on the trees, the suits and the hats? Bobby finding the notices, taking them down? The bullying boys on the bikes, taking the notice? Insulting Bobby as queer? The physical attacks, the attack on Carol, Bobby carrying her home, Ted and his fixing the dislocated shoulder? Bobby’s mother, after experience of the sexual attack, her suspicions of Ted,
wanting to call the police? The tension between mother and son?

9. His mother asking Ted to be a babysitter? Their going out, seen The Village of the Damned? Going to the club? The gambling? The woman at the bar, memories of Bobby’s father, not a gambler and loser, the photo?

10. The suspicious men, Bobby in the street, getting into the club to get the money for Ted? Coming back and finding Ted being taken away? The money? His bike?

11. The background of the FBI, the information about psychics, the reasons for tracking down Ted, the sinister men? Ted not able to settle, trying to move to safer places?

12. The effect on Bobby, the reconciliation with his mother, their leaving, the bike on the roof of the car?

13. A portrait of an 11-year-old boy, his family situation, his mother, Carol and Sully, and the impact of Ted?