Revisiting 'The Reader'

Kate Winslet was fantastic in The Reader. I couldn’t get her performance out of my mind after seeing the film. However, I just saw Frozen River and Melissa Leo did the same. She had me in tears. Check out her performance before you watch the Oscars.

I watched The Reader in December, before I knew much about it, and the same week as I watched Frost/Nixon, Rev Road, and a few others. I walked out thinking that this was, overall, probably the best film I’d seen this year. For the issues it raised- what makes one good or evil, when one is responsible for one’s actions, whether there is such a thing as redemption, and whether it is possible forgive oneself as well as those close to us for mistakes or “evil” acts. Reader explored each of these questions, but did not provide an easy answer for any of them. I left the theater both moved and disturbed, and spent the better part of the evening talking about the issues the movie had raised. Kate was terrific (though I think her performance in RevRoad was also incredible, and the best part of that film). Winslet deserves the nom and a win. Though Reader won’t win for pic, it deserves the recognition for making us feel, think, and remember that life is not simple or black and white.

I read the book almost 10 years ago and was very moved by it. So I was first in line when The Reader was released. I really liked the film and felt that the book translated well to the screen. The real showcase here is Kate Winslet’s magnificant performance. All of these posts who insist that she deserves to win are right and she deserves it because this is the best perfomance of the 5 nominees.
Last night I returned to the theater to watch The Reader again, and I was amazed at how much more I was engrossed in the film during the second viewing. The Reader is only the second movie that I have seen that actually got better after a second viewing, the first was The Silence of the Lambs.
I am not a fan of Slumdog Millionaire and I still do not understand why it is beting showered with all these awards. If any of the other four nominees can pull out a best picture win over it will be justice. My fingers are crossed for Milk.

I don’t think The Reader will win for best picture but I do hope that Kate Winslet wins for best actress. I wish she was nominated for Revolutionary Road as well, but there’s nothing we can do about it now. I liked the film; it was very thought provoking. It’s fine if some people did not like the film. There’s no one saying you have to just because it was nominated for an Oscar. You may think Meryl Streep should win and that’s fine. But if she doesn’t, that does not mean that Kate’s performance was not great and that it was a sympathy win for all the times she has lost. Maybe the Oscar voters saw something you did not. Everyone has different opinions and since Academy members are the only ones who can vote, it’s not up to us and whoever wins, wins.

Well, I finally got to see The Reader. I went in not sure what to expect since I’ve heard the mixed opinions/reviews. But I gotta say, I was really moved. I’m still thinking about it. The excellence of the storytelling, acting, and filming of it all works together and for that I do see why it was nominated for Best Picture. Not sure if it will win, but I agree with the nom. As far as Kate Winslet’s nomination, I still think overall Revolutionary Road was a stronger performance of the 2, but I sat there thinking about this role in The Reader and if she won for it, would it be one of those “lifetime” awards or does she really deserve it over Meryl Streep (who is amazing in Doubt). The more I think about it, I really do think she deserves the win. Not for the lifetime thing, but because she pulled off the most affecting, understated performance. It’s all in her eyes, her expression. She’s flawless and really makes you question how you feel about this unsympathetic character.

Kate is so hot in The Reader: http://www.actressscene.com/2009/02/kate-winslet-in-reader.html