The Reader (2009)
Plot: Post-WWII Germany: Nearly a decade after his affair with an older woman came to a mysterious end, law student Michael Berg re-encounters his former lover as she defends herself in a war-crime trial (imdb.com).
Review: **This review contains minor spoilers** Nominated for five Oscars and winner of one, The Reader came with high hopes and highly acclaimed. We knew about five minutes into the film that it was not necessarily going to be "our type" of movie, but we continued on anyways. Starring Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes, this film was filled with dramatic moments and very interesting cinematography. I really enjoyed the way that the film was filmed. The style of director Stephen Daldry was filled with vibrant color during the light hearted scenes and riddled with soft tones for the dreary moments. Being set towards the end of World War II it was very interesting to see some of the dilemmas and opportunities that faced the normal everyday citizens of Hitler's Germany. Even for those that were living in the smaller countryside towns, the intrigue of the plan that Hitler was disclosing to the German citizens seemed grand. This uncommon point of view during WWII made the film very interesting.
The overall story was a little sketch if you ask me. I'm not sure how I feel about a random women on the street hooking up and having an affair with a 15 year old boy that she barely knows. I guess times were tough for everybody and who am I too critique clouded judgement? But even once I got beyond this idea the remaining premise of the movie failed to wrap me up in the story. There were points where characters had a chance to go beyond their physical feelings towards someone and do what was morally right and failed to do so. The main male character had the opportunity to keep the woman out of jail by proving that she was illiterate thus could not have filed a report for the concentration camp, yet he did nothing. He went to visit her in jail, then tucked his tail betwixt his legs and ran out. Needless to say the Michael Berg was not one of my favorite characters in the history of cinema. How he carried on an affair at the age of 15 for a matter of months without his family catching on is beyond me. It's obvious that they were not happy with him for some reason, but from the very beginning of the movie the whole Berg family dynamic was uncomfortable and weird. The one bright spot in this film was the acting. Kate Winslet, David Kross (young Michael Berg), and Ralph Fiennes (Michael Berg) did a remarkable job portraying a few uncomfortable roles. Kate Winslett won an Oscar (Best Actress) for her portrayal of a lonely Nazi camp coordinator in the midst of an affair with a teenager. During her acceptance speech she summed it up wonderfully when she said that this was the hardest role she's ever had because there was nothing within the character that she could relate to. She had no experience to pull from to get into character. This is so true, and for that, kudos to you Kate!
Review: **This review contains minor spoilers** Nominated for five Oscars and winner of one, The Reader came with high hopes and highly acclaimed. We knew about five minutes into the film that it was not necessarily going to be "our type" of movie, but we continued on anyways. Starring Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes, this film was filled with dramatic moments and very interesting cinematography. I really enjoyed the way that the film was filmed. The style of director Stephen Daldry was filled with vibrant color during the light hearted scenes and riddled with soft tones for the dreary moments. Being set towards the end of World War II it was very interesting to see some of the dilemmas and opportunities that faced the normal everyday citizens of Hitler's Germany. Even for those that were living in the smaller countryside towns, the intrigue of the plan that Hitler was disclosing to the German citizens seemed grand. This uncommon point of view during WWII made the film very interesting.
The overall story was a little sketch if you ask me. I'm not sure how I feel about a random women on the street hooking up and having an affair with a 15 year old boy that she barely knows. I guess times were tough for everybody and who am I too critique clouded judgement? But even once I got beyond this idea the remaining premise of the movie failed to wrap me up in the story. There were points where characters had a chance to go beyond their physical feelings towards someone and do what was morally right and failed to do so. The main male character had the opportunity to keep the woman out of jail by proving that she was illiterate thus could not have filed a report for the concentration camp, yet he did nothing. He went to visit her in jail, then tucked his tail betwixt his legs and ran out. Needless to say the Michael Berg was not one of my favorite characters in the history of cinema. How he carried on an affair at the age of 15 for a matter of months without his family catching on is beyond me. It's obvious that they were not happy with him for some reason, but from the very beginning of the movie the whole Berg family dynamic was uncomfortable and weird. The one bright spot in this film was the acting. Kate Winslet, David Kross (young Michael Berg), and Ralph Fiennes (Michael Berg) did a remarkable job portraying a few uncomfortable roles. Kate Winslett won an Oscar (Best Actress) for her portrayal of a lonely Nazi camp coordinator in the midst of an affair with a teenager. During her acceptance speech she summed it up wonderfully when she said that this was the hardest role she's ever had because there was nothing within the character that she could relate to. She had no experience to pull from to get into character. This is so true, and for that, kudos to you Kate!
All in all the movie is worth a redbox $1 rent . *Disclaimer* there is a high amount of nudity in this film so keep that in mind when considering the rent. I have no desire to own this movie, but do not feel that I wasted my time in watching it. I have rated it 2.5 stars out of 5.
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