'84 Charing Cross Road' is a slow and simple but enjoyable film that relies solely on a great script and strong acting. It is surprising how a film with such a basic plot can be just as, if not even more enjoyable that mega-budget films crammed with action and special effects.This film isn't for everyone, in fact it will probably only appeal to those who prefer their films on the subtle and slow side. Whilst not a film I would consider among my favourites, '84 Charing Cross Road' can be appreciated for its emphasis on script and character and its effective portrayal of friendship.With little plot or direction, this film is still an enjoyable and ideal way to pass the time. It will probably be favoured by older audiences who are more likely to see past the the lack of plot and action and appreciate the film for what it is.

a film about friendship. in a special form. about books. about different manner to see the life. and about special refuges against every day pressure. it is not easy to define its source of seduction. the script, the acting, the chain of titles, the letters,her enthusiasm, his polite answers, the flavor of two different places and cultures and personalities. it is seductive, fascinating and touching. and useful for the birth of special emotions. romantic and smart and delicate and precise. best choice for admirers of a cinema of substance and redefine of life basic purpose. for the lovers of old books. and for the fans of great acting. Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins. and sure, in a small role, admirable Helen Mirren. the memory of this film remains long time. with real useful result.

84 Charing Cross Rd. is my idea of a fine movie and one that seems totally British. Ironically, as a fan of British movies, I was surprised to learn that this movie was produced by New Yorker Mel Brooks, a departure from his usual slapstick comedies. He also produced The Elephant Man and his wife Anne Bancroft appeared in both, as did Anthony Hopkins. The film is based on a book by Helene Hanff, one of the two main characters. This story took place during a the period from 1949 to the end of the nineteen sixties. The plot neatly shifts from New York to London as the two leading characters exchange letters as part of their antiquarian book transactions. Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins are excellent in the roles that bring together Helene Hanff and Frank Doel over their shared love of books. We hear voiceovers from both as each character reads their own letters. This is a touch that fits in beautifully with the movie. Frank is very businesslike in his role as the bookstore manager. The feeling of elation or disappointment are palpable as Bancroft opens the packages she receives from her London bookseller. Bancroft is an animated script writer whose love of literature is well matched with Anthony Hopkins' own vast knowledge of the book business, particularly the market for antique books and first editions. Bancroft is a single woman with close friends but no life partner; however, she is bright and witty with a great zest for life and especially for English literature. (Frequent cutaways to the portrait of a sailor strongly hint at a past romance.) Hopkins is a very proper English gentleman who is married with a young family when they first became acquainted. He runs an efficient book business with a staff committed to the quality service he exemplifies. Judy Dench has a minor role as Frank's wife Nora, whose main appearance comes towards the end of the film. Bancroft's love of books sparks Frank's interest and he gives excellent service, which she reciprocates with warm, witty and very funny letters. She tries to burst his natural reserve. He is English to the very core, just as Bancroft is pure wool Manhattan. Over time, the relationship becomes very close. Anne Bancroft's character becomes like a family relative to the staff of Marks and Co, sending gifts of food to the London employees and their loved ones who are coping with post-war rations. At one point, Bancroft's friend visits London but does not connect with Frank who is out of the office at the time. A planned visit by Helene to coincide with the coronation of the Queen in 1953 is cancelled at the last moment; Frank is devastated. Will they ever meet?

I suppose liking or appreciating 84 Charing Cross Road comes down to what one goes to movies to see. This is the case with any movie, obviously, but for any number of kids disappointed by reaching into the trick-or-treat bag and coming up with a granola bar, there are some who like the granola. 84 Charing Cross Road is cinematic granola. It's no Indiana Jones or Casablanca, but that's not to say there's no sense of wonder or adventure. To some viewers, a film about the love of reading and relationship through written correspondence has that. It may not sound like it, but consider that you can't make a movie about people writing to each other and liking or disliking books unless it's about the situations they're in as they write each other, what causes them to do so, and how their passion for literature defines their lives.The characters in this film are indeed human beings, probably more like the people watching it than is the case with most other movies. How implausibly eventful does a person's life have to be without being interesting or emotionally fulfilling? However slight the story arguably is, Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins are nevertheless deeply connected to the people it's about. Emotion and impulse on a salt-of-the-earth human level are the very wheelhouse of Bancroft. Her ability to be emotionally free and available to various nuances of feeling is key to her talent.There is not one false moment in the whole movie. For the invariably impeccable Sir Anthony Hopkins, he gives his performance the texture of real life with the spontaneity and idiosyncrasy of every one of his transitions, every one of his reactions to every emotional event. And though her role is small, Dame Judi Dench is given the difficult task of being there for many of the emotional events in her husband Hopkins' life, and does it modestly, sparingly, realistically and completely in the daintiest handful of scenes.I can argue in favor of 84 Charing Cross Road on a logical level, but at the same time, I still can't say there's anything profound for me to grab onto when I watch it, which is what I tend to desire from pared down human stories. The story blossoms into a chronicle of a beautiful little relationship that leaves a lasting imprint on the lives involved, my experience was that what happens is just life. No situation seems challenging enough to be anything more than the natural progression of the contact between two uneventful people. But that can also be considered a credit to the film. It seems designed to be for someone in particular, not everyone. You can maybe argue that if it were for everybody, it would then be for nobody in particular. Because it speaks to the tastes of a select audience who would be moved by this tale, and because it's thoroughly effective on that level of integrity, it's destined to be a cherished little critic-proof installment in their personal home entertainment collections.