Duane Hopwood (2005) User Reviews

Divorce, Addiction, and Other Obstacles in the Path to Happiness

[gradyharp · 8/10 · 30 April 2006]

Matt Mulhern is an actor turned writer/director in this amazingly fine first feature film. If DUANE HOPWOOD is any indication of the storehouse of creative and gently profound films housed in Mulhern's mind, we have a major artist being birthed.

Duane Hopwood (David Schwimmer) is a loser: despite the fact that he is one of the most loving beings around, he is plagued by the realities of life - working a testy night job as a pit boss in Caesar's Palace in Atlantic City, failing to be present for a wife and two girls he loves but neglects due to his working hours and that has resulted in divorce, alcoholism, and failure to repair - he just can't make his life work. After a DUI arrest in which Duane has inadvertently jeopardized the life of one of his passenger daughters, is ex-wife Linda (Janeane Garofalo) is driven to prevent visitation rights to a man she recognizes is in truth a loving father who simply can't cope. Duane lives alone until his casino friend Anthony (Judah Friedlander), a would be stand up comic, asks to share Duane's home. Duane's bad luck follows him even when he is trying to give despicable people a fair break at the casino and hence loses his job. He attempts to date a kind Irish bartender Gina (Susan Lynch) but fails that role when he confesses that he still loves his wife. The ultimate blow comes when Linda and her new boyfriend Bob (John Krasinski) decide to move to North Carolina, a fact that means Duane will rarely see his beloved daughters. And his life continues to pall-mall despite all the loving hands offered by the good people around him.

The story has no beginning and no end. It is a slice of life about an Everyman racked by bad decisions, good at heart but unable to control his propensities, and the effects of addiction, divorce, and loneliness on a kind but bumbling soul. David Schwimmer gives a deeply moving performance, one that is so sensitively rendered that it holds mirrors to us all, making us love him as much as the people around him who stand by helplessly by as he spirals down the hole of self-destructive behavior. Janeane Garofalo likewise steps out of her usual silly chubby mouthy roles and gives us an injured but wholly understandable bruised woman: her acting is the finest she has ever given us. The entire cast (with some surprise appearances by some fine actors) is top notch, but in the end the kudos go to Matt Mulhern for offering us one of the best examinations of divorce and modern marriage with an eye that clearly sees both sides of trauma. This is an underrated, superb film that deserves a wide audience. Grady Harp

Shows you life's little rainbows over the puddles of rain

[movedout · 8/10 · 2 April 2007]

There's a certain tenderness that sifts its way through "Duane Hopwood", a post-Friends starring vehicle for David Schwimmer that navigates the tentative dialogue between alcoholism and the dark cloud that hangs not just above the individual, but those who surround themselves around the afflicted throughout their darkest days. Take comfort in them, as they are the saints who prop you up when you're down and show you life's little rainbows over the puddles of rain.

There's considerable sincerity in Matt Mulhern's second feature and credit has to go to its cadre of performers who are mainly made up of fairly well known stand-ups and comedians. They shed their onstage personas to become real people and it shows that the understanding they share also allows these actors to have better chemistry among themselves. Schwimmer, in particular, breaks his personal mould and gives a nuanced, careful portrayal of a man teetering on life's edge. His perpetual hangdog exterior allows Duane some measure of sympathy even through the most appalling decisions that he has made.

In one astoundingly bad decision, he drives his youngest child home while drunk and in the process loses the only things that has tethered his life together in an uncaring courtroom that does not deal in circumstances but the cold, hard facts of Duane's unforgivable mistake. That instance proves too much for his wife, Linda (Janeane Garofalo) to handle. She's not an uncaring woman in any respect, just a mother who does not gamble the lives of their two young daughters with the hope of her husband changing anytime soon.

"Duane Hopwood" does not make a caricature out of its titular character, and it does not pile on the disheartening melodrama out of alcoholism. While not concerning us with the issues of why and how Duane becomes who he is, it does specify that it's a whole different world for alcoholics especially the ones deep in denial. It truly excels in crafting a delicate and carefully drawn portrait of an alcoholic who's made mistakes in his life and has to find a way to live through them. Understanding in only a way that comes to those who observe life through fortitude, it's genuine in the sense of showing ordinary people in ordinary situations who react in ordinary ways. They cope and the film is thoughtful enough to refrain from putting cinematic spins on issues that are already inherently interesting.

