Happy Hour

"Happy Hour" is a well-acted but dated feeling portrait of an alcoholic.

Far less harrowing than addiction films from "Days of Wine and Roses" and "The Lost Weekend" to "Permanent Midnight," writer/director Mike Bencivenga makes a heavy drinker and his enablers out to be genial wasters of talent until the physical ramifications become unavoidable.

Anthony LaPaglia is a charismatic alcoholic, if a mean supervisor at work, and we have to accept that is enough to justify the noble loyalty of a teacher he picks up in a bar and his best friend, a long-time co-worker. The triangle is also old-fashioned, barely hinting at the kinds of depths as are in "A Home at the End of the World." There's a brief mention in passing that his mother is also an alcoholic, but the friends seem to be social drinkers who were just keeping him company drink for drink, and can give it up at will and be inspired by LaPaglia's character to change their lives.

The voice-over narration is a bit "Sunset Boulevard"-ish, but is fit into the story line of the central character as a writer finishing his book.

Nice NYC touches: to have LaPaglia be a kind of Delbert McClinton in Mary Lou Lord's band and to have his dad, as played by Robert Vaughn, be part of a circle at The Algonquin that includes such noted commentators on heavy drinking as Pete Hamill and Steve Dunleavy.

Hey Mike, I can't have an objective point of view about your movie, that's really amazing, you know, I think you have had a lot of inspiration from Woody Allen with the music, the artistic quality of the image etc... your movie made me cry at the end (just like Christophe, remember? hey). I don't know what to say except that you gave us a film that people was not really waiting for, I guess and this movie is just an enjoyment for me (and for many people, I hope)but all that I can say

is that you're the most original director of these times.

I wish I 'll see you soon again, Mike, and I'm really waiting for your next movie !

The acting of both Anthony LaPaglia as the alcoholic and Eric Stoltz as his loyal friend Levine is faultless. Anthony LaPaglia in particular is stunning in the lead role of Ryan Tulley Jnr. and more than matches his superb performance as Leon in "Lantana". He imbues the character of Tulley with such charisma that one can readily understand why Levine and Tulley's girlfriend Natalie are so willing to care for him when his health breaks down.The story revolves around a disaffected middle aged man with a writer's block of seventeen years duration, his only recourse being to the bottle. But be warned the graphic detailing of his consequent health problems including vomiting, hemorrhages and colostomy bags may be too harrowing for some. Do not fear though, the movie is not without its humorous interludes. Plus the most tender love scene ever!This is an excellent,absorbing and moving little film, and an absolute must-see for all those Stoltz and LaPaglia fans out there!!

I knew HAPPY HOUR since very long because it stars also Eric Stoltz and during these months I decided to watch most of his available movies because despite he has never been recognized as an A-lister I really like him and I also think that he is very underrated. And as usual, here he didn't disappoint, but he wasn't the only reason.

Tulley (Anthony LaPaglia) is a washed up writer that has seen better days but now he left his wife and has the writer's block thanks also to his alcohol problems. The only one who knows that Tulley can change is his best and only friend Levine (Stoltz) and in fact when Levine goes to Tulley's and notices lots of bottles in the kitchen sink he suddenly understands while Tulley denies and says he had been helped by a friend. So Natalie and Levine will do their best to make Tulley stop drinking since he is risking death but as he dies, Tulley's voice over explains that his soul was travelling in New York and probably was among the flying pigeons... whimsical, isn't it?

When you think of movies about alcoholism you mostly think of depressing stories. HAPPY HOUR, while certainly having a sad background, isn't depressing because the acting was great and there were various hilarious moments like two of the aforementioned ones. And not only the acting by LaPaglia and Stoltz was great, but the ending made me both sad and happy: you see, despite Tulley died from complications of his drinking problem, dying he freed himself from his chronical issue.

While this isn't certainly a remembered movie (only 6 reviews as I am writing this), if you are into forgotten movies like me you can give this a try.

I saw this film at the Austin Film Festival and enjoyed it immensely. It is much superior to most Hollywood schlock and slash. It has a literate script, interesting characters, witty banter, and a fine blend of tragedy and comedy (or was it comedy and tragedy?) that is difficult to finesse. Although some of the subject matter is dark, it remains comic -- not in the broad, rowdy M*A*S*H sense, but in a charming, everyday, real-life sense. The film's courage to be honest about how someone's self-inflicted tragedy doesn't necessarily consume everyone around him was refreshing, and the life-goes-on message is honest and not cliched. There are fine lead performances by Anthony LaPaglia, Eric Stoltz, and Caroleen Feeney, and a great turn as a comic villain by Tom Sadoski. His comedy is wickedly balanced by a more darkly villainous Robert Vaughn. The tone of the film hangs in between, in tipsy harmony. This film deserves a well-publicized theater run. See it!