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| Movie Review: The Reader Alternate Title: Sex. Lies and Literature
Story: The nature of evil is
not easily transcribed onto the big screen unless you are going for
a slash and burn type depiction. For those familiar with the best selling
book, The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (it was
an Oprah pick, too) you can imagine the challenge that director Stephen
Daldry (Billy Eliot) and writer David Hare
had as they tackled this popular bestseller that has been translated
into 39 languages and was the first German book to make it onto the
NY Times bestseller list. The film is divided into two parts. The first
part, which I found more interesting, involves 15 year old Michael Berg,
who has a brief, but passionate affair with a 36 year old woman named
Hanna. Via flashbacks, we see Berg as an adult reflecting on the nature
of their relationship, as he accidentally comes across her after many
years while she is on trial for war crimes. The collective guilt of
the German psyche and tough questions involving the nature of evil and
shame and the possibility of redemption are tackled and to some extent
are successful. The film demonstrates handily the thousands of
Germans who were involved in war crimes yet got away with their deeds.
The following generations of Germans who have to live with what went
on in their country is measurably depicted in this difficult film. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FdQ3Y7royU Acting: Kate Winslet as Hanna Schmitz, is riveting.
She cannot give a bad performance. No one does haunted like Ralph
Fiennes, who plays the adult Michael Berg. He seems to carry
the weight of the world on his shoulders. David Kross as
the Young Michael Berg is wonderful. Lena Olin play
two parts well as Rose Mather/Ilana Mather. Trivia: Kate Winslet is not afraid to disrobe in front
of the camera. Here are some of the films where she has shown her beautiful
body: Quills, Jude, Titanic, Hideous Kinky, Heavenly Creatures, Iris,
Holy Smoke and now The Reader.
Predilection: I liked the book.
Critters: A German Shepard - really.
Food: Soup and some unappealing other stuff.
Sex Spectrum: Lots of sex, including male frontal
nudity and of course, Kate Winslet at her usual best.
Soundtrack: Depressing music by Nico Muhly.
Visual Art: A terrific depiction of cold, damp and
depressing Europe in the winter by directors of photography, Chris Menges
and Roger Deakins;
Theater Audience: About 25 people who were all reading
before the previews started.
Weather: Europe is gray, gloomy and dark in the winter.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: The Holocaust is a very squirmy subject.
Drift Factor: It could have been edited a bit.
Predictability Level: I read the book so there were
no surprises.
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: Why not? A screen adaptation from another
source might get a nod.
Big Screen or Rental: Either would be fine. I highly
recommend you read the book too.
Length: Two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 8 |