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With the year slowly wrapping to a close, it was such a treat
to watch “In the Bedroom”. In what turned out to
be an okay year, “In the Bedroom” turns up the heat
on the competition for the film abounds with such emotion
and subdued tension. I’m surprised the reel didn’t
break.
Set in
the lobster farmlands of Maine, “In the Bedroom”
tells the tale of a family wrecked by guilt and regrets. Matt
and Ruth Fowler (Tom Wilkinson and Sissy Spacek) are a well-to-do
couple, with his medical practice and her choral classes.
Their only child Frank (Nick Stahl) is back home for the summer,
preparing for graduate school. During his stay, Frank meets
Natalie (Marisa Tomei), a single mom of two young boys and
who is separated from an abusive ex. Matt and Ruth have grown
fond of Natalie, especially her two adorable sons, but they
are just concerned about her former husband, Richard (William
Mapother). With his known outbreaks of violence, they wonder
if Frank should be going out with her. And as the summer comes
to a close, what used to be a serene household is tragically
altered into a somber abode.
“In
the Bedroom” reaches the same emotional impact as Robert
Redford’s “Ordinary People”, without being
over sentimental. “In the Bedroom” was directed
and co-written by Todd Field, who I remember more notably
in Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut” as the piano
playing, password giving Nick Nightingale. What he has done
with this film is truly remarkable. It is rife with such genuine
humanity ranging from the sweetness of love to the dark depths
of vengeance. He perfectly captures the contrast of a silent
storm brewing against the tranquil backdrop of Maine.
Two of
the best performances by far this year have got to be those
of Spacek’s and Wilkinson’s. Their characters have
so much bottled up emotions, that playing them could easily
be made too transparent. Fortunately, we have these two fine
actors to do the part, by adding subtlety and sincerity. There
is already tremendous buzz for Sissy Spacek, and I’m
pretty sure that her name will be mentioned when they announce
the nominations for Best Actress. However, I thought Tom Wilkinson’s
performance was even more remarkable as the father. I really
do hope he won’t get overlooked. Stahl is great as Frank,
and so is Mapother as the maniacal ex. It is also nice to
see the underrated Marisa Tomei in a good and substantial
role.
Last year,
we had a great family affairs film called “You Can Count
On Me”. Although a bit more on the film noir side, “In
the Bedroom” is a riveting drama about regular human
beings thrusted into a distressing situation.
Film is
Rated R for violence and language. Running time is 130 minutes.
4 out of
5
Mazzyboi
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