The Reader

[andrewducker]

Julie and I went to see The Reader the other day.  It was amazing, and both of us were blown away.

Once you've seen it you might also enjoy the Roger Ebert review which contains rather massive spoilers.

A lot of people think it's about *spoiler* - but Ebert and I agree, it's really about people, and the things we'll do when we feel we have no choice.

Comments

[onceupon.livejournal.com]

I've watched the previews for this with interest. I'm usually more of a "things blow up and then there's a car chase" kind of movie person but this just seems very powerful.

[andrewducker]

It was. Julie cried for lots of the last quarter. I definitely want to watch it again when it hits DVD.

[d-c-m.livejournal.com]

Yes.

slightly off-topic musing

[channelpenguin.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I have still not evolved to the point where I'd want to go watch a film that would(might) make me cry. (though given that of course, I have no idea whether it actually would/could).

[magenta-wings.livejournal.com]

I saw it at the weekend. I thought it was amazing. I'm still moved by it.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

I have plans to see it - so thank you for avoiding any spoilers!

[broin.livejournal.com]

Oy.

The Guardian's 1-star review, "naive and glib and meretricious," summed it up neatly for me.

Fatuous arse-gravy, over-eagerly acted, with sloppy direction, and a constant need to swamp every subtley with a bland score.

So uh, two thumbs way down.

[andrewducker]

I disagree largely with the reviewer - he rebukes it for its obtuseness, which is one of the things I liked deeply about it. He wants Michael to have a depth of emotional understanding that I very much appreciated his lack of.

Oh, and I checked with Julie - neither of us remembers a note of the score. I assume it had one, but I don't remember it swamping things. Clearly didn't work for you though :->