Duane Hopwood
When the odds are against you, your best bet is a second chance...
David Schwimmer stars as Duane Hopwood, a down-on-his-luck divorced father who works the night shift as a pit boss at Caesars Palace in Atlantic City. Heartsick about the demise of his marriage to Linda (Janeane Garofolo), Duane does nothing much in his daily life but work and drink. When his visitation rights are threatened after he's caught driving while intoxicated with his daughter in the backseat, Duane confronts the realization that the time has come to get his life back on track before he loses everything. A moving and humorous look at the limits of unconditional love, what defines a family, and how we're all responsible for our own happiness.
Member Reviews
Great Independent Film, Excellent Acting. - 1writer
Great Independent Film! I was surprised to find the story to be so good and the caliber of actors in the film. I had not heard of this movie before stumbling upon it accidentally, but I am glad that I did. David Schwimmer broke the Friends mold and played the part of Duane, a man choosing not to deal with his alcoholism who is losing everything important to him. Janeane Garofalo is his wife/ex-wife depending on the section of the movie. She is different than I have ever seen her before, not at all relying on her great comedic timing, but instead wonderfully playing this dramatic role. Excellent story, no over-acting, just a real story.Lost Weekend for a new generation - RoddyPiper
Actor David Shwimmer forsakes the Friends image, looking rough and disheveled, never fully in control of himself. Janeane Garofalo is the wife who loves him but has had to distance herself from the wild eddies surrounding a man drowning in alcoholism.
But Duane’s positive human qualities (his love for his children, his attempts to help others in the midst of his self-destructive acts, even his occasionally comic rages) make you want him to succeed, make you try to look past the destructive acts of his disease and fix your eyes on any indication that he may be able to defeat it. Otherwise, the film’s painful view of his psychological self-immolation is something you would not enjoy watching.
Also, the tension is bearable because it grows in the midst of real humour -- in Duane’s relations with his room-mate, with his sweet daughters, with his neighbours. Dick Cavett does a nice job as the kind, elderly, well-meaning friend who always manages to put his foot in his mouth.
The great “Lost Weekend” with Ray Milland (1945) remains the standard against which such films are measured, and this one measures up very well. It has real quality and is worth seeing through to the end . . . Will he survive?Bye Bye Ross - showtunegirl
Duane Hopwood is flat out a great movie. From the finely nuanced performances by virtually every actor in the movie to the writing and editing this movie is just plain good. There is a stigma attached to television actors who are known for a certain role being stuck in that role. I really don't think that David Schwimmer has too much to worry about. He leaves Ross Geller behind in this excellent performance. The movie is not so much about drinking as it is the drinker. Janeane Garafolo is brilliant as the ultimate ex-wife who must decide for the good of her children the true meaning of unconditional love. The children who acted as Duane's daughters also deserve mentioning. This movie is a case study of an alcoholic who has yet to admit his adiction who all the while finds everything that was good in his life vanishes and he doesn't understand why. Simply a very good movie that is well worth the time it takes to watch.
Member Reviews
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Great Independent Film, Excellent Acting. - 1writer
Great Independent Film! I was surprised to find the story to be so good and the caliber of actors in the film. I had not heard of this movie before stumbling upon it accidentally, but I am glad that I did. David Schwimmer broke the Friends mold and played ...Lost Weekend for a new generation - RoddyPiper
Actor David Shwimmer forsakes the Friends image, looking rough and disheveled, never fully in control of himself. Janeane Garofalo is the wife who loves him but has had to distance herself from the wild eddies surrounding a man drowning in alcoholism.
But ...Bye Bye Ross - showtunegirl
Duane Hopwood is flat out a great movie. From the finely nuanced performances by virtually every actor in the movie to the writing and editing this movie is just plain good. There is a stigma attached to television actors who are known for a certain role ...