The Human Stain (2003)
Country: US/GER
Technical: col/Super 35 106m
Director: Robert Benton
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Nicole Kidman, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris
Synopsis:
A college Dean and professor of Classics resigns over an allegation of a racist slight and finds his life is given new meaning through his friendship with a writer and, more importantly, an intense relationship with a thirty-something bereaved mother who herself has a vengeful Vietnam vet of an ex-husband.
Review:
Initially interesting, and attractively cast, drama which in spite of its efforts to keep things as low-key as possible is just a tad overripe and hard to swallow. The flashbacks don't help, though they are well acted, because they force us to reconcile our beloved Tony with this athletic coloured Jew of the backstory. The result, moreover, is that his sharing of his painful past is devoid of catharsis. Kidman, meanwhile, delivers one of her least convinced performances, reduced for much of the time to trademark mannerisms.
Country: US/GER
Technical: col/Super 35 106m
Director: Robert Benton
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Nicole Kidman, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris
Synopsis:
A college Dean and professor of Classics resigns over an allegation of a racist slight and finds his life is given new meaning through his friendship with a writer and, more importantly, an intense relationship with a thirty-something bereaved mother who herself has a vengeful Vietnam vet of an ex-husband.
Review:
Initially interesting, and attractively cast, drama which in spite of its efforts to keep things as low-key as possible is just a tad overripe and hard to swallow. The flashbacks don't help, though they are well acted, because they force us to reconcile our beloved Tony with this athletic coloured Jew of the backstory. The result, moreover, is that his sharing of his painful past is devoid of catharsis. Kidman, meanwhile, delivers one of her least convinced performances, reduced for much of the time to trademark mannerisms.
Country: US/GER
Technical: col/Super 35 106m
Director: Robert Benton
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Nicole Kidman, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris
Synopsis:
A college Dean and professor of Classics resigns over an allegation of a racist slight and finds his life is given new meaning through his friendship with a writer and, more importantly, an intense relationship with a thirty-something bereaved mother who herself has a vengeful Vietnam vet of an ex-husband.
Review:
Initially interesting, and attractively cast, drama which in spite of its efforts to keep things as low-key as possible is just a tad overripe and hard to swallow. The flashbacks don't help, though they are well acted, because they force us to reconcile our beloved Tony with this athletic coloured Jew of the backstory. The result, moreover, is that his sharing of his painful past is devoid of catharsis. Kidman, meanwhile, delivers one of her least convinced performances, reduced for much of the time to trademark mannerisms.