Comments on: The Reader Review http://blog.spout.com/2008/12/10/the-reader-review/ Daily coverage of what is truly interesting in the film world Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:12:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: The Reader « She wished you were here. http://blog.spout.com/2008/12/10/the-reader-review/#comment-125781 The Reader « She wished you were here. Sun, 19 Apr 2009 16:48:15 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8124#comment-125781 [...] The material suggests that for the generation of Germans reckoning with the crimes of older loved ones, emotional parlysis was epidemic. The Reader is most effective when conveying the precarious limbo of conflicting emotions — of having so many feelings that are so in conflict with one another that you can express nothing. The reverberations of harm within romance are writ large over historical tragedy, and on paper, it’s a pat equation — Michael didn’t spend time in the camps, but falling in love with a Nazi left its own scars from which he never recovered –– but there are moments where it’s rendered, particularly in Ralph Fiennes’ expert performance as the older Michael, with a subtle grace that greases the extreme conflation between the personal and the political. When engaging in the usual overblown tropes piled on to Oscar bait to make “difficult” material like this palatable to a mass audience, The Reader is disposable. But Fiennes transcends tropes and types, and in the moments where it’s just him in front of the camera, he’s creating a fully-realized human being. You don’t realize how rare that is in a Hollywood film until you see it done well. - Review from http://blog.spout.com/2008/12/10/the-reader-review/ [...] [...] The material suggests that for the generation of Germans reckoning with the crimes of older loved ones, emotional parlysis was epidemic. The Reader is most effective when conveying the precarious limbo of conflicting emotions — of having so many feelings that are so in conflict with one another that you can express nothing. The reverberations of harm within romance are writ large over historical tragedy, and on paper, it’s a pat equation — Michael didn’t spend time in the camps, but falling in love with a Nazi left its own scars from which he never recovered –– but there are moments where it’s rendered, particularly in Ralph Fiennes’ expert performance as the older Michael, with a subtle grace that greases the extreme conflation between the personal and the political. When engaging in the usual overblown tropes piled on to Oscar bait to make “difficult” material like this palatable to a mass audience, The Reader is disposable. But Fiennes transcends tropes and types, and in the moments where it’s just him in front of the camera, he’s creating a fully-realized human being. You don’t realize how rare that is in a Hollywood film until you see it done well. - Review from http://blog.spout.com/2008/12/10/the-reader-review/ [...]

]]> By: john l http://blog.spout.com/2008/12/10/the-reader-review/#comment-125714 john l Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:36:02 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8124#comment-125714 I agree with MSJ(comment below)I found the film totally absorbing but unsatisfactory-Icannot believe that Michael would not'save'Hanna from life imprisonment with the knowledge that she was not the leader nor did(could) she have written the report.Was it this that he wrestled with for the rest of his life?"What would you do"she asked the judge and the answer was never forthcoming, but it was from Michael with his extrordinary actions toward her.I think Karina's review puts it into perspective.But i'm not satisfied with this film there are to many questions so like MSJ will read the book I agree with MSJ(comment below)I found the film totally absorbing but unsatisfactory-Icannot believe that Michael would not’save’Hanna from life imprisonment with the knowledge that she was not the leader nor did(could) she have written the report.Was it this that he wrestled with for the rest of his life?”What would you do”she asked the judge and the answer was never forthcoming, but it was from Michael with his extrordinary actions toward her.I think Karina’s review puts it into perspective.But i’m not satisfied with this film there are to many questions so like MSJ will read the book

]]> By: christina http://blog.spout.com/2008/12/10/the-reader-review/#comment-122438 christina Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:05:50 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8124#comment-122438 I think there is a mistake in this movie. It says that Hanna was about twice of Michael's age when they met (Michael was 15). During the trial, the judge asked Hanna a few questions. The date she was born, it was 1922. And then the date she joined the SS, it was 1943. In 1943, Hanna was 22 years old, and Michael was 15. How could this be? There is definitely an error here. I think there is a mistake in this movie. It says that Hanna was about twice of Michael’s age when they met (Michael was 15). During the trial, the judge asked Hanna a few questions. The date she was born, it was 1922. And then the date she joined the SS, it was 1943. In 1943, Hanna was 22 years old, and Michael was 15. How could this be? There is definitely an error here.

]]> By: MSJ http://blog.spout.com/2008/12/10/the-reader-review/#comment-119364 MSJ Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:47:19 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8124#comment-119364 This is a very very deep movie and the the actors left too much out. One cannot determine what Michael was thinking and why he acted the way he did. Like why did he turn back when he tried to see Hanna in the jail during the trial? Also, why did he not fully discuss the situation with his professor? And why did he not tell the court? Why was he so obsessed with providing her books on tapes, but lacked total emotion when he saw her in jail before her release? This behavior is quite bazaar. I am assuming the answer to all of these questions is simple - IT'S A MOVIE and not real life! The torment Michael endured for his silence is a reason he should have done something. Hanna's suicide was quite predictable because it foretold in the classroom by one of Michael's classmates. This movie brings to the forefront the question of how should we treat someone who we loved or liked very much and we later find out that they have a criminal background. Do we stop loving them? This movie put the audience in love with Hanna and then her dark past is revealed with a twist. Love Hanna, Hate Hanna or Justify her? Your choice... I am going to read the book. This is a very very deep movie and the the actors left too much out. One cannot determine what Michael was thinking and why he acted the way he did. Like why did he turn back when he tried to see Hanna in the jail during the trial? Also, why did he not fully discuss the situation with his professor? And why did he not tell the court? Why was he so obsessed with providing her books on tapes, but lacked total emotion when he saw her in jail before her release? This behavior is quite bazaar. I am assuming the answer to all of these questions is simple - IT’S A MOVIE and not real life! The torment Michael endured for his silence is a reason he should have done something.

Hanna’s suicide was quite predictable because it foretold in the classroom by one of Michael’s classmates.

This movie brings to the forefront the question of how should we treat someone who we loved or liked very much and we later find out that they have a criminal background. Do we stop loving them? This movie put the audience in love with Hanna and then her dark past is revealed with a twist. Love Hanna, Hate Hanna or Justify her? Your choice…

I am going to read the book.

]]> By: Tim1974 http://blog.spout.com/2008/12/10/the-reader-review/#comment-119308 Tim1974 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:15:14 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8124#comment-119308 Another example of the double standard which exisit in movies today. There is male frontal nudity but no female frontal nudity. It has become redundant and tiresome. Another example of the double standard which exisit in movies today. There is male frontal nudity but no female frontal nudity. It has become redundant and tiresome.

]]> By: ontario barnes http://blog.spout.com/2008/12/10/the-reader-review/#comment-118655 ontario barnes Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:30:20 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8124#comment-118655 Pretty good review (up until the "fucked-up" ending bit), but Kate too young for her role? I know its Christmas, but damn! Pretty good review (up until the “fucked-up” ending bit), but Kate too young for her role? I know its Christmas, but damn!

]]> By: Jerry http://blog.spout.com/2008/12/10/the-reader-review/#comment-118177 Jerry Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:02:42 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8124#comment-118177 Excellent review Karina but be careful, APAC is ALWAYS listening! Excellent review Karina but be careful, APAC is ALWAYS listening!

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