Friday, March 2, 2012

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)
We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

Best New Film
Genre: Drama
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Starring: Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller, Jasper Newell
Language: English
Duration: 112 min.
Rating: 8.3  

Summary:
Explores the factious relationship between a mother, as she contends for 15 years with the increasing malevolence of her first-born child, Kevin.



We Need to Talk About Kevin is a film directed by Lynne Ramsay, adapted from a novel of the same name by Lionel Shriver. It premiered in competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.

This is a visually stunning and emotionally haunting work of art, anchored by an outstanding performance by Tilda Swinton as Eva, a mother caught in an endless struggle to connect with her son Kevin. Ramsay sets the film's unsettling tone early with a gorgeous almost surreal sequence that takes place at the Tomatina Festival. The crowd of revelers which includes Eva, is shot from an overhead view, a crush of bodies coming together all drenched with the juice from thousands of blood red tomatoes. The screen is soon dominated with a shockingly deep hue that Dario Argento would be proud of, accompanied by the distant compressed sounds of a crowd that make it appear that this must be some sort of dream or flashback.

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

We eventually discover that the film's reality doesn't stray far from that opening. It's presented as a non linear set of fragments, memories, and moments from Eva's point of view, all gloriously framed and rendered, where that redness is repeatedly, and ominously present. Images from the past chronicling her tortured relationship with Kevin that is shown to be rocky from even before his moment of birth, to the present where she continues to exist and tries to come to terms with something terrible that he has done.

Everything you've heard people say about Tilda Swinton's magnificent performance is true. She embodies the confused and frustrated Eva in a way that is entirely relatable and heartbreaking even if you aren't a mother. The look of torment and despair that develops as she tries and tries unsuccessfully to get through to Kevin, is simply one of the most excruciating things that I've seen all year. It's been said a million times already, but what a shameful oversight it was for her to be snubbed by the Academy.

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

The three young actors who play Kevin at various ages (Rock Duer, Jasper Newell, and Ezra Miller) are also brilliantly cast. Sometimes when multiple actors are used to play the same character, there are incongruities that are obvious, not here. Each of them look enough alike, and most impressively, act so much alike that you never really notice that they are not the same, and wow are they ever some cold and chilling performances.

Ramsay has crafted something special here from what many would consider a worn out topic. We Need to Talk About Kevin is an aesthetically pleasing statement and a highly disturbing portrait that is at times very difficult to watch, not for it's violence or shock factor, as there is very little, but because of Swinton's powerhouse acting, and of the troubling questions it poses. Are monsters created, or can they be born that way, and is there anything that can be done? Do not miss this one.

Bonjour Tristesse

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

30 comments:

Jessica said...

I can only agree about everything you say. It's an astonishingly good film. I've gushed over it in my blog and on Matineecast but it can't get too much praise so I say it again!
Like you I wasn't just impressed by Tilda Swinton (who is magnificent) but also by the child actors. They can sometimes be hits and misses, but all of them are really good - and also strangely similar. You can really buy into that it's the same person.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yeah. The other thing I forgot to mention is I also noticed that both Kevin's and Eva's expressions often mirror each other. That aspect really adds to the creepiness.

Dan O'Neill said...

This film is so disturbing, chilling, and at times, very hard to watch but it’s terribly tense with a near-perfect performance from Swinton, who I usually don’t like but here she’s absolutely amazing and definitely deserved that Oscar nomination. Great review.

Michaël Parent said...

Tilda Swinton is always near-perfect. What is interesting about this film is to read the many different reviews some very good others very bad. It makes this film even more appealing!

d_4 said...

I've heard about this one elsewhere. It'd be awesome to watch before, but now I've got these higher expectations. It'll be fun to see how I end up feeling about it.

Margaret said...

Fantastic review! I loved how you mentioned Argento, I thought the movie blended the visual styles of his movies and David Lynch's works.

Lisa Thatcher said...

My one problem with this film was the relationship between the husband and wife. I felt it was too unbelievable that in all those years, he never stopped to listen to her once. That sort of annoyed me, as if the husband can be THAT much of a blissful boob.

