Starring Diane Keaton and Brendan Gleeson, Hampstead is a charming romantic comedy set around the beautiful Hampstead Heath in London, a quiet piece of countryside in a vast metropolis. Living on the edge of the Heath, Emily Walters (Keaton) can’t quite focus on the things that need attention in her life, like her lovely old apartment, her diminishing finances or even her son.
Everything changes when she meets the eccentric, unkempt Donald (Gleeson), who has lived harmoniously on the Heath for 17 years in a ramshackle hut. Now, property developers are attempting to evict him. As Emily steps up to defend Donald in the
escalating battle, she soon finds that, despite his gruff exterior, there is something special about this gentle and unconventional man.
Inspired by a true story, Hampstead is a warm, funny and life-affirming tale about two very different people who find unexpected love and discover that age is no barrier to second chances.
Hampstead is a film about a recent widow named Emily Walters played by Diane Keaton-one of the most acclaimed actresses of all time since her debut in both "Lovers and Other Strangers" and "The Godfather". Keaton most often portrays her characters seamlessly and appears very natural. She was captivating in her role in this film as someone who doesn't seem to fit in her current life. She is a stranger to herself and realised that she had wasted her life somehow.
In the opening scene, we would see flashes of how Emily's day go by and on the other side, a mystery guy who walks around the park picking apples and exchanging them for bread and a bottle of wine. This mystery guy looks a bit rugged and scruffy, a total opposite to Emily's lifestyle and personality.
However, both have lived across each other for many years but never bumped into each other, not once. Until one day, by fate, their lives have crossed paths in a not so ideal way. Donald Horner (Brendan Gleeson) is the mystery guy who lives in solitude, a self-sustaining lifestyle in a shack that he built on his own seventeen years ago. Neither of them expecting to find love at their age but both of them unaware that they have already fallen for each other. On the plus side of things, they both ended up becoming each other's best friend first.
The film offers a light romantic comedy with two great actors who we never expected to become an on-screen couple and have great chemistry. Nevertheless, both were brilliant especially Gleeson who have always played serious roles in his career. It's nice to see him play a lead in a romantic comedy film like this.
I enjoyed watching this movie and what makes it even better is that it's based on a true story. The storytelling was simple, but the approach was practical. It's a romantic comedy with an inspiring true story played by great actors and actresses. A film that most people would enjoy watching any day of the week.
In NZ cinemas: July 27, 2017
NZ Rating: Rating: PG Coarse language & sexual references