Thankfully, it's mindful of not becoming too much of a downbeat, despairing approximation of Duane's life. Despite everything, he is surrounded by friends and family who still love and yearns for him to be happy. They never forget that he is a good worker, a good father and a good husband cursed with flaws that are slowly taking him over. It's frequent, but low-key sense of humour does hint of the redemption that waits around the corner for the wretched. "Duane Hopwood" is ultimately about picking up the pieces and moving on, and not about fixing what's broken.

Starting over

[Lljh665 · 8/10 · 27 December 2006]

One of the perils of being known for a particular role is that its hard to shed that image. David Schwimmer, like the rest of the cast of "Friends" is not financially strapped for cash nor will he ever be. But as an actor, he's trying to break the mold of Ross Gellar (his character on "Friends") that he played for a decade. Of all the "Friends", Jennifer Aniston seems to have made the most out of the show – though all of them have had their ups and downs. I'm leading up to something, bear with me here…It was nice to see a major star like David Schwimmer in a very low-budget, independent film. Add to that the character he plays is the polar opposite of "Ross", it was a stretch for him and he did a good job with his role in "Duane Hopwood". The film was written and directed by Matt Mulhern, himself an actor most remembered for his roles in "One Crazy Summer" and "Biloxi Blues". What's most intriguing about the movie is that the director and stars are all mainly known for their comedic performances (Janeane Garofalo plays Hopwood's ex-wife).

"Duane Hopwood" isn't an easy movie to watch, any movie that deals with the problem of alcoholism is hit or miss. It's easy for actors to try and do too much in their "state" and try to ham it up for the cameras. Schwimmer takes the low road and lets us know that his character has a drinking problem, but doesn't feel the need to rub it in our faces. Duane Hopwood (David Schwimmer) is a casino pit boss at Caesar's Palace in Atlantic City. He's divorced and isn't too happy with his life. He gets pulled over for drunk driving with his daughter in the car and has his license revoked. His only means to get to work is via bicycle. Throughout the course of the movie, we see him try to rebuild his life – trying to reconcile with his estranged wife (only to finally accept that she's moved on). Like most people with a drinking problem, Duane won't admit that he really has a problem – yet it's evident to everyone else. His friend (and later roommate) Anthony (Judah Friedlander) is his inspiration. Anthony wants to be a stand up comedian and it angers Duane that he's following his dreams.

The real message in the movie is about starting over. I don't want to give away the ending, but movies about drunks can only end so many ways and most aren't too satisfying. I have to admit that I was pretty impressed by Janeane Garofalo's performance. She tends to play the same character in most every movie she's in and wit her bleached blonde locks, I hardly recognized her. And speaking of the cast, look for Dick Cavett in the small role of Fred another odd casting choice that seemed to work out. I don't know how personal this was to Matt Mulhern or if he's had problems with alcohol or substance abuse in the past, but as downtrodden as the script was; the performances were great and made the short running time spread out. As I mentioned before, the movie isn't easy to watch but it's quite rewarding.

Short&Sweet

[theoberoichronicles · 7/10 · 7 June 2013]

OK,Confession first. The only reason i watched this movie is because I wanted to see more of David Schwimmer after already having seen his other work. Plus, i just finished watching the 'The Last One' and was having withdrawal symptoms. I think I'm gonna get busy with the filmography of the entire Friends cast now. But still,David is different from all of them.Over time I have come to greatly admire all of David's work,be it acting or direction. He has a lot more to him then one could imagine looking at 'Ross' during his 'friends' run.

As for the movie, David is great in this drama role and the movie itself is very touching,showing a fathers love for his daughters and just how the smallest of things can turn your life upside down. And of course what happens if you drive around drunk with your daughter in the backseat. Not a good idea,that one.

All in all, its worth a watch for all David Schwimmer fans,like me.

Final ten minutes

[placidspace · 7/10 · 12 May 2006]

As a father of a 9-month old perfect baby girl whose wife left him because of pretty much the same circumstances that Duane experienced (save for the DUI and the forced baseball bat incident), my question is why did he not fight his ex-wife's decision to relocate his daughters to another state for a guy who can barely make it at managing a gym? "We'll arrange visitation in a couple of months."!! No way.

Any real Dad who loves his babies would never smile, ride on a bike and in a funny costume next to a car carrying away his life, then attend a Thanksgiving meal and make a toast.

The movie, however, was a decent showing of how addiction destroys families. That part was accurate. Redemption was ignored.

Guess I was just disappointed because I wanted very badly for Duane to accept treatment, turn his ass around, and pursue this "second chance" that the trailer promised. Where was that second chance that was promised? Never came.

