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David Schwimmer, Janeane Garofalo, Judah Friedlander, Susan Lynch, Dick Cavett ... see more see more... , Steven R. Schirripa , Jerry Grayson , Bill Buell , John Krasinski , Ramya Pratt , Rachel Covey

A sad sack has to come to term with his own demons after a long run of bad luck in this downbeat comedy drama from writer and director Matt Mulhern. Duane Hopwood (David Schwimmer) lives and works in ... read more read more...Atlantic City, where he's a pit boss on the night shift at one of the city's resort hotels, and has a wife, Linda (Janeane Garofalo), and two young daughters, Mary (Ramya Pratt) and Kate (Rachel Covey). Duane also has a drinking problem, and while Linda loves him very much, she's begin to wonder if he's still capable of living up to his responsibilities as a father. The final straw comes when Duane gets arrested for drunk driving while Kate is in the car with him; Linda files for divorce, and the court opts not to give Duane visitation rights. With Duane struggling to hold on to his family, he gets more bad news when he loses his job after he's caught giving money to an argumentative customer to shut him up. With only his friends from work to keep him company -- Anthony (Judah Friedlander), a maintenance man who wants to be a comedian, and Gina (Susan Lynch), a kind-hearted bartender -- Duane realizes he's come to a crossroads where he has to get his life back on track before he loses what little he still has left. Duane Hopwood also features supporting performances from Dick Cavett and Jerry Grayson. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

56% liked it

4,344 ratings

Critics

55% liked it

20 critics

R, 1 hr. 23 min.

Directed by: Matt Mulhern

Release Date: January 20, 2005

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DVD Release Date: April 25, 2006

Stats: 174 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (174)

  • LWOODS04
    January 5, 2010
    LWOODS04
    DAVID SCHWIMMER, JANEANE GAROFALO, JUDAH FRIEDLANDER, JOHN KRASINSKI, STEVE SCHIRRIPA

    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 marria... read morege 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.
    There are a lot of mixed reviews on this movie. I happened to like it. I wouldn't say enjoy, cause the movie is depressing and sad. But David Schwimmer is really, really, really good in this movie. He blew me away with his performance. First movie I have ever seen him in, and I will admit I was afraid I couldn't separate him from his character 'Ross' from the t.v. show 'Friends'. But there was no "Ross" in his performance. He was great. It's a very real, raw, and honest movie. Definitely not your feel good type movie. But one that will have you sympathizing with the characters, or even relating to them. The ending is bitter sweet. This story might touch home for a lot of people. It's a well done movie and I hope more people see it.
  • ileo
    April 12, 2007
    ileo
    A good movie.
  • scullysje
    January 27, 2012
    scullysje
    It's an indie flick that If I were an actor, would wish every other independent movie would turn out like and would be so worth my time filming in between big money motion picture deals.

    Such a real performance by David Schwimmer along with an authentic plot that could only be w... read moreritten by someone who has been there and done that. This indie picture is worth it and was a solid effort by everyone involved.
  • timonthemeerkat
    October 14, 2009
    timonthemeerkat
    4 stars for David Schwimmer for givnig a phenomenal performance and proving to me that he will not come off "Ross-like" in other roles. Half a star for using a Ben Folds song in the soundtrack.
  • scrambledegg7
    January 19, 2009
    scrambledegg7
    This has to be one of the most depressing little movies I've ever seen. And yet nothing seemed to come of it. The first half is a nice portrayal of this guy's "loser" life, but then it just stops and meanders for another fifty minutes. It appeared to try to be manufacturing some ... read moresort of "happy ending" at the conclusion of the film, but this happy ending was all a lie because in reality, nothing had been solved and only one thing had even been in the slightest resolved. The subject of Duane's drinking habit is tossed to the side an hour into the movie, although that first hour kept promising us this was a major issue. Apparently not THAT major.

    I will say, however, that David Schwimmer was remarkably good in this. I haven't seen him in much else apart from Friends, where he played Ross, a character who was forced to be constantly depressed because the writers kept toying with and then destroying his love life for ten seasons. But while his suffering there was comic, Schwimmer makes an elegant transition here to portraying real suffering, real denial, real pain, without the audience being able to laugh at him. Kudos to him. I was going to give this movie just 2.5 stars, but his unexpectedly great performance earns another half a star.
  • AndySitzerFan
    June 28, 2008
    AndySitzerFan
    Just an overall downer of a film. I'll never live in Atlantic City. D.Schwim did a credible job as a drunk. I've seen drunks and his depiction was farirly accurate.

    I definitely enjoyed Judah Friedlander as an aspiring stand up comic.
  • annabell0626
    September 11, 2007
    annabell0626
    I work in Atlantic city and finally someone made a movie about what a casino is really like be hide the light and bells.
  • staup2005
    August 16, 2007
    staup2005
    Wow, I was pleasantly surprised by this quiet little film. 'Duane Hopwood' really runs the spectrum of emotions, often heartbreakingly painful to watch. David Schwimmer does an excellent job. I would recommend to all.
  • soadrocks125
    July 1, 2007
    soadrocks125
    "Duane Hopwood" is an existentially true film about the effects of alcoholism and poor choices in life. David Schwimmer's performance is excellent and makes a lot of the movie worth watching. The editing is nicely done, too.
  • randomaddress4u
    June 15, 2007
    randomaddress4u
    I could write a lengthy review about this movie. But, I'm so completely exhausted after 80 minutes of tedium I'll sum it up in 2 words...Bloody AWFUL!!

View All Duane Hopwood Reviews

Critic Reviews

Michael Booth
September 19, 2006
Michael Booth, Denver Post

[A] remarkably accomplished indie movie ... Full Review

Robert Denerstein
August 31, 2006
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

Visually dreary and not especially illuminating, Duane Hopwood can't quite get where it must have wanted to go.

J. R. Jones
August 31, 2006
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

... this downbeat indie drama gives the leads a few excellent scenes together, and they acquit themselves credibly. But there's also a fair amount of wilted comedy from the stock supporting characters... Full Review

Richard Roeper
November 29, 2005
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

It's just very authentic, very real. Everything that happens here you believe it. Full Review

Michael Wilmington
November 17, 2005
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

It's a mixed but basically likable little indie picture. Full Review

Roger Ebert
November 17, 2005
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie is a wise and realistic portrait of the disease, showing the drunk not as a colorful or tragic character, but simply as a sad man whose days occasionally contain moments of joy and hope. Full Review

Steven Rea
November 10, 2005
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

A fairly dreadful melodrama drenched in self-pity.

Robert Koehler
October 29, 2005
Robert Koehler, Variety

Writer-director Matt Mulhern confidently anchors his drama-comedy about an alcoholic Atlantic City pit boss with good writing and sharp dialogue. Full Review

Robert W. Butler
September 19, 2006
Robert W. Butler, Kansas City Star

Duane Hopwood digs into the soul of its title character with a patience rarely found in contemporary films. Full Review

Pablo Villaca
May 9, 2006
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

Schwimmer demonstra uma enorme sensibilidade ao evitar qualquer tipo de exagero ou caricatura ao viver seu personagem alcoólatra, retratando-o como um homem triste e gentil que não enxerga o próprio v...

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