Henry Fool
1997 · Movie · R · 137 min · ★ 6.6 · 79% critics
A bold, self-absorbed writer arrives and upends the quiet life of a shy New Jersey garbage worker. Through a push to express ideas on paper, it reshapes relationships and sparks both setbacks and recognition within their community.
Where to watch
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video — or rent from $3.99.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 1997
- Release date
- 1998-06-19
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 137 min
- Max quality
- SD
- Critic score
- 79/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.6/10 (107 votes)
About
You’ll likely like Henry Fool if you enjoy offbeat indie provocations and long-winded, idea-heavy conversations with a quirky, stylized tone like Trust or The Unbelievable Truth; Not for you if you want a smooth mainstream ride, a consistently likable lead, or fast-moving entertainment.
Pros: sharp, memorable dialogue; eccentric, endearing characters; inspired indie energy | Cons: pacing feels slow; uneven overall impact; one lead underwhelms
Themes
- garbageman
- new jersey
- alcohol
- politics
- money
- murder
- fame
- drugs
Cast & crew
Thomas Jay Ryan
as Henry Fool
James Urbaniak
as Simon Grim
Parker Posey
as Fay Grim
- MP
Maria Porter
as Mary
James Saito
as Mr. Deng
Kevin Corrigan
as Warren
Liam Aiken
as Ned
Miho Nikaido
as Gnoc Deng
Gene Ruffini
as Officer Buñuel
Nicholas Hope
as Father Hawkes
Directed by Hal Hartley