She is falling apart, and he barely reacts. But everything you say about the films craftsmanship and Tilda's acting is COMPLETELY accurate - she is bone-chilling in this. 

Eric said...

Great review, BT. I can't wait to see this one for myself. It's one of the last remaining 2011 releases that I am genuinely excited to see.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

 Thank you Dan. I'm glad we see eye to eye on this one. What is it that you usually dislike about her?

Bonjour Tristesse said...

I also usually find her performances to be outstanding, and this one does not disappoint. It's definitely not a film for everyone, it can be very hard to take at times because it does take you to some very dark places. But if you can handle that, then I think you'll find it a rewarding watch.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Haha I hope this doesn't ruin the experience for you.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks. Yes there is something a bit surreal here and I do see a little bit of Lynch and maybe even Jodorowsky in this too.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

I do agree with you about their relationship. I didn't think Reilly fit the part very well, nor do I feel they are believable as a couple, and at first was really bothered by his flat characterization. However, I've come to rationalize it because the film as we see it is entirely from Eva's point of view, so what we see of his character is the one dimension of him that stands out in her memories.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks. I think I've still got a dozen or so 2011 films yet to see before I'm ready leave it behind but I'm getting there.

Hoi-Ming Ng said...

It's the Academy. I don't watch anymore except for comedic value.

Steven Flores said...

This is truly a film that has haunted me after seeing it via screener last December.  It knocked me out.  I really hope Criterion picks the film up for a fantastic DVD release.

Ruth Richards said...

The child actors playing Kevin were almost as amazing as Tilda herself! This definitely would have been on my top ten for 2011! Beautiful write up, as usual :)

iluvcinema said...

I was absolutely gutted when I found out the full details of this film several months ago. From what I gather about the critical reception, this film was definitely too gripping and edgy to capture any mainstream (read Oscar) awards recognition, which is a shame. I will have to catch this at home. But I am really looking forward to it.

365 moviesandsongs365 said...

Nice review! I agree with your rating.Indeed was robbed of oscar recognition!  I really connected with the suffering happening on screen,  a very powerful film that stayed with me. T Swinton was  well-picked to play a vulnerable mum.The kind of film that lends itself to reviewing and discussion, and almost certain to  increase the book sales of the novel, which I'm intending to seek out.

Diana said...

Very good review and I agree with you in almost everything. Tilda Swinton is amazing, Ezra Miller plays Kevin in such a dark, chilling way, that perfectly fits the vibe of the movie. I also notices the use of the red color and some other great details. One of the best of 2011 for me!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

 Yeah they have become a total joke.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

I'd rather Criterion spend their efforts on classics, but I do agree this one deserves a good release. Would love to listen to a commentary by Ramsay or Swinton.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

 Thank you Ruth! They were just so creepy. More so than most true horror villains.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks for the comment iluvcinema. I actually don't think knowing those details beforehand will really affect your enjoyment of this film. It's more of a character piece with the focus heavily on Swinton's character and those events while shocking are not really big plot revelations.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

 This has me interested in the novel as well, but it will be awhile before I'm ready to revisit this story on the page or on screen.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thank you Diana, I'm happy that we agree on this one.

Jandy said...

I'm so glad you mentioned Argento! I think a lot of people are missing the fact that this is basically a horror film, and Ramsay's sound design as well as the look of the film are right in line with Argento. Ramsay's not quite as excessive as he is, but I think it's definitely going for some of the same effects.

I also agree with you (in the review and some of the comments) that everything is really closely tied to Eva's perspective - almost all of the complaints I hear against the film seem to stem from people taking what we see as objective fact. It's certainly not objective, and who knows how much of it is even fact - it's what Eva remembers, and how those memories appear in her quite likely seriously disturbed mind. It's a nightmare we're seeing, not necessarily reality.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yeah I found it to be very much a psychological horror film, and yes the sound has as much to do with it as the images. A brilliant opening with those sprinklers going off. So that we remember them when the film finally reveals what's outside of those curtains.

FilmMasterT said...

fantastic review! This film was something special and the cinematography, performances and framing were all excellent. I am glad you liked it and indeed it is one of 2011's best.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks FilmMasterT, I think both the cinematography and the sound design were outstanding.

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