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(By Guest Reviewer
Gary Dean Murray)
“The Human Stain” is a story
told by a writer about events happening
to academic professor Coleman Silk (Anthony
Hopkins). It’s his life. The story
begins with a car crash with Coleman Silk
and his young lover (Nicole Kidman) in the
auto. Then, the film flashes back a to Coleman
in the classroom calling role. He notices
that two students have yet to ever grace
themselves in the class. He wonders aloud
if they are real or ‘spooks’
meaning ghosts. Coleman is brought to academic
review because the two students in question
are African American and are accusing the
professor of racism.
Coleman tenders his resignation and storms
home. When he tells his wife of the situation,
she has a heart attack. Coleman blames the
university for her demise. Coleman befriends
a writer who is stuck in writer’s
block. Coleman decides to write his story
but it comes out wrong. As the two work
together, they become friends.
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But a relationship does find a way into Coleman’s
world. A hardened young woman (Nicole Kidman)
with no possessions and a murky past finds her
way into his life. She has a deep dark secret
and a crazy ex-husband (Ed Harris). She and Coleman
have a not very intimate sexual relationship (think
“Last Tango in Paris”). There is something
there and they both build walls around themselves
to stop the inevitable. All this builds to a shocking
revelation about Coleman and his past.
Anthony Hopkins delivers yet another strong performance
in The Human Stain. The range of emotions he demonstrates
in this piece are all over the spectrum and yet
he keeps the tinge of sadness. It’s hard
to believe that Nicole Kidman isn’t just
some typecast ‘American’ actress.
There is no question that she is a natural born
citizen. Her performance here is another notch
is a stellar career. She plays ‘white trash’
as if she’d lived it. Together they are
two wounded people trying to find some meaning
to this life.
And in a switch of the cinematic year, Gary Sinise
plays the normal writer and Ed Harris plays the
crazy ex-husband. Watching Sinise as a regular
guy proves that he doesn’t have to be the
over the top creep in every role. On the other
hand, Ed Harris nails the crazy ex-con and former
husband. When he’s on the screen, the film
finally finds its life. It’s too bad that
he wasn’t used more.
The biggest problem here is with the direction
of the script. The film is told in vignettes,
going from the 1940’s to today, but it tells
all its secrets too soon. It’s billed as
a thriller but it has no thrills. The drama doesn’t
build and the tension doesn’t stay. It would
be like playing cards and everyone is showing
their hand to the group. No excitement here, just
predictability.
And there are basically no extras herein obligatory
behind-the-scenes documentary and a very short
capsulation of the career of cinematographer Jean
Yves Escoffier.
It’s a fair story with a perfect cast. Not
worth owning, but definitely a great Rental.
Directed by Robert Benton
Starring Anthony Hopkins, Nicole Kidman, Gary
Sinise and Ed Harris
Screenplay by Nicholas Meyer
Running time approx. 106 min.
MPAA Rating R
Special Features: Behind-The-Scenes Special; “A
Tribute to Jean Yves Escoffier” Cinematographer
Website
We'll give The Human Stain a C+. |