Touching, bittersweet film, with an excellent performance by Schwimmer

[inkblot11 · 7/10 · 1 April 2008]

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.

Manufactured Street Cred

[ray-280 · 6/10 · 29 December 2006]

Simple formula: take a sitcom star (David Schwimmer as the title character) looking to break type, put him in an indie film, add a B-list actress (Janeane Garafolo as Linda) who gets a leading role for a change, throw in a talk-show relic (Dick Cavett as Fred) who surprised people not only by being in the film, but reminding them that he's still alive, and you get little more than a useful reminder to Hollwood's snobbier diva types that you can make a movie on a low budget with a dialogue-driven script. This, however, does not mean that the movie is good, even if the intentions of those involved were.

In Duane Hopwood, we get one movie more than a life like this deserves. Schwimmer brings the alcoholic lead to life, and we get to follow him around as he stumbles from one predictable, self-inflicted crisis to another. Schwimmer as a total bad boy would too much disbelief to suspend, so Duane is portrayed more as a likable loser, at least on his good days. We see that Duane loves his daughters, who love him back equally, and pines for the ex-wife who moved on to another man. The movie does correctly show the selfishness of her choice, as Linda puts her own happiness above that of her daughters, who clearly want their father around. Linda is a boring, predictable character played by an even more boring and predictable actress. Garafolo has many fans, but I am not one of them.

Dick Cavett's "cameo" as the presumably gay neighbor was interesting, though it didn't add much to the film. Much of the action focused on Duane at his job, as if to send home the message that the world runs on people like him, people who manage to put aside their problems long enough to clock into work and do their jobs for us. Judah Friedlander (Anthony) is Duane's main sidekick, who moves in with him mostly for co-dependent reasons (he needs to get away from home and Duane needs a ride due to a DUI conviction).

We see Duane continually getting in his own way, but to what end? To tell us that an alcoholic is going to hurt himself is not groundbreaking, the film was sorely lacking in a purpose that would convince the viewer that there was ever a reason to tell this story on film other than to put a few actors into an indie so that they might get better consideration for the big-ticket roles they ostensibly shunned to take this more "artistic" creation.

Don't get me wrong; this is not a horrible film. The acting is decent, and far worse stories have made the big screen. The film just does not stand out or leave much of an impression on the audience beyond the novelty appeal of seeing Schwimmer playing what is essentially an alcoholic version of Ross. If he wanted to break type, he should have tried playing a mob boss rather than a wimpy pit boss.

Of all the performances in the film, the one that actually stands out the most was Ramya Pratt as Mary. I wouldn't be surprised to see her getting Oscar nominations in another decade or two. She did incredibly well with limited material, and showed great timing, poise, and maturity handling material that would have been beyond most actresses her age.

I wouldn't tell someone not to see this film, but I wouldn't go out of my way to endorse it, either. Purely a middle-of-the-road effort that does not accomplish what Schwimmer seems so desperately to want to, but he does get an A for effort.

Daddy let me go

[Oast · 9/10 · 27 December 2006]

There is a certain freedom when you lose everything you ever cared about in life. It sounds insane, I know. But it simplifies the process of life. It means you can start from scratch... A clean slate if you will.

"Duane Hopwood" (David Schwimmer) first loses his sobriety, then his wife and two daughters, then his job, then his hope and comes dangerously close to losing his will to live. At the custody hearing, he tells the judge that he "needs a reason to stay".

The only thing Duane doesn't lose is the unconditional love of his daughters and the loyalty of a very quirky group of friends.

What is so skillful about this film is the way in which it balances our sympathy for Duane's tragic situation with our understanding that Duane is the cause of his own problems and the only one who can remedy them.

The pivot, around which the film's emotional power revolves, is the quite magnificent transformation of David Schwimmer from the almost unshakable familiarity of his role as Ross on NBC's 'Friends' to this ever so sad and bedraggled ex-husband and father who is desperate to stop the sand slipping through his fingers. This is absolutely a career transforming role that, surprisingly to me, certifies that he has a very promising film career as a dramatic actor in front of him. If enough people see this film, he will be reaping the rewards with great parts for years to come.

Janeane Garofalo also delivers in an atypical role. As Duane's estranged wife, she delicately balances the cold-hearted reality of wanting to move on with her life and the sympathetic understanding of someone who knows him better than anyone else. Her role could so easily have drifted into cynical and clichéd 'mean ex-wife' territory... but this film is too smart to go down that path.

