Two Oscar Contenders Are the Bread for a Delicious Despair Sandwich
RABBIT HOLE (2010/IN THEATERS)
THE FIGHTER (2010/IN THEATERS)
Does it seem like the Oscar contenders are coming out particularly late this year? Maybe the studios have caught on that the Academy’s attention span is like that of a gnat (Winter’s who? Tilda what?). Though I am, for those most part, avoiding these last-minute releases until the AMC Best Picture Showcase in Jan/Feb, I am powerless against the siren song of 1) seeing something before everyone else (dork cache!), 2) seeing something for free. Thanks, SLIFF and Gofobo.com!
Rabbit Hole deserves the buzz you’ve heard all year–John Cameron Mitchell directs with a much lighter touch than you’d expect after seeing the wonderfully flamboyant Hedwig and the Angry Inch and the surprisingly boring semiporno Shortbus. Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart play grieving parents of a toddler killed in a car accident eight months prior. (Fun fact: The roles were originated by Cynthia Nixon and silver fox John Slattery in the 2006 play.) Surrounded by well-meaning but overwhelmed friends and family, they try to decide what to do next–have another child? Sell the house? Go back to work? Take back the family dog they banished after he inadvertently led the child into the street, where he was killed by a teenage driver? Cheat with supa-hot Sandra Oh? Kidman expands on her usual uptight persona and plays the exhaustion, sadness, and betrayal her character experiences so convincingly–she should be a shoo-in for a nomination. (And yes, despite what you may have read, her face and forehead move throughout. Way to commit to your craft, you Hollyweirdo!) Dianne Wiest as her flaky mother–who understands Kidman’s pain more than she will admit–is also exceptional–their scenes together are alternately warm and uncomfortably tense (ie, close to home). And Miles Teller as the thoughtful, remorseful teenager who killed Kidman’s son is such a standout–he holds his own against a group of veteran actors, yet is so quietly subtle–a quality sadly lacking in most bug-eyed teen actors today. We were so sad to see that his next movie is the Footloose remake.
Ghetto blaster, zombie, and friend take a stroll in The Fighter.
Mark Wahlberg is at his best when playing dumb bags of rocks–therefore, he is just fine in The Fighter, as a small-time boxer with a terrifyingly stupid family (led by matriarch Melissa Leo, in a white trash wig and jean skirt that virtually guarantee a spot among the Best Supporting Actress nominees) and slightly less stupid girlfriend (played surprisingly well by the prissy Amy Adams) who focus their entire lives on helping him get a title. As you’ve probably already heard, Christian Bale is the real standout here, playing Wahlberg’s crack addicted brother/trainer. Hoo boy, does he look like a skinny, Lowell, Mass. crack addict! He’s all boney angles, fast talk, jerky movements, and acid washed denim. In other words, the performance has Best Supporting Actor written all over it. (This would be his first nomination–isn’t that surprising? Is he too much of a pain-in-the-ass outsider, like Jennifer Jason Leigh? Hmm. Regardless, the Academy will probably never give him Best Actor after the screamy events of 2008/2009, but supporting actors can hit their moms and yell at the crew as much as they like. Allegedly.) I suspected he may have been playing it a little big, and a short clip of the real-life brothers shown during the end credits kind of confirmed it. Whoops, maybe we should have left that for the DVD extras, David O. Russell. As far as the movie goes, it’s entertaining, quickly paced, and totally predictable. Let the awards rain down!
Rabbit Hole Grade: A
The Fighter Grade: C+
Great write up! I dug both of these, too. That Rabbit Hole knocked me on me arse. Also! (as you recently told me) the street tough chowderhead sisters in The Fighter are so SCARY REAL, not to mention hilarious, because the real life sisters are playing themselves–a way ballsy and totally genius move on David O. Russell’s part that paid off in spades. SCARY CHOWDERHEAD SPADES.
Finally caught Rabbit Hole just tonight and have to say it is nice to see Nicole Kidman back in form. I found the film somewhat tedious in places…am just like all those people who want to shout “get over it!” Nonetheless have to agree that Miles Teller is marvelous. Loved him (and his comic book–what we got to see of it).