Gee Film Reviews

27th November 2011

Post with 2 notes

We Need To Talk About Kevin - Movie Review

Grade: B+

In usual instances, films deriving from arthouse tend to saturate style. Resulting in the film sacrificing its overall integrity by subsequently losing its emotional meaning. Contrary to this opinion, in the case of Lynne’s Ramsay’s We Need To Talk About Kevin, style is punctuated but is undoubtedly ignored as it is overshadowed by unquestionably the most haunting performances of the year.

Based on Lionel Shriver’s novel of the same name, We Need To Talk About Kevin broadly scopes on the ills of childhood to adolescence. Told in an unconventional manner, the film depicts the life of mother, Eva Khatchadourian (Tilda Swinton) following the events of her son, Kevin (Ezra Miller), committing a school massacre. Simultaneously, the film’s timeline transitions from current day to selected events from her child’s life; ultimately displaying a development of an understated psychological imbalance.

Part horror story and part character study, Kevin hits all of its intended  
marks. The film explores the responsibility bestowed on the concept of  
parenthood, and takes an approach of extremity. These thematic  
elements necessitate a true emotional performance, and it is indeed  
filled by Tilda Swinton’s performance: both constitued with subtelty  
and genuine apprehension. The foreboding force underlying within the film’s surface is not only created by Swinton’s truly complex performance. She is as well supported by a newcomer Ezra Miller, who’s misgiving composure actualizes a true disturbed individual. It is a remarkable step from when I last saw this upcoming actor in City Island.

Artistically, the film at times takes too much of an approach in  
experimental cinematography that it borders gaudiness; but this flaw can be disregarded as it is evident that symbolic focus is truly established.  The opening frame that displays our protagonist contently in the midst of Spain’s annual tomato throwing, is a perfect example of what this film represents: an abstract comment in troubled parenthood. The film is unmistakably abstract, as it takes a somewhat simple premise and creates an indubitable depiction that is sincerely impelling.

Overall, Lynne’s Ramsey’s We Need To Talk About Kevin plays itself as an unsuspected horror film that layers itself with firmly disturbing performances. Although initially the dark premise and experimental direction are questionably difficult to embrace, the film’s performances by Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller compose an engrossing psychological study that deserves to be in the ranks of the top films of the year. Grade: B+

Tagged: We Need To Talk About Kevinfilm reviewmovie review