The Reader

Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:21 am

A lot of critics don't like this film.

I just finished watching it. And it was at times boring, but overall, it was amazing. Winslett gives one of the best performances I've ever seen. And the story, ahh, no, it's not any preachiness of the film, it's about the Reader himself, and how his memories become our memories, how choices echo into eternity. Subtle.

Anyone else?

Post by **lorin** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:07 pm

beautiful movie! Kate Winslet has become an amazing actress. one of my favorites movies this year, actually the favorite. I thought the movies power was in its restraint. Everything was wrapped so tight, her emotions, her past, all tightly concealed to hide her one big secret. (Can't go any further or I'll ruin it)

it reminded me of Sophie's Choice, where she confronts her choice/s and the aftermath. Sophies Choice was one of my top 5 of all time. Amazing cast, amazing story, amazing photography.

Post by **danlo** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:05 am

Lady Tam watched this movie with her bookclub today-said she was blown away. Said it followed the book to a tee...said it left Revolutionary Road in the dust, in some aspects (which we saw together).

Mon Mar 02, 2009 6:14 am

danlo wrote:Lady Tam watched this movie with her bookclub today-said she was blown away. Said it followed the book to a tee...said it left Revolutionary Road in the dust, in some aspects (which we saw together).

I thought the first 2/3 of RR was okay...it didn't seem to know what it was doing or what it wanted to be...but that last 1/3...ohh the glory, some of the best cinema I've ever experienced.

You?

Post by **rdhopeca** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:23 am

I adore Kate Winslet, but with two kids under 2 at home, we don't get to the movies much. Maybe we'll rent these.

Post by **danlo** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:44 am

I liked Revolutionary Road a lot-but it hit too close to home for me with my dad commuting for NJ to NY everyday, back in the day...the acting was very good at the end, but depressed the hell out of me.

Post by **Dragonlily** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 3:28 pm

I was mesmerized by the book and delighted that Kate Winslet won the Oscar for it -- now I have to see the movie. I'm glad to hear such good reports of it.

lorin wrote:I thought the movies power was in its restraint. Everything was wrapped so tight, her emotions, her past, all tightly concealed to hide her one big secret.

(BTW, lorin, you have a wonderful av.)

Post by **dlbpharmd** » Sun May 31, 2009 2:14 pm

My wife and I watched this the other night. I do agree with it's probably one of the better movies from last year. Winslett was amazing, the actor that played the young Michael was very good and Ralph Fiennes is good in everything.

Spoiler

I did find it a bit disturbing that we (the audience) is supposed to sympathize with Helena. Also, even though the story attempts to help us understand how ashamed she was of her illiteracy, to serve 20 years in prison as an innocent woman simply to protect that secret.....just too implausible, IMO.

Post by **lorin** » Sun May 31, 2009 2:46 pm

Dragonlily wrote: (BTW, lorin, you have a wonderful av.)

Thanks Dragonlily! I made it one of my more peaceful moments. (they are so rare these days)

dlbpharmd wrote:
Spoiler
I did find it a bit disturbing that we (the audience) is supposed to sympathize with Helena. Also, even though the story attempts to help us understand how ashamed she was of her illiteracy, to serve 20 years in prison as an innocent woman simply to protect that secret.....just too implausible, IMO.

Spoiler

I dont think she was innocent at all. She was as guilty as many of the passive war criminals of the time. I think, in many ways, she lacked the intellectual capacity to understand her role in the crime and it became a moot point. Te secret illiteracy became the driving force in all her actions. I do however agree that her hiding her illiteracy to the extent of assuming the guilt of being the leader of the crime is pretty implausible.

this spoiler stuff looks pretty weird.

Post by **Zarathustra** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:49 pm

rdhopeca wrote:I adore Kate Winslet, but with two kids under 2 at home, we don't get to the movies much. Maybe we'll rent these.

Thank you! I have two kids myself. It sucked not being able to go to the movies for a couple years. But I'm not going to ruin the experience for everyone else just because I've got cabin fever. I've been to movies when people let their "diapered one" sit in his own shit for the entire movie because they couldn't be bothered to go change him and miss some of the movie. Try eating popcorn next to that! Or mothers who think that they can walk to the aisle and this somehow magically muffles the shrieking cries of their baby. I love kids. But I can't stand inconsiderate adults who think the world has to put up with their offspring just because they do.

