In the Bedroom

Directed by: Todd Field

Starring: Sissy Spacek, Tom Wilkinson, Marisa Tomei, Nick Stahl

Rating:

Why is everyone singing this movie's praises? I saw nothing special about it. Yes, the acting is good. But other than that there is nothing redeeming. The cinematography is boring. If I had to look at one more tracking shots of houses in New England I would kick Todd Field myself.

This movie follows a family, Spacek, Wilkinson and their son, Stahl. Stahl has fallen in love with a much older, married woman played by Tomei. She and her husband are separated but his abusive nature takes over and as anyone would guess, there are bound to be problems between he and Stahl. The story is predictable, to some extent. I didn't guess the ending of the movie until half way thru it, not that I think it should win any awards for that, but I knew the first half just by seeing the previews. It made me angry because I knew exactly what was going to happen. Someone should really learn how to properly edit trailers.

The dialogue is nothing special. These wannabe touchy feely moments between Wilkinson and Stahl as father and son are deadpan and boring at best. What else? There was no real chemistry between the leads. Tomei and Stahl really should have more going on than what they do on camera. Their love needs to be believable to make the movie in the slightest bit moving.

The film was too removed. It was cold enough to feel like a documentary but there was nothing really learned. I just didn't like it. More than anything I was bored. After half an hour I was looking at my watch to see how much longer was left. For those of you who saw the previews and are expecting some, sitting on the edge of your seat thriller, you'll be disappointed. I thought I would fall asleep if I wasn't concentrating so hard.

Good acting, like I said, but I'm not so sure that Sissy Spacek deserves the Oscar for it. I've mentioned this before and I'll say it again, the sign of a good actor is not being able to see anyone else play the part that they did. Any other decent middle aged actress could play this part. I would greatly prefer Nicole Kidman to win for Moulin Rouge. But I don't agree with the Oscars most of the time anyway.

And since we're on the subject, lemme mention one of my pet peeves. If anyone else says that Russell Crowe needed to win for Gladiator to make up for him losing in The Insider, I will rip my hair out. Yes, he was good in The Insider, but in my opinion he lost fair and square, and deservingly so, to Kevin Spacey in American Beauty. Therefore, there should be no makeup. And even though Tom Hanks already has his Oscars, I thought he was the best that year and deserved the award. Alright, enough on that tangent. See, this movie isn't even exciting enough for me to finish my review of it. Let's just say this movie is not was the critics have pumped it up to be and I think most people will be greatly disappointed, as I was, when they see it.