The Reader (Miramax)
Sure To Be Controversial
The Reader is the story of a love affair between a fifteen year old boy and a thirty something woman. Even in this day and age the subject matter should stir up some controversy. Throw in some graphic nudity and a Holocaust background and you have even more to talk about. Kate Winslet stars in this movie and bares her soul and her body.
The movie starts with a chance meeting between Michael Berg (David Kross) and Hanna Schmitz (Winslet). Later he returns to her apartment and a full blown sexual relationship between them begins. Michael is completely besotted with Hanna and does everything he can to please her. One of the things that pleases her most is for him to read to her.
Years later when Michael is a law student his path crosses with Hannas again. This time he is an observer of her life, rather than someone involved with her. And years later Michael (now played by Ralph Fiennes) meets her one last time.
This is a very dramatic and thought provoking film. Hannas path through life is very clearly defined. We get insight as to who she is and why she did with her life what she did. Michaels actions and reactions are not as clear. He seems to have been emotionally affected by the affair at such a young age. Hanna haunts him throughout his life, and not in a good way.
Winslet is very good as Hanna. She gets all of her depths and dimensions right. It is strange she is being touted as a possible winner of the Oscar in the Best Supporting Actress category since she is very much the star of the film. I guess it all has to do with who the competition is and where she stands the best chance of winning.
Kross is also good as the young Michael. He shows a maturity that belies the fact he is only eighteen years old. The future certainly seems bright for him as an actor. Fiennes is okay as the older Michael but he doesnt bring any variation to the part. His grasp and interpretation of the role is the most elusive factor in the film.
The film is rated R for nudity, profanity and adult situations.
The Reader is a film that will stay with you long after you have finished viewing it. Winslet and Kross are excellent in their roles while Fiennes is only so so. The failure of the writer and Fiennes to give clarity to the older Michael is one of the fatal flaws of the film. With that wrinkle ironed out it could have been so much better.
I scored The Reader a page turning 7 out of 10.
