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.
respond to jon@filmbrats.com
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