OUR RATING SYSTEM
(*****) = do NOT miss! This one is as good as they come.
(****) = Fantastic - It's worth the price of the ticket (and then some).
(***) = Average - Nothing really bad, nothing really spectacular...
(**) = Perhaps you should find another movie to see.
(*) = The bottom of the barrel. It would be hard to find something less entertaining or more unworthy of your time.



Maureen (Mo) holds a PhD in marine geophysics (Dr. Maureen, to you) and works for the U.S. Geological Survey in Santa Cruz, CA. Maureen enjoys the outdoors (skiing, swimming, hiking, camping), dogs, cooking, singing, getting into (and out of) uncomfortable situations, and most importantly, watching quality movies. She makes a point of seeing as many Oscar-nominated films as possible each year and (correctly) predicting the winners. Her role on this blog is primarily as an advisor, collaborator, and "chime in"-er.

John (Jo) holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film Studies. He currently lives in Chicago, Illinois and works as a nurse. His one true obsession in life is movies... The good, the bad, and everything in between. Other than that, he is busy caring for his cat, painting, writing, exploring Chicago, and debating on whether or not to worship Tilda Swinton as a deity. John is the master and commander and primary author of this blog.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

We Need To Talk About Kevin (****1/2)

We Need To Talk About Kevin is a disturbing, harsh, and terrifying look into the life of a mother who's son went on a killing spree at his high school. Told through a non-linear narration with flashbacks to her former life, Eva the mother comes to see her life as something that may or may not have been all in vein.

There is no definite plot to this film, other than to trace the roots of evil. From the beginning, Eva finds Kevin to be a challenge. He wears diapers late into his toddler years, constantly fights, is unresponsive, and yet loves his father unconditionally. In one of the most powerful moments, Eva is able to find peace in the silence standing next to a construction worker pounding away with a jackhammer. For the briefest moment, she can forget the life she lives and escape into her memories.

I would consider Tilda Swinton to be perhaps the second greatest actor alive (after Meryl Streep, of course) and here her acting is truly brilliant. Having missed a nomination last year for her unbelievable performance in I Am Love, she stands a good chance at scoring her second Oscar nomination since her nomination and win back in 2007. Tilda manages to portray a woman we greatly sympathize with yet can never truly understand what goes on inside her head, much in the same way she is shut out from understanding Kevin. Kevin, played by a ghostly Ezra Miller, is a flat, lifeless character. His actions throughout the film all come to foreshadow the ultimate ending, but Miller manages to make it something memorable.

Many will undoubtedly be put off by the grim subject matter and understandably so. The film ends not with resolution but further confusion and annoyance. What will happen to Eva now - shut out from her job, friends, home, town? Elephant was another film made dealing with a high school shooting, and it is interesting to see how each functions. Elephant works to understand the single moment. Kevin seeks to understand everything else.

(Awards potential: Best Actress (Swinton), Best Supporting Actor (Miller), Best Adapted Screenplay)
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