lwhalen-18184
Someone said earlier that this is not their favorite film, while being, however, perfect. I cannot disagree. Sometimes the critical cliches involve the use of the words "moving,""gripping,""enthralling." While I have scoffed at these past descriptions, I have to stand in humility and say it is only because I had not seen a picture like this one. I was moved for days afterwards. This film has still not left my mind. It is powerful in so many ways.Watch this movie. Now. You will only be able to watch it once. That is equally good and bad. You will see why.
SnoopyStyle
Married couple Matt (Tom Wilkinson) and Ruth Fowler (Sissy Spacek) live in a small coastal community in Maine. Their only son Frank (Nick Stahl) returns in love with the older Natalie Strout (Marisa Tomei) who has two young sons. Her ex-husband Richard Strout (William Mapother) is angry and shoots Frank at the family home. The Strouts are an important family in the town and Richard gets bail. Natalie didn't actually see the shooting. Marla Keyes (Karen Allen) is the defense attorney.The story is presented quietly. Nevertheless, the acting is overpowering. Tom Wilkinson is a rock crumbling before our eyes. Sissy Spacek is brilliant. Everybody is terrific. Other than a couple big emotions scenes, this movie is a study of quiet desperation. The forced smiles and the meaningless conversations hide the true intensity underneath the surface.
Python Hyena
In the Bedroom (2001): Dir: Todd Field / Cast: Tom Wilkinson, Sissy Spacek, Marisa Tomei, Nick Stahl, William Mapother: Tense drama thriller about secrets behind closed doors. In this case, in the bedroom. That is where sex is often associated as a student and older woman engage in sexual passion. Her ex-husband isn't too keen on giving her up. Tom Wilkinson and Sissy Spacek play parents who warn their son of the potential danger but tragedy strikes when the ex-husband commits murder. He is released on bail due too nobody actually witnessing the murder leaving the victim's parents demanding justice and no other options than to justify their actions. Far better than the overrated A Time to Kill because it isn't about murder but about grief. Excellent work by director Todd Field with tremendous performances by Wilkinson and Spacek as a broken couple trying to sort through their loss and dealing with feelings of hatred. Their last scene can be interpreted differently in terms of what is said and not said. Marisa Tomei plays the woman their son was dating and whose image to the parents differs. Nick Stahl played their son caught in an immoral relationship and suffers fatal consequences despite warnings. William Mapother plays the violent ex-boyfriend caught within the law and streaming hatred. Observant portrayal of the affects of grief and secrets that dwell in the bedroom. Score: 9 / 10
g-bodyl
In the Bedroom is a movie that will instantly connect with lovers of film. To those who can only appreciate special effects and movies with lack of plots, stay away from this film. The movie is undoubtedly hard to watch, but it's a powerful, character-driven movie about unforeseen consequences of a tragedy. The film is powerfully acted by underrated actors like Tom Wilkinson and Sissy Spacek. It is movies like these that make me appreciate the art of cinema and storytelling. Todd Field's film is about a college freshman home for the summer who is dating a soon-to-be-divorced mother many years his senior. This relationship causes a rift between his mother and father, especially after a serious tragedy occurs affecting their lives forever. The film has a good cast of underrated and underused actors and I feel like they all did a good job in particular Tom Wilkinson and Sissy Spacek. Spacek shows an emotional side to herself, which is perfectly normal as any mother would show. Wilkinson however keeps a calm reserve state of mind, but the end of the movie is his show. Nick Stahl also did a decent job, and likewise for Marisa Tomei. Overall, In the Bedroom is a slow-moving, but very effective movie that relies upon its characters more than anything else. The film is emotional, but sometimes the film shows different takes on getting to that state of mind. An incredibly strong script as well as fantastic acting makes this film a worthy watch. But beware of the tepid pace, as only serious film-goers may appreciate this kind of pace. My Grade: A
AD
