The year's end is upon us, and you know what that means. All the hyped up award contenders are out in theaters. I'll do my best to catch what I can over the next couple weeks and of course report back to you all about what's worthwhile.
For now, here's a look at Kinsey. In addition to the reviews I mentioned last week, also look for National Treasure, Fat Albert and Bad Education. How can you miss those?
Kinsey
Review by Jon Waterman
***
This film tells the story of Alfred Kinsey, a zoologist who started out by studying gall wasps. Gall wasps are an unusual insect, in that no two of them are alike. He amassed the largest collection of these creatures in order to better understand them and their differences. His students relate to him well, calling him Prok (short for Professor Kinsey), and they come to him for advice. When he struggles to find good answers for their sexual questions, he seeks them out. Finding no adequate research material on the subject, he starts his own project. What followed was a cultural phenomenon/awakening that the nation never knew it wanted (and sometimes still pretended it didn’t).
Writer/Director Bill Condon (“Gods and Monsters”) gives us another movie involving a very complex, lead character. Kinsey seems so focused on the study and completing the study that he ignores the feelings of his family and society. He’s so robotic in his approach to life that you can’t help but look at him awkwardly. He fails to recognize or comprehend any attitudes towards what he’s doing other than his own. The movie becomes just as much about studying Kinsey as it is about Kinsey’s studies. It’s amazing that someone so inept at relating to the people so close to him could make a living by studying human beings.
What drives this all home is the great acting. Liam Neeson as Kinsey doesn’t produce a showy role full of emotional outbursts, but that’s what makes the performance so good. He’s more subdued and you can see the cogs turning in his mind as he analyzes everything to the fullest extent of his capability. Laura Linney as Alfred’s wife, Clara, one again proves she’s one of the best in the business right now. She too is more subtle, and instead of yelling and crying her eyes out (although that does occur), the way she influences her surroundings is through manipulation and using Kinsey’s tricks and behavior to her benefit. Peter Sarsgaard as Kinsey’s prized pupil, Clyde is the most real of the three, which provides the least interesting performance (although still perfectly fine). John Lithgow takes on a small role as Alfred’s father. He acts as the catalyst to almost all of the best scenes and you’ll see the most raw emotion and passion come across the screen with him there.
The movie is good, but overall it’s nothing too incredibly outstanding. I think what really makes the movie of note is just the subject matter. People today are still mystified and fascinated with sex and sexual behavior. Kinsey was a pioneer and he took a lot of criticism and heat from those wanting to suppress him and his work. The movie shows that times haven’t changed all that much, despite a general consensus regarding the pervasiveness of sexuality in our culture. It may be an interesting movie, but it’s one of those award contenders that just doesn’t quite have enough to make the voters scream out in delight.
For now, here's a look at Kinsey. In addition to the reviews I mentioned last week, also look for National Treasure, Fat Albert and Bad Education. How can you miss those?
Kinsey
Review by Jon Waterman
***
This film tells the story of Alfred Kinsey, a zoologist who started out by studying gall wasps. Gall wasps are an unusual insect, in that no two of them are alike. He amassed the largest collection of these creatures in order to better understand them and their differences. His students relate to him well, calling him Prok (short for Professor Kinsey), and they come to him for advice. When he struggles to find good answers for their sexual questions, he seeks them out. Finding no adequate research material on the subject, he starts his own project. What followed was a cultural phenomenon/awakening that the nation never knew it wanted (and sometimes still pretended it didn’t).
Writer/Director Bill Condon (“Gods and Monsters”) gives us another movie involving a very complex, lead character. Kinsey seems so focused on the study and completing the study that he ignores the feelings of his family and society. He’s so robotic in his approach to life that you can’t help but look at him awkwardly. He fails to recognize or comprehend any attitudes towards what he’s doing other than his own. The movie becomes just as much about studying Kinsey as it is about Kinsey’s studies. It’s amazing that someone so inept at relating to the people so close to him could make a living by studying human beings.
What drives this all home is the great acting. Liam Neeson as Kinsey doesn’t produce a showy role full of emotional outbursts, but that’s what makes the performance so good. He’s more subdued and you can see the cogs turning in his mind as he analyzes everything to the fullest extent of his capability. Laura Linney as Alfred’s wife, Clara, one again proves she’s one of the best in the business right now. She too is more subtle, and instead of yelling and crying her eyes out (although that does occur), the way she influences her surroundings is through manipulation and using Kinsey’s tricks and behavior to her benefit. Peter Sarsgaard as Kinsey’s prized pupil, Clyde is the most real of the three, which provides the least interesting performance (although still perfectly fine). John Lithgow takes on a small role as Alfred’s father. He acts as the catalyst to almost all of the best scenes and you’ll see the most raw emotion and passion come across the screen with him there.
The movie is good, but overall it’s nothing too incredibly outstanding. I think what really makes the movie of note is just the subject matter. People today are still mystified and fascinated with sex and sexual behavior. Kinsey was a pioneer and he took a lot of criticism and heat from those wanting to suppress him and his work. The movie shows that times haven’t changed all that much, despite a general consensus regarding the pervasiveness of sexuality in our culture. It may be an interesting movie, but it’s one of those award contenders that just doesn’t quite have enough to make the voters scream out in delight.
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