JACK GOES BOATING

Synopsis

Jack (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a 40-something average Joe, a New York limo driver who drifts gently through life without unduly bothering anyone. His best friend and mentor is his co-worker Clyde (John Ortiz). Jack thinks that Clyde is great; he's everything that he is not, extrovert, self-assured, confident. Clyde is married to Lucy (Daphne Rubin-Vega) who works at a funeral parlour with the shy, timid Connie (Amy Ryan). Clyde and Lucy think the pair would be perfect together and heartily encourage something more than friendship. And indeed Jack and Connie begin shyly, almost reluctantly, dating whilst, ironically, their matchmakers' own marriage faces serious problems. This beautifully-acted four-hander is at times reminiscent of Woody Allen's classic 1970s relationship comedies or even Mike Leigh's parables of social conventions gone awry. Its theatrical roots (a play by Bob Glaudini) make for an ordered, graceful opened-out structure that first-time director Hoffman realises fully through the superb cast.

Genre

Romance, Comedy

Cast & Credits

• Director:  Philip Seymour Hoffman
• Producer:  Beth O'Neil, Emily Ziff, Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf
• Screenplay:  Bob Glaudini
• Cinematographer:  Mott Hupfel
• Editor:  Brian A. Kates
• Composer:  Susan Jacobs
• Cast (in alphabetical order):  Amy Ryan, Daphne Rubin-Vega, John Ortiz, Philip Seymour Hoffman