The Reader (2008)

I've read some mediocre reviews of THE READER and have been surprised by them, because I found the film to be beatifully shot, deeply moving, and as well-acted as "Doubt."

I think people aren't taking it on its own true merits for two reasons. First of all, there have been a LOT of World War II-related films this year (and in the past few years). And second, director Stephen Daldry seems to be continuing to mine the same territory of literary ennui he staked out with "Billy Elliot" and perfected with "The Hours."

The sad thing is, THE READER might suffer as a result of the backlash. But I found the film to be wonderful. In fact, I dare say it bests the novel, which is told in sparse prose and, like the film, allows the reader (no pun intented - or viewer) to connect emotionally on various levels.

THE READER is about many things, the least of which is probably the thing that will bring the movie the most attention, and that is the amount of nudity in the film. It is necessary and artistically done, as a taboo affair develops between a 15-year-old school boy awakening to his sexuality and a woman in her 30s. Is this relationship wrong? Of course. But it doesn't matter here. And for what it's worth, both the boy and the woman demonstrate moments of maturity and immaturity in equal levels.

Age is relative and somewhat irrelevant. What IS relevant is GUILT, and no film aside from the earlier mentioned "Doubt" does as good of a job of addressing it. You can only imagine what it would have been like to be a German in the aftermath of the Holocaust -- and I'm talking about the Germans who were anti-Nazi and "innocent" in all of the war crimes. The closest we come today is being an Illinois resident ashamed of our governor.

I've waited until now to mention Kate Winslet, who plays Hanna, the woman who seduces the boy and then indirectly crosses paths with him years later while on trial for working as a guard at Auschwitz. Winslet has been nominated five times and has never won. She's the youngest actor to have that many nominations, and she has the potential for two more with this film and "Revolutionary Road." But hear me out: this is the best work, the finest performance of her career. She is transcendant in every way. I'm haunted by her. She deserves to win but will likely lose a potential Best Supporting Actress Oscar to a much flashier Penelope Cruz (in "Vicki Cristina Barcelona"). That would be a shame. Let me repeat: the best actress of my generation (30s) gives her best performance to date in THE READER. You need no other reason to see it.

Fortunately, there is plenty that is good in addition to her, not the least of which is David Kross, who's performance as the boy is every bit as daring as Winslet's, if not more so. Winslet is used to being naked in movies, but the young Kross bares it all, too, and not just physically. Ralph Feinnes, as the adult Michael, gives another icy performance (which is fine here), and Lena Olin is a standout supporting player as a Holocaust survivor.

The best compliment I can give about THE READER is that I can't stop thinking about it and I long to discuss its themes with anyone willing to do so. For me, that's a high comliment. This was a moving film.

4.0 out of 4