There are some truly fine performances from the supporting cast members. Judah Friedlander & Susan Lynch are both very good as Duane's new support system. Friedlander plays Anthony, an aspiring comedian who becomes Duane's roommate. Lynch is Duane's first girlfriend since getting divorced. Each of them change the pace of the film nicely and add depth and nuance to an already powerful story.

I also want to point out the girls who play Duane's kids. So often I complain that bad performances from kids can ruin the believability of a film... However, Ramya Pratt & Rachel Covey are both splendid here.

This film feels like a cross between "The Family Man" and "Leaving Las Vegas"... an odd combination indeed. But it works on so many levels. I laughed during this film. I shed tears in the final act. I cared about each and every character. It is a tremendously well written screenplay, and it is acted with precision.

This is a small independent feature that really deserves a wide audience. Unfortunately, it will have trouble finding one because it doesn't have a huge publicity campaign behind it or 75 copies lining the shelves of DVD stores. I can only hope that word of mouth and positive reviews like mine will convince a few people to seek this film out. If they do, they will find a diamond in the rough and will be telling all their friends about it too.

Wanted to like it, but couldn't

[r04 · 4/10 · 20 December 2006]

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?

Boy - does it deserve to be seen!

[absmith2-1 · 10/10 · 21 February 2006]

I saw this in Chicago when it played for a couple weeks. First of all - what happened to this film? Roger Ebert included it in his "Year End Best Of 2005 Movies" list. I guess the distributor - IFC Films - messed it up, because it was one of the best movies I saw all year! David Schwimmer was excellent, and the rest of the cast was too. The writer and director, Matt Mulhern, who is an actor too, has made a movie that will make you laugh and cry, about real people - people you know, people you live with, maybe even you yourself. There are parts of the main character, Duane Hopwood, I think we all can relate to, in the way he struggles to be a good person, but lets his demons get the better of him. And the movie does it without lecturing or preaching, but simply by letting the audience in and telling the story of an everyman who goes to work every day, hoping and praying that the people he loves will continue to love him back. I hope the movie comes out again - boy, does it deserve to be seen! absmith Chicago, Illinois

Too many disconnects

[cwhyel · 4/10 · 13 May 2006]

A disappointment with what in my opinion is a light-weight treatment of a serious subject matter.

I wanted so badly for this to be a break out film for Schwimmer, and a career changing role for Garofalo, who despite her success at being very annoying, is a substantive actress.

There were too many points of departure that didn't link up and subsequently I felt the film played at a level just above melodrama.

Great actors who all deserve better, a great backdrop of Atlantic City in the fall, and yet it still just didn't work for me.

It lacked urgency, Schwimmer's Duane was more regretful than remorseful. Schwimmer didn't convince me as a drunk either.

I do respect the fact that they took a chance with this project. I feel like blaming someone here but I'm not sure who. It just didn't work for me.

I love this film!

[alaurenw · 9/10 · 10 November 2005]

I loved this film -- it's very well done with a great performance from David Schwimmer. Schwimmer plays a casino pit boss who gradually goes down hill and hits bottom when he's caught driving drunk with his young daughter in the back seat. It's the wake-up call he needs, though,as ex-wife Janeane Garofalo threatens to take away his visitation rights to his two girls. Schwimmer gradually begins to get it together when he forms an unlikely friendship with Judah Friedlander, who as always is funny and brings some much-needed humor to the film. It's like a wonderful short story with a great cast of characters set in a unique place. I highly recommend it.

a big disappointment

[knitwitjb · 2/10 · 10 May 2006]

I was amazed at the positive comments for this film. I rented it because I wanted to see what David Schwimmer was up to post-Friends. I also like Janeane Garafolo and feel I don't see enough of her in films. All I can say is that the film was, at best, disappointing. I read the comments and tried to see the things that were mentioned. I agree that the lead performances were good and as for "it was too depressing" that seems a silly remark--where is it written that a film should not be "depressing". My complaint is that there was NO plot whatsoever. A "slice of life", yes; but so what? A lovable loser who can't get it together--so what? If you've ever lived with an intractable alcoholic, you won't find this film entertaining at all. Drunks are not lovable--that's why they're usually divorced. To each his own, but I could barely sit through this drivel.

David Schwimmer blew me away

[Kltty · 9/10 · 27 December 2006]

For David Schwimmer making a name in feature films has, and will most likely continue to be a tall order, as it's tough to shed an image honed for over a decade. His first post- Friends feature is 2005's Duane Hopwood , a small film praised by critics that was only given a limited theatrical release.

