Plot: What’s it about?
In the midst of World War II era London, a most unique and powerful romance is about to bloom, but with potential consequences. David Halloran (Harrison Ford) is American pilot stationed in England and while in the area, he runs into Margaret Sellinger (Lesley-Anne Down). Margaret is a beautiful English woman and Halloran likes what he sees, which is a mutual attraction in this case. The two begin to fall in love almost instantly, but this by no means a simple storybook romance, not a chance of that. You see, Margaret is married to British intelligence officer Paul (Christopher Plummer), but she hides that fact and continues her sudden romance with Halloran. Since Halloran is about to embark on mission, he asks Margaret to meet him in two weeks and despite her marriage status, she agrees and does meet him. Soon however, Paul is sent on a most crucial mission that needs the best pilot and of course, Halloran is chosen for the task. When the plane is shot down and the two work together to survive, will the truth be uncovered by them both and if so, what will happen?
This film was written & directed by Peter Hyams (Running Scared, The Relic) and stars Harrison Ford, so it has no lack of talent involved, but it fails to reach its potential. I feel Hyams more than delivers in terms of direction, but his writing is too predictable and contrived, even more than most flicks in this genre. This is melodrama that this just too melodramatic, I mean way too much so and that lessens the whole impact, if you ask me. It works on a simple level and I suppose genre fans might find some elements to like, but I’ve always been let down with Hanover Street. I like Hyams and with a cast that included Harrison Ford & Christopher Plummer this movie had potential, but I think fell short and ends up being average, if not a little below that mark. Even so, genre fans and Harrison Ford lovers should give it a rental, just to test the waters.
His name is attached to many a blockbuster, but that doesn’t mean all of Harrison Ford’s movies have been a success. Hanover Street is one of the lesser titles on his resume, but Ford does little to help issues, as his performance is average at best. I’ve been a fan of Ford’s work for some time, but he can slip up and that’s the case here, to be sure. He shows some of his usual spark at times, but seems lackluster on the whole, I think. Although the material isn’t great either, Ford never seems to rise to the occasion, which he sometimes does with lesser source material. Even so, fans of his work will want to see this, if just to see another of his performances. You can also see Ford in such films as Random Hearts, What Lies Beneath, Blade Runner, The Conversation, The Fugitive, and Patriot Games. The cast also includes Lesley-Anne Down (Countess Dracula, Meet Wally Sparks), Alec McCowen (The Witches, Never Say Never Again), Richard Masur (Fire Down Below, Encino Man), and Christopher Plummer (The Insider, The Spiral Staircase).
Video: How does it look?
Hanover Street is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is a solid visual treatment, but the image sometimes looks washed out, though this could be intentional to an extent. I saw some grain present here and there, though never too thick, save for a couple brief instances. The colors and contrast look more than stable, but the softness and grain limit how effective they can be, to be sure. But detail is strong and this is better than any other version I’ve seen, so this is still a decent looking presentation. It has some flaws and could use some work, but fans should be pleased with this solid visual effort, I think.
Audio: How does it sound?
You’ll find a Dolby surround option included on this release, but also a 4.0 surround choice, in case that better suits your needs. I wasn’t too taken by either of the tracks, but as expected, the 4.0 option has more bite, though not too much more. This kind of movie simply doesn’t offer much audio potential, but some scenes spark the surrounds and when needed, the track sits up and barks, which is good. The dialogue remains at a proper volume balance however, so you won’t miss a single word in the end. This disc also includes Spanish and French language options, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, French, Thai, Korean, Chinese, and Portuguese.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The sole bonus here is an audio commentary with writer/director Peter Hyams, who is able to deliver an informative session, as usual. Hyams seems focused and talkative, but never becomes too dull or overly technical, which is good news. I wasn’t as interested in this one as I didn’t like the movie itself, but Hyams does provide a more than sufficient commentary track. This might be the only supplement included, but at least it’s a good one, right?
