In the Bedroom
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Movie Reviews of In the Bedroom
Movie Review: The Killings
Summary: 5 Stars
It has been said that the most tragic of life events is the death of a child: Tragic in the most grotesque and Classically Greek manner because it goes against nature for a parent to out live a child.Todd Field's "In the Bedroom" is based on the short story, "The Killings" by Andre Dubus and though this is Field's first film it is obvious that he is now a director to be reckoned with.
Field has also assembled a dream cast in Sissy Spacek (Ruth), Tom Wilkinson (Matt), Marissa Tomei (Natalie)and Nick Stahl (Frank).
Ruth and Matt and son Frank live a quiet smalltown life in Camden, Maine. Ruth is a music teacher, Matt is the town's doctor and Frank is planning to go away to college to study Design/Architecture and having a summer fling, as he describes it, with Natalie who has two children and an ex husband, Richard (William Mapother). Ruth is not particularly happy with the affair and neither is Richard...for he kills Frank in a jealous rage.
Frank's murder is the turning point of the film and the focus changes to: dealing with grief, communication or lack thereof between couples, the justice of the legal system and how, as a friend, do u console the survivors of such a horrific crime?
"In the Bedroom" also showcases the talents of the actors especially Wilkinson ("The Full Monty")as Matt,who has spent the bulk of his life married to a woman he may or may not love but whose son was the light of his life. With Frank gone, what is to become of his marriage and his life? Sissy Spacek plays Ruth very quietly: all surface repose yet seething with anger and disgust. She never hits a false note and her scene with Natalie in the high school auditorium is stunning.
"In the Bedroom" is a major triumph for all concerned. It is a serious, adult film resonating, even vibrating with achingly heartfelt emotion...which comes from real pathos by way of truthful, well-written characters and situations.
Movie Review: One of the best films to come out of Hollywood in years
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an extremely well-directed and well-acted family drama that, like the obviously compared to classic "Ordinary People", can be described by many different people in many different ways. And that is obvious by reading many of the reviews here (some reviews, by the way, are rather disturbing--suggesting that the "violent scenes" weren't enough to keep it going, making me wonder if they think there needs to be violence in movies to add excitement). Anyway, no need to rehash the details of the story (you're best off knowing little to nothing about the story before you see it). Also no need to say that the actors are quite excellent (Tom Wilkinson a particular standout; he's really the star of the show). What I do want to note is the direction, editing, and lighting in the film. I haven't seen a movie with this kind of directorial flair in a long time that didn't come across as too forced or pretentious. And that became obvious from the very beginning, as the opening scene faded out to the open credits. I found it quite stunning. Made me wish I had seen it in the theater instead of waiting for the video.
Some people didn't enjoy this movie because they were too busy taking sides with the characters, the issues, etc. That's not important here. Does every character in every movie either need to be all good or all bad to be understood by your average moviegoer? Does everyone in the movie need to behave the way you would? Isn't part of the reason we watch movies to witness other people's experiences and imagine what it must be like to experience them yourselves? Call me dumb (which I'm not), but I thought that was the point to this film.
If you are one of those seemingly few people that do watch movies to witness and imagine other people's experiences, then you're in for a rough yet very rewarding ride. Otherwise, spare yourself the time and spare us from having to read another stupid, inarticulate, pointless review.
