Movie Review – The Reader (2008)

Director: Stephen Daldry
Writer: David Hare (screenplay) and Bernhard Schlink (book)
Genre: Drama/Romance

The Reader will shock most with it’s harsh narrative and surprisingly steamy romance, yet it still manages to deliver a hard hitting and compelling story. The Reader follows Michael Berg (David Kross younger and Ralph Fiennes older), a young man who happens upon a lonely older women who helps him when he is very sick.  He is able to make it home where he is bed ridden for weeks.  Once Michael recovers from his terrible sickness he goes to thank the woman, Hanna Schmitz (Kate Winslet). She at first seems very stand offish, but suddenly everything changes and they have a long affair. Later they part ways, but Michael cannot stop thinking about her and when in law school observes a WWII war-crime trial in which she is a defendant. Now Michael must watch his first love be questioned in the court and decide if he will help to defend her with knowledge he has gained from their relationship.

The story of The Reader, although not an uplifting one, is quite compelling. After getting through the steamy beginning of the film you are left with an emotional drama working its best to get your eyes watering. Thankfully, the earlier part of the film establishes the characters enough to make you feel for them and connect with their stories. This forces relevance on the emotion of the later portion of the film. Aside from emotion though, the story is interesting to watch unfold. You do not just accept each part as it happens and figure out what is going to happen next; instead you are forced to think about what you would do if presented with the same situation and wonder what the characters in the film will do. Engaging and masterfully written.

The acting is likely the largely talked about aspect of the film especially due to Kate Winslet’s excellent performance. Seemingly emotionless for most of the film, Hanna (Winslet) occasionally provides chilling expressions. A perfect portrayal of a person so determined to keep a secret that she will sacrifice everything else that she has to do it. David Kross is no light weight in The Reader either though; delivering powerful lines and a dynamic character of passion. Ralph Fiennes, even with the large credit on the movie poster does not have the hard hitting role in this one until just near the end and really only briefly. When he delivers he delivers with excellence though. Although Fiennes and Winslet are expected to be great they out do themselves and Kross shows he can perform with the best of them. Tremendous acting in a difficult story to act out.

Overall it was the mixture of story and acting that made the film. The directing and editing of the film created a good flow to present this masterpiece which I dare say is not going to be liked by many people. I say it is not going to be a film most people will like because it is just so sad. There are redeeming moments, but most are in the beginning and after you are torn apart throughout the middle and end of the film there is not much left for a smile. I love movies that really get to your emotions whether it be happiness, sadness, anger, or fear does not really matter to me unless I am just in the mood for one in particular. Make no mistake though, The Reader should (if you let it) leave you in a dreary state. I could not help but be excited about how well made it was and how great the performances were so that was enough for me to be happy. However, the casual moviegoer beware this is not a movie for happy entertainment.  In addition if you are offended by nudity be warned that Winslet, as in a lot of her films, bares all and David Kross isn’t shy either.  I highly recommend to those that are a fan of the book or are looking for a well made movie with great acting in it.

The Skinny Version

Raw Score: 873,009
Sharon Movie? No

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