In the Bedroom
Face to face. Matt and Ruth (Wilkinson and Spacek) put their relationship to the test
SHADOWS MUST SEE MUST-SEE
dir Todd Field
scr Rob Festinger, Todd Field
with Sissy Spacek, Tom Wilkinson, Nick Stahl, Marisa Tomei, William Mapother, William Wise, Celia Weston, Karen Allen, Frank T Wells, Justin Ashforth,W Clapham Murray, Deborah Direcktor
release US 23.Nov.01; UK 18.Jan.02
Miramax
01/US 2h11

4½ out of 5 stars
R E V I E W   B Y   R I C H   C L I N E
behind closed doors This film continually surprises us with an utterly original treatment of a difficult subject. It's about a middle-aged couple, Matt and Ruth (Wilkinson and Spacek) whose relationship is stressed beyond reason by a tragedy in the family involving their only son (Stahl), a bright grad student home in Maine for the summer. He's enjoying lobstering with his dad and a summer fling with a lovely single mother (Tomei). But her ex (Mapother) is not happy about their relationship at all.

Field comes at the story from such an unusual perspective that it takes our breath away. Filmed with a soft, warm glow, life is simply life for these people ... and everything that comes with it, good or bad. The pacing is similarly natural--slow and relaxed, gradually building up the underlying tension, relieving it and then cranking up a gentle sense of horror and dread at what might happen next. This is clever, insightful filmmaking that lets us discover the truths in each scene--and these things lie in the characters themselves, because the film is actually an examination of a long-term relationship put through a cycle of grief, fear, anger, revenge and redemption. And the cast is well up to the task. Spacek delivers an astonishingly honest performance as the warm earth mother who transforms into a bitter old woman ... and then has an epiphany. Wilkinson is just as good, subtly conveying emotion and purpose without ever resorting to the mechanics of Acting. In addition, Tomei shines in a rare serious role, Stahl is growing into a seriously good adult actor, and Mapother adds surprising depth to his role. And perhaps the most refreshing thing about is that Field deals with such a deeply personal theme without ever going sentimental. He asks the questions and then peels back the layers to show us how this couple copes with their pain and frustration in ways you never expect. Don't miss it.
adult themes, language, violence cert 15 17.Oct.01

R E A D E R   R E V I E W S
behind closed doors send your review to Shadows... "I loved the movie; as movies about grief go, it was very different to but up there with Ordinary People and The Sweet Hereafter. Really bravely directed for a first-timer; there's really not a lot of dialogue in the picture, but we hardly notice, because the subtle intonations of the characters in silence tell us everything we need to know -- and not only that, but they do it in a way that feels clear, and specific. Todd Field must have had a lot of nerve to think he could make actors work that well, and a lot of talent to pull it off." --Ian Waldron-Mantgani, UK 21.Feb.02
© 2001 by Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

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