Movie Review: I smell multiple Oscars
Summary: 5 Stars
IN THE BEDROOM introduces us to an All-American, WASP family, the Fowlers, of Maine. Husband Matt is a respected physician in their coastal community. Wife Ruth directs the local high school's choral group. Only-son Frank, aged twenty-something, works on a lobster boat, but is also a budding architect who's been accepted into graduate school. And Frank is in love with aged thirty-something Natalie Strout, who's separated from her abusive husband Richard, and who's the mother of two small boys. Matt secretly thinks Natalie is a Babe, and envies Frank his conquest. Ruth sees rough water ahead. Frank says, "Don't worry, Mom. It's just a summer thing."The film begins as a goopy-sweet love story. The camera follows as boy chases girl through a sun-drenched field. Boy makes out with girl in the tall grass under a wind-rippled tree. (Oh, puhleeze! Does this theater seat fly equipped with an air sickness bag?) But then the storyline swerves sharply with an act of shocking violence, and life for the Fowlers will never be the same again. As the emotional pressure on them mounts due to circumstances beyond their control, one is reminded of watching one of those WWII submarine combat pictures in which the boat's captain dives her deeper and deeper, and you just wait for the hull's rivets to start letting go. Tom Wilkinson as Matt and Sissy Spacek as Ruth both deserve to be nominated for this year's Best Actor Oscars, and nobody could justifiably complain if they win. (If the name "Tom Wilkinson" doesn't ring a bell, he was the laid-off middle manager in THE FULL MONTY.) When the recriminations and blame start to fly, you know that these two actors are at the top of their game, or have had their own personal relationships corroded by similar acids, or both.
Don't be surprised if IN THE BEDROOM is among the five nominated for Best Picture. This is dramatic film at its very best.
Movie Review: Justice WILL prevail and at what cost?
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the most intelligent films of recent years to examine the question of justice. It's also a set up. The "bad guys" - a mother who is a music teacher, a father who is a doctor - have one son, talented, extremely handsome, who is likely to be an architect (what else?) but indulged by the couple to the extent that his "summer fling" of sleeping with a single mother of two (who happens to be the estranged partner of the son of the richest man in town) is accepted with equanimity (at least without complaint) by them. The mother allows a worrying frown to cross her brow, the father is just VERY understanding and non-judgemental. The "good guy", who is (perhaps understandably) left by the single mother (Marissa Tomei), is thought by all to be a thoroughly unpleasant, spoilt, roue who has been known to resort to domestic violence to get his way with Ms Tomei. I say "bad guys" because the couple want and exact revenge for the loss of their son (accidentally? shot by the "good guy".) I say "good guy" because he is the one abandoned, who sees his ex-partner and their children openly enjoying the hospitality and friendship of the parents of his younger rival, and is murdered by the doctor - and it's a murder conducted in a pre-meditated, calculating, planned and carefully executed way. So that's the "set up". One of course is meant to sympathise with the middle class couple and despise the rich guy's son and cuckold and cheer when he "gets it". When we do, if we do, then we are complicit in seeking to act outside the justice system, and by extension, support those who do. There is not a false note of acting in this work and it provides a thought provoking meditation on revenge and justice. To revisit and ponder.Movie Review: A Vigilante Society - **Spoiler**
Summary: 5 Stars
Sometimes I wonder how it is we don't live in a vigilante society. People do such awful things and alot of times the system really can't/don't do anything for the victims. Well, in this film, this family was not going to just sit there and let the system dictate how their son's killer would be dealt with.
Story takes place in a small town where the Strout family is a big deal. You know the family that everyone in the community knows and basically the money makers. There is also the Fowler family which also make their way in the town. She is a folk song teacher and the father is a doctor and they have 1 college age son, Frank, that is dating an older woman (Marisa Tomei) and she has 2 sons. Well, the Strout family's son is married to Marisa Tomei and is not dealing well with the fact that she is dating the college boy and they aren't even divorced yet. Can't say that I blame him there, but it is inherent that he is a real prick and probably treated her and their sons poorly.
Moving along, the Strout's son kills Frank and because of the Strout's clout and the fact that the ex wife didn't actually see him fire the shot, he is going to get off with manslaughter. This does not sit well with the Fowler's. The Fowler's have a friend that has over 300 acres of land, so you can only imagine what happens. I certainly don't condone vigilantism, however, I just loved the ending. The Strout family put up property and funds to cover his bail, so since it appeared that he jumped bail, they will lose all of that. Beautiful! Then, they were able to get some pleasure from the fact that they will never have to see that jerk again roaming the streets. I couldn't help but get some satisfaction out of that myself. Very real and very interesting. Great movie!