Duane Hopwood is a man who once had it all, including a loving wife (Janeane Garofalo) and two daughters. Now that he's an alcoholic, all Duane has left is his cushy job as a pit boss at Caesar's Palace in Atlantic City. Now divorced, his downfall accelerates when he's stopped for drunk driving with his daughter in the car. A judge goes somewhat easy on Duane, only revoking his driver's license. He uses a bicycle to get to work until his friend and co-worker Anthony (Judah Friedlander) moves in with him and drives him to work. All that Duane wants is to spend time with his kids and get back with his wife, but numerous glasses of scotch and cans of beer always get in the way.

To say David Schwimmer has arrived as a serious actor is a major understatement. His portrayal of a man spiraling downward fast is more than Oscar worthy, as this character's problems only start with dependence. His is a straightforward, dramatic account, but Schwimmer levels things out by bringing a sly sense of humor to the proceedings when necessary. Simply, David Schwimmer blew me away in this film.

Duane Hopwood is tough at times to watch, as any man with children is bound to choke up watching the title character's hardships. Writer/director Matt Mulhern begins his film with a montage of Duane's good times, laughing with his wife and kids before making the pivotal decision of stopping at a bar one night—soon after, we have a front row seat to his demise. Mulhern's pacing is excellent; so much happens in the film that it's hard to believe the running time is a mere 80 minutes. Judah Friedlander, one of the great character actors, embodies Anthony, who gives Duane enough comedy in his life to keep him afloat. Dick Cavett also pops up as Duane's neighbor, and Janeane Garofalo gives her best performance in years as Duane's wife.

Ending a film like this can be difficult. Mulhern treads this carefully, and pulls off a satisfying and realistic conclusion. One comes away feeling truly sorry for this loving father who is crippled by addiction, as so many people are, and his resulting inability to make rational and intelligent decisions. Hopefully, more people will discover this film now that it's widely available, if only to find that David Schwimmer has the acting chops to potentially enjoy a lucrative movie career. Oh, and who is this Ross guy, anyway? I've already forgotten.

Entertaining but in the end, a let down

[overfed · 3/10 · 12 March 2005]

I saw this movie at Sundance this year and I was kind of let down. My friends and I ended up with tickets not really knowing what we were going to see. The movie's story line is just WAY TOO DEPRESSING, however it does have its light-hearted moments, particularly when Schwimmer's co-worker/room-mate decides to show up. The movie was well done and it has a story that is not often seen (I can't think of anything similar to it off the top of my head), but everything moves slowly until the end. In the last half hour or so of the movie, everything picks up VERY quickly. It almost moves at a pace that is hard to follow. Bad thing on top of bad thing happen to Schwimmer's character, but then, with about 5 minutes left in the movie, everything resolves itself. Every bad thing that happens pretty much undoes itself.

This is not a bad movie, but my friends and I have agreed on the fact that this movie's story development/flow needs a little bit of work. We talked to some other people who saw it and they agreed. It's pretty much a build-up to nothing. It has amazing comical moments, but it's too depressing and too big of a let-down.

A beautiful character piece for smart people

[Bammerloo · 10/10 · 15 May 2006]

Duane Hopwood is a film about ordinary people whose problems are no different than yours or mine. Hopwood is a man who loves his wife and wants to be a good father to his children, and is losing everything because of his penchant for hitting the bottle. Hopwood is not a mean or tragic drunk figure. He's simply a sad man whose days are sometimes joyful, oftentimes not. With his drunkenness Hopwood's wife Linda is not callous about it. She understands Duane has a problem. But, she can only put up with so much. And when he drives drunk with one of their daughters in the back seat, she goes to divorce court. What's done is done. Linda is finished with dealing with Duane's alcoholism; now it is about looking out for her (not their) kids' welfare.

David Schwimmer plays Duane Hopwood, and his performance surpasses everything he's ever done on Friends. Television shows are like that. When they become popular it is hard to separate the character from the actor. As Duane, Schwimmer has unfixed the stigma he got from being Ross all those years. He has friends in the film, but he's mostly by himself, trying to live his life in Atlantic City. During the wee hours of the morning he pedals his bicycle to his job so he can work a 3 to 12 shift as a pit boss at Caesars. Why the bicycle? The incident with his daughter in the back seat caused him to have his license revoked. Writer-director Matt Mulhernnails home the point of alcoholism. Those who are addicted to the bottle do not think they're alcoholics. "I drink too much sometimes, but Linda, come on, I'm not a drunk," Duane pleads with his ex-wife. Barflies may get drunk, but that's their thing. Duane endangered a daughter he loves, lost his family through divorce, and still cannot stop himself from going to a bar after getting off at noon. Duane can't control his drinking habits. He either drinks way too much or just too much. Sometimes he doesn't drink at all. Alcohol just wasn't becoming that day.

