In The Bedroom Review

Directed By: Todd Fields.
Starring: Sissy Spacek, Tom Wilkinson, Nick Stahl, Marisa Tomei, William Wise.

Nominated for 5 Academy Awards. Check out our Academy Award 2002 Nomination Page here!

Synopsis: Matt Fowler is a doctor practicing in his native Maine and is married to New York born Ruth, a choral music teacher. Their only child, Frank is home from school for the summer, working part time as a lobsterman to earn money for graduate school in the fall. He's also involved in a love affair with a local single mother, which throws his parents for a loop. As the beauty of Maine's brief and fleeting summer comes to an end, these characters find themselves in the midst of unimaginable tragedy.

Review: Every once in awhile, especially near the awards season, a quiet little indie flick comes out with huge heaps of praise on it. I figure the reason is, critics are sometimes ashamed to tout the flicks in Hollywood so when a quiet little meditation on a sleepy town comes out they want to appreciate it's nerve for quiet, slow, seemingly unending and painful camera shots. In The Bedroom is just such a movie.

Now, in it's defence, it does have some amazing performances. I joked with a friend that this is the film you wish Marisa Tomei won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for. Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson are also great but the movie is, let's face it, TV movie of the week material. It's a character piece and it is slowly told, painfully. Sure, that's the point, but even before it takes a sour downturn the movie's so-called joyful moments never really hit a peak.

I don't know if it supposed to be a surprise or not (and if it is, stop reading here please) but the title doesn't seem to jibe with the point of the flick. In The Bedroom is explained early on as a lobster thing, about the female lobster having two males and killing one off to be with the other. This sets up a possibly interesting tale...a separated mother, with two kids has an affair with a guy ten years her junior. Meanwhile hubby is sniffing around territorially...