Reviews

It is difficult to believe that Nicole Kidman, Oscar in hand and incredibly talented, chose this vehicle from the mountain of good scripts that are doubtless offered to her daily. Without her name (and I blame HER for having so little respect for that name) this sufficatingly boring piece of "art" would never have opened in a major theater or commanded the $9.00 I paid to see it. So close to kiddie porn that you hold your breath when young Cameron Bright strips to join Nicole in the bathtub. Then there is the open-mouth kiss and various scenes with touching and discussions about how he, as a 10-year-old, might be able to satisfy her "needs." Jesus! All this might have been tolerable if the film were not just plain BORING and so unbelievably SLOW! Was it really only 100 minutes? Obviously everyone involved in this piece of movie "masturbation" just loved it so much they dared NOT suggest to anyone in charge (if anyone WAS) that an endless close up of even a wonderful face like Kidman's is enough to make a non-art-house audience yell: "CUT!" I did not time the now-noted closeup but would guesstimate that it was close to three minutes. How could even SHE stand to look at herself that long in advance private screenings she must have attended. Shame on you, Nicole. You are a truly fine actress, but you do owe your audience something (material-wise) for their trust in you.

Only half way through this film did I remember having seen a small theatre production of the play in Los Angeles a dozen years ago. I only remembered when the rock-moving scenes began. I don't recall being particularly moved by the play -- it may have been a condensed 1-act version or something. I only remember thinking it was too "talky." But, the film was very powerful and moving and enraged me! I'm also older and more aware of prejudice on every level. Every gay person...or minority of any kind (race, religion, etc.) should see this film just to remind them (us) of just HOW BAD it can get and how "humans" can become such sick animals as the Nazis were in this film. I kept thinking: "Hey, how can they keep blaming Hitler, when he was not there ordering the guards to torture and ENJOY hurting people like that?" Powerful film!