For all I have written about drinking and alcohol, one might think Duane Hopwood is a dreary movie. Well, it is dreary but not because of the subject matter. The grayness of Atlantic City during the winter gives off a ghost town vibe. It's the off-season for tourists, so the town lacks life. Taking away the obsessive drinking aspect, you are left with a guy who wakes up when many are asleep, trying to be professional working the late-night shift at a casino where customers are sparse, and hating that his one true love is now in love with somebody else.

A very uneven film, badly written and directed, with a few average moments...

[GrigoryGirl · 2/10 · 2 February 2008]

While I watched this film, it was schizophernic. There were some good dramatic moments, balanced with ridiculously cute montages, badly written supporting characters, and inane dialogue. David Schwimmer is pretty good as the title character. I never watched Friends on a regular basis, so I don't think of Ross like other people might when they see him. He's not a total disaster in this dramatic role, but he doesn't give an Oscar worthy performance. The character of Duane's ex-wife (nicely played by Janeane Garofalo, who does the best she can with her underwritten role) is a good example of what's wrong with the film. At the beginning, she is adamant about her anger and her decision to divorce him. At the end of the film, she's forgiving of him, and they part friends, despite the fact that she is moving to South Carolina with their kids and her new boyfriend. That type of logic plays more like a sitcom than it does a film that supposed to be a realistic depiction of alcoholism. The filmmakers never really give us a clear reason as to why Duane started drinking. He's still in love with his (now) ex-wife, he loves his kids, and he likes his job. Duane mentions his parents with affection, so he wasn't abused as a child. But he drinks nevertheless. There is also awkward comic relief (provided by Duane's roommate, played by Judah Friedlander, an aspiring standup comic) that really illustrates the two faces of this film. Duane's relationship with a sympathetic bartender seems tacked on. There is an excellent scene where Duane has a breakdown in a casino, but it's nearly ruined by the standup comic's constant yammering throughout it. Overall, it's watchable, but it's not sure what kind of film it really wants to be...

This movie is at a higher level and yet it is so simple.

[shareq1310 · 9/10 · 28 May 2006]

I went to rent a movie the other day and I saw this movie. At first this looked like a really ordinary movie but I had seen David Schwimmer in friends and I wanted to see him act in a different role. This movie was shown in the sun dance festival and I think David shcwimmer has done justice to his role. This movie is for any person who is alive today. This is about your daily life and how you go about it. Everyone has problems and every one tackles with them each day. Duane hopwood has done the same thing here. He has shown his life as it passes by each day. He has shown love for his family. I personally enjoyed this movie. This movie is at a higher level and by that I mean it has got lot of emotions in it and you need to look at each frame by frame to see what I am saying. If you have loved some one or if you are facing any problem in your life or if you think your life is not going where you wanted it to go then watch this movie and you will come to realize that it is not only you but there are a lot of people who have the same problem. This movie is anyones life. I highly recommend this film to all film watchers.

Dull film about a self-destructive character

[blott2319-1 · 4/10 · 9 October 2021]

Duane Hopwood is a simple indie movie about an alcoholic whose life is falling apart around him. It's not all that pleasant to watch because the main character isn't exactly the most sympathetic guy around. You can find some connection with him because he does seem like a loving father, but his life choices kind of undermine that aspect of his personality. I'm just not drawn to this kind of self-destructive character, and because I haven't dealt with any of those struggles personally, I find it hard to relate and get on the side of a guy like Duane Hopwood. They have small moments that shift me to rooting for him, but they are few and far between. The ending was one that could have easily gone in two different directions. I found the selected ending to be a bit safe and kind of unsatisfying, but it still worked for the film they were making.

The casting of Duane Hopwood was also problematic for me. David Schwimmer is far from a great actor, so any movie with him in the lead kind of puts me off. I will say that he isn't too bad at playing a sad-sack like this one, and the director at least managed to keep his whining to a minimum, so he didn't fall back into his annoying "Ross" habits. I think where the casting really fell flat for me was in the wacky friend role played by Judah Friedlander. This is a character who could have brought some life and humor to an otherwise bleak and boring story. But they needed someone who was actually funny, and Friedlander isn't even humorously bad, he's just a flatline of comedic non-talent. There were still a few bright spots in Duane Hopwood, but it is a film that probably won't stick with me, and not one I'll ever return to in the future.