Anyway, I love Kate Winslet, too. We'll probably rent both of these.

Post by **rdhopeca** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:46 pm

Malik23 wrote:
rdhopeca wrote:I adore Kate Winslet, but with two kids under 2 at home, we don't get to the movies much. Maybe we'll rent these.
Thank you! I have two kids myself. It sucked not being able to go to the movies for a couple years. But I'm not going to ruin the experience for everyone else just because I've got cabin fever. I've been to movies when people let their "diapered one" sit in his own shit for the entire movie because they couldn't be bothered to go change him and miss some of the movie. Try eating popcorn next to that! Or mothers who think that they can walk to the aisle and this somehow magically muffles the shrieking cries of their baby. I love kids. But I can't stand inconsiderate adults who think the world has to put up with their offspring just because they do.

Anyway, I love Kate Winslet, too. We'll probably rent both of these.

I can't imagine taking a toddler to a movie theater. I'm lucky they are both well behaved enough that we can eat out regularly.

Post by **dlbpharmd** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:32 pm

I remember opening night for Godfather III - the theater was nearly packed, and there was a seat open on my left. About 2/3 through the movie, some woman with a small baby and sat down next to me. Of course, the baby started to cry right as the big stuff started to happen in the film.

Post by **lorin** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:56 pm

dlbpharmd wrote:I remember opening night for Godfather III - the theater was nearly packed, and there was a seat open on my left. About 2/3 through the movie, some woman with a small baby and sat down next to me. Of course, the baby started to cry right as the big stuff started to happen in the film.

the baby's cries were probably the best thing you heard in the theatre that night.

Post by **dlbpharmd** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:42 am

Hey, I like GFIII!

Post by **StevieG** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:48 am

dlbpharmd wrote:Hey, I like GFIII!

me too! (apart from Sofia Coppola's awful acting...

)

Post by **lorin** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:59 am

dlbpharmd wrote:Hey, I like GFIII!

Post by **Zarathustra** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:21 am

rdhopeca wrote:
I can't imagine taking a toddler to a movie theater. I'm lucky they are both well behaved enough that we can eat out regularly.

Oh, don't get me wrong, we tried to get away with it. We took our youngest to several movies, and he slept through them and didn't make a peep. But once he got big enough to stand, climb, and squirm, we finally had to stop. When he tried to climb into the row behind us, we just left the movie before it was over. Luckily, the movie sucked. (I'm embarrassed to say which movie.)

But the theater is the only place I expect quiet. If it's a restaurant--or even a kid's movie--I'm a lot more patient and expect it to be noisy and chaotic. I didn't mean to imply that I give all people with kids mean, judgmental glares.

Before I had kids, I used to think that parents with wild ones were just bad parents. Then we had our youngest, and I was in for a rude awakening. He was uncontrollable. It was a constant battle, once he reached about 2. So now I have a lot more sympathy for parents struggling with unruly kids . . . as long as they don't ruin the movie.

Honestly, I've had more problems at the movies with adults than kids. But that's another thread.

Post by **Rigel** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 10:26 pm

Malik23 wrote:
rdhopeca wrote: Luckily, the movie sucked. (I'm embarrassed to say which movie.)
That's enough of a teaser that you are now obligated to tell us which movie

Anyway, what happened to getting a babysitter for the evening?

Post by **dlbpharmd** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:10 pm

lorin wrote:
dlbpharmd wrote:Hey, I like GFIII!

OK, GFIII isn't as good as GFI or GFII, but it's not that bad either!

Post by **Zarathustra** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 1:49 am

It was Moulin Rouge (sp?)

I don't know what possessed us to see it at the theater. Major case of cabin fever, I suppose.

Oh, and baby sitters . . . all our friends and family live in other towns. We're on our own.

Luckily our oldest is now 17, so we've had a baby sitter for several years now. Too late for the 8 year old in his toddler years, though.

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

The Reader

The Reader