Roger Friedman of Fox News is reporting another strong positive reaction after a screening of The Reader .
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,454508,00.html
Social tagging: Kate Winslet > Ralph FiennesWinslet and Kross have sizzling chemistry in the film, and Ralph Fiennes‚Äîas the adult Michael‚Äîcould not be better. Daldry is unsparing of Hanna as a villain, and makes no apologies for her participation in the Holocaust. Neither, frankly, does Hanna, and that‚Äôs what makes the movie so fascinating. There is no tendency to clich√©. Rather, “The Reader” has also the earmarks of a Best Picture nominee, a movie about an intimate relationship set against the backdrop of an Important Issue.Winslet is a revelation in “The Reader,” and quite different than in “Rev Road”. That she could have both movies in one season is really the achievement. In “The Reader” she not only ages drastically, but she manages to convey with depth the emotions of a sexually voracious 40 year old and an embittered, incarcerated 60 year old. And, as it turns out, each of these personas also shares one more: a concentration camp guard with no regrets.
“The Reader” has its own strong foundation in a David Hare screenplay, not to mention a vibrant musical score by Alberto Iglesias and a gorgeous palate supplied by cinematographer Chris Menges. The only problem now is convincing Academy voters that Winslet should be considered ‚Äòsupporting‚Äô here instead of lead since she‚Äôs on screen most of the time. She will go into competition with Penelope Cruz, Viola Davis, Amy Adams, Marisa Tomei and Rosemarie Dewitt ‚Äì just to name a few.
One thing about “The Reader”‚Äîunlike, say, “Valkyrie” and “Defiance,” you will not see any swastikas or Nazi uniforms. You will hear much discussion of the Holocaust, however, which makes it itself the opposite of “Valkyrie” in its subject matter and intentions.
PS The literati-oriented audience at “The Reader” screening last night loved it. Among the fans: famed book agent Lynn Nesbit, journalist Marie Brenner, and novelist Walter Moseley. Daldry took questions from the small group, not one of which was about Hollywood. Everyone wanted to discuss the Holocaust, the characters‚Äô motivations, and the sublime execution of this landmark film.
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