Quietly Brilliant

[Rroo99 · 9/10 · 27 December 2006]

Regarding Matt Mulhern's Duane Hopwood, I've read everything from "quietly brilliant" to "drably unfocused" -- and several insightful things in between. Me, I fall firmly with the former group: This is a mellow-yet-effective character study that exhibits some real poignancy and delivers a stunningly good performance by Friends star David Schwimmer. It's certainly not the flashiest or most exciting indie you'll ever see, but for what it is, Duane Hopwood is a winner.

Schwimmer plays the titular character, an Atlantic City casino employee who seems to be in the formative stages of outright alcoholism. Duane's estranged wife (the also excellent Janeane Garofalo) is clearly doing all she can to focus on her ex's "good side," as the couple share two daughters -- and, despite his problems, Duane's always been a pretty good dad.

But things boil over after Duane is arrested for drunk driving ... while his young daughter lies sleeping in the back seat of the car. Thus begins a herky-jerky, but decidedly downward, spiral for Duane, a guy who's smart enough to realize he's ruining his life -- but just not smart enough to avoid all the potholes.

As an honest and realistic depiction of the ways in which alcoholism can strike any "normal Joe," Duane Hopwood works exceedingly well. Those expecting any sort of 'after-school special sentiment' or Public Service finger-wagging will be sorely disappointed in Hopwood's screenplay. There are no big emotional revelations or huge dramatic screaming matches -- but the flick packs a punch all the same. It works because of its everyman banality, and not despite it.

For such a quiet and unassuming film, Duane Hopwood sure offers a lot of great little ingredients. The Atlantic City setting, for example, becomes a character unto itself, glitzy and interesting on the surface, but cold and isolated beneath. Judah Friedlander offers a colorfully entertaining supporting performance as Duane's on-again off-again buddy, a security guard who dreams of life as a comedian. And every 25 minutes or so, Mulhern and Schwimmer deliver a moment of true heart, sincerity, and intensity ... frankly, I think this is a better "alcoholism" flick than Leaving Las Vegas.

It sure as hell is a lot more subtle, anyway

Oscar?

[detind56 · 10/10 · 16 May 2006]

Why not? If Jeff Daniels was being considered for a nomination, hell, any of them. Seymour Hoffman was great, but, quite honestly, Schwimmer got to me in a way none of the years other performances did. How the heck does such a performance end up with practically no exposure and a DVD release without any attention drawn to it? I don't get it. Doesn't this guy have an agent? Opportunities like this don't come along often for an actor in his position - big t.v. star trying to show he can do it in the movies, and you'd think people would pay attention when he hits it out of the park. Of course, the director deserves a good bit of credit for that as well.

Hollywood - hello?

[athanasius1-1 · 10/10 · 11 May 2006]

How is it that such a sweet, incisive look at the story of an American family dealing with a member who can't always cope come out of the independent world with a clear voice, while Hollywood always - always! - messes it up? Too many cooks I guess. David Schwimmer is excellent, and Matt Mulhern, the writer director (and an excellent actor in his own right - ever see "Biloxi Blues"?) deserve credit for a gem of a film! The fact that this movie never made it "to a theater near you" is a testament to the inability of those who distributed it to understand what a sleeper they had on their hands. All the supporting performances are wonderful, and the film should have gotten the kind of coverage and attention that this years other indies ("Squid and the Whale" "June bug" etc.) got. I personally thought "Duane Hopwood" delivered a much more powerful punch than either of those two films. Congratulations!

Buy this thang

[layla1492 · 10/10 · 16 May 2006]

It's worth it. I didn't know what to expect. i wasn't a Friends fan, to put it mildly, but this clearly shows that the dude can act his ass off, with all kinds of support from a group of terrific actors around him. it's not easy as far as what he goes through, but I don't remember seeing a movie that says it's o.k. to be funny while the sh** is raining down, sorta like life you know? in the indie world, it's usually do and gloom and extreme behavior, cause, you know, that's cool, right? wrong. check out a flick that dares - truly dares, to go the other way. just when you think - o.k. here's where he flips out and kills everybody then burns down his house cause that's what happens in indie films - that doesn't happen. full of nice surprises, and if this doesn't get to you, go have a check up, cause you might be a cold blooded reptile.

Daddy let me go

[allgodschillun · 10/10 · 15 May 2006]

There is a certain freedom when you lose everything you ever cared about in life. It sounds insane, I know. But it simplifies the process of life. It means you can start from scratch... A clean slate if you will.

"Duane Hopwood" (David Schwimmer) first loses his sobriety, then his wife and two daughters, then his job, then his hope and comes dangerously close to losing his will to live. At the custody hearing, he tells the judge that he "needs a reason to stay".

The only thing Duane doesn't lose is the unconditional love of his daughters and the loyalty of a very quirky group of friends.

What is so skillful about this film is the way in which it balances our sympathy for Duane's tragic situation with our understanding that Duane is the cause of his own problems and the only one who can remedy them.

The pivot, around which the film's emotional power revolves, is the quite magnificent transformation of David Schwimmer from the almost unshakable familiarity of his role as Ross on NBC's 'Friends' to this ever so sad and bedraggled ex-husband and father who is desperate to stop the sand slipping through his fingers. This is absolutely a career transforming role that, surprisingly to me, certifies that he has a very promising film career as a dramatic actor in front of him. If enough people see this film, he will be reaping the rewards with great parts for years to come.

Janeane Garofalo also delivers in an atypical role. As Duane's estranged wife, she delicately balances the cold-hearted reality of wanting to move on with her life and the sympathetic understanding of someone who knows him better than anyone else. Her role could so easily have drifted into cynical and clichéd 'mean ex-wife' territory... but this film is too smart to go down that path.

There are some truly fine performances from the supporting cast members. Judah Friedlander & Susan Lynch are both very good as Duane's new support system. Friedlander plays Anthony, an aspiring comedian who becomes Duane's roommate. Lynch is Duane's first girlfriend since getting divorced. Each of them change the pace of the film nicely and add depth and nuance to an already powerful story.

I also want to point out the girls who play Duane's kids. So often I complain that bad performances from kids can ruin the believability of a film... However, Ramya Pratt & Rachel Covey are both splendid here.

This film feels like a cross between "The Family Man" and "Leaving Las Vegas"... an odd combination indeed. But it works on so many levels. I laughed during this film. I shed tears in the final act. I cared about each and every character. It is a tremendously well written screenplay, and it is acted with precision.

This is a small independent feature that really deserves a wide audience. Unfortunately, it will have trouble finding one because it doesn't have a huge publicity campaign behind it or 75 copies lining the shelves of DVD stores. I can only hope that word of mouth and positive reviews like mine will convince a few people to seek this film out. If they do, they will find a diamond in the rough and will be telling all their friends about it too

From Kramer to Hopwood

[hills78 · 10/10 · 11 May 2006]

Every five modern drama made in the last three decades at least one was about divorced family or in some way involve the divorcée and their children. It took Hollywood cinema that long to come to terms with this social phenomenon. David Schwimmer (as Duane Hopwood) is struggling to reverse the denial of his visiting right to his children after he was caught drunk-and-drive while his daughter was in his car in the beginning of 'Duane Hopwood' (2005).

The film is brief and precise in portraying Schwimmer, as a loving husband and father of two but needed to go to work in a casino at odd hours and as a result too tired to attend to his daughters and wife, within the first few minutes through a series of speechless montage. Even we are under the impression Duane has drinking problem, throughout the film this problem and his behavior disorder are never revealed in depth. Neither the cause of his dismissal from the job or his hostility toward his ex-wife's boyfriend is due to his drinking problem. Even his wife, who filed the denial of his visiting right to the children and finally decided to take the children away to another town, is not portrayed as cruel and unreasonable but rather sympathetic on the contrary.

Unlike many films before starting 'Kramer vs. Kramer' (1979), it is obvious that this film does not make anyone or any societal situation as an scapegoat to the cause of the divorce and its unfortunate result. Many others till this day, like 'The Squid and the Whale' (2005) and 'The Weather Man' (2005), still tries to find the cause of the tragedy of divorce family in one of its characters' personality deficiency. And their efforts will never present us a satisfactory remedy. "I don't know whether I drink so my wife left me or my wife left me so that I drink," said Nicolas Cage in his reply to Elisabeth Shue about his situation in the beginning of 'Leaving Las Vegas' (1995). 'Duane Hopwood' is a milestone of Hollywood family drama for it's portraying of modern divorced family and the remedy it provides.