Since Moulin Rouge, Nicole Kidman has done nothing that I liked except that time she went to a premier with a heck of a lot of powder over her face. While it was hilarious, it was also incredibly awkward - much like The Stepford Wives. So when I saw she was in a movie adaptation of the play Rabbit Hole, I immediately clenched.
Kidman doesn't handle fluff films very well, her whispery delivery and statuesque frame don't lend themselves to slapstick, and her forehead's range of motion restricts reaction-comedy. I refer you to the beginning third of Australia where Kidman played some kind of hysterical satire of her own style of acting. Practically unwatchable.
Fast-forward to 2011, where John Cameron Mitchell, director of cult classics such as Shortbus and Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Mitchell playing the titular character), is able to squeeze an incredibly moving and charming performance from what many thought to be an orange with no juice left.*
I'm getting ahead of myself so I'll give a brief summation. Life for Becca (Kidman) and Howie (Aaron Eckhart) is turned upside-down after an accident robs them of their son. Based on the play by the same name, and expanded for the screen by the play's author David Lindsay-Abaire, Rabbit Hole is a dark exploration of a couple dealing with grief as individuals and as a couple. Having never seen the play I can't comment on the film in terms of adaptation, however as I understand it - the play was obviously expanded to include other characters, like those in the group therapy scenes.
As mentioned before, Mitchell has directed two films with strong cult followings, however this film is a sharp dislocation from his previous work. There's directorial maturity to the film, maybe it's all the muted tones of the suburban furniture, maybe it's the twitch of movement in Kidman's brow,** I can't say for sure, but the film is fantastic.
Eckhart, who has done theatre before, really shines as tortured and breaking under the pressure to appear strong, while Kidman plays everything with a neat subtlety. The script is littered with sass and wit, which makes you want to laugh one minute, and bawl your face off the next. The entire cast is fantastic, including Dianne Wiest as Becca's mother, Nat, and Miles Teller as Jason.
What I don't understand is, Kidman gives a performance far superior to the one she gave in The Hours, far superior to ANYTHING to do with Black Swan*** so why Portman is stealing all the press, I'll never understand. This is one of those films that could so easily fly under the radar. Unlike Revolutionary Road, this doesn't have the quirk of two actors reuniting for the first time since Kate Winslet hogged a door. Also unlike Revolutionary Road, this story is so much richer, with a depth of character and story that is just so fulfilling. I would love to hear from someone if they didn't enjoy this film, because I think it would be difficult to find. Also I like telling people they're wrong.****
*I'll take subtle redhead jokes for 200, Alex
** While I haven't researched it, I'm quite sure this was a result of similar technology used in Tron to make Jeff Bridges look younger.
***Whenever I write the title of that film I vomit acid and a ridiculously terrible script all over the desk, these are just the sacrifices I make for my art.
**** BLACK SWAN FANS, I'M TALKING TO YOU. Now excuse me while I clean up all this acid.
Matt, I could not agree more with you about THE BLACK SWAN and simply do not understand the hype and hysteria that surrounds it. Whilst I do quite enjoy Natalie Portman's performances, I was terribly unsatisfied by the film and thought it was fairly predictable. I did watch Rabbit Hole, and as a self-confessed Nicole hater, I must shamefully admit that I am converted. It was simply one of the films where you are left thinking about it for days.
ReplyDeleteKeep blogging Matt, i think you are stupendous!
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