AFFLICTION
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 1999 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): *** 1/2
Better bring an extra wrap with you to AFFLICTION, as the snowy New
Hampshire landscapes and the chilling story will likely send some
shivers up your spine.
Russell Banks, a master at creating character studies set in the frozen
north, has had his second novel in as many years adapted for the screen.
About a year ago, Atom Egoyan's adaptation of Banks's THE SWEET
HEREAFTER was number two on my best of the year list. This time writer
and director Paul Schrader, whose previous pictures include LIGHT
SLEEPER and TOUCH, brings Banks's AFFLICTION to the screen.
In what would seem certain to be an Academy Award nominated performance,
Nick Nolte plays Wade Whitehouse, a policeman of sorts. Actually, being
the small town's law enforcement officer is only one of his jobs. He's
also the school crossing guard and a snowplow operator, and he's not
taken seriously as a cop. Even his speeding tickets are liable to be
refused by the local scofflaws.
The story starts ominously on the night before the opening of deer
season. Wade, who has been married twice to the same woman, is now a
divorced dad. His daughter reluctantly accompanies him to a Halloween
party that night, but she soon begs to go home to mom, played by Mary
Beth Hurt, whom you probably will not recognize.
The next day, Wade's buddy, Jack Hewitt (Jim True), is hired to
accompany an out-of-town hunter, who is then killed in a hunting
accident. Doubts about what really happened occur only to Wade, making
him persona non grata with the local establishment.
Attempting to resolve this mystery, if it is one, is half of the story.
The other, and more compelling aspect, is Wade's relationship with his
father, Glen, played in probably the best performance of his life by
James Coburn.
A violent alcoholic, who is so mean that he literally freezes his wife
to death, Glen has treated his family vilely all of his life. Glen
apparently learned his family values from his father. ("My old man was
a real man who didn't let women push him around.") Glen is infamous
around the small town where they live, with people at bars still telling
stories about his abuse of his kids.
Nick Nolte, who usually plays strong, macho characters, shows us his
vulnerable side. Although firmly rejecting his father's values, he has
the family demons flowing strong in his blood. His drinking is getting
worse and his temper seems in danger of exploding.
To make matters worse for Wade, he has a horrible toothache throughout
most of the movie. With no dentist appointments available, a red-faced
Wade claws at his face as if he will scrape his entire jaw away with his
bare hands, he is in so much pain. Like the recent movie, INSOMNIA, in
which lack of sleep affected the detective's judgement, the toothache
begins to alter Wade's.
Wade's brother Rolfe (Willem Dafoe) believes that, when he was a child,
he successfully avoided his father, so he wasn't "affected." Wade casts
doubts on his brother's claim. At any rate, Rolfe is a teetotaler and
the family's Rock of Gibraltar, when he is around. (He wisely left town
years earlier.) Their sister, who appears briefly, is a born-again
Christian, a role that is relegated to caricature.
Dafoe is good but underused on the screen. He is also the narrator,
which is the script's biggest mistake. The narrator simply isn't
needed, and the lines he is given tend too often to turn a profound
scene into a trite one with the narration's pomposity.
Sissy Spacek has a wonderful small part as Wade's supportive girlfriend.
Spacek doesn't get much screen time, just enough to make you wish
directors would cast her more often.
Paul Sarossy's cinematography is stunning. The snow and the gray skies
all have a dreary and foreboding steel-blue cast to them. The
tragically sad movie contains some powerful performances. While it
isn't quite in the same league as the last Russell Banks adaptation, it
is a marvelous and moving film in its own right.
AFFLICTION runs 1:53. It is rated R for violence, profanity and one
scene of dope smoking. The film would be fine for mature teenagers.
Email: Steve.Rhodes@InternetReviews.com
Web: www.InternetReviews.com
Have I Seen This Movie: Yes
And What Did I Think?: Nick Nolte and James Coburn give great performances here in this rather bleak and drab movie. Nolte was nominated for best actor and Coburn won for best supporting actor at the Academy Awards for their roles here. Nick Nolte plays a cop in a small town who investigates a murder and gives a good performance here. James Coburn plays his abusive father and comes off as a real nasty guy. Willem Dafoe does a lot of narration as the other brother and shows up at the mothers funeral. I didn't think the narration was necessary though. The movie could have just played itself out. Although there are a few good performances here, the movie itself is really depressing and bleak looking. The small town wintery town just looks full of despair and hopelessness. At some points the movie drifts on and will make you lose your focus on it. It is worth renting or watching on cable, just be warned that it will make you feel rather empty at the end, so if you want something that will make you feel good, pass this over.
I give Affliction 3 out of 5 stars.
Review written July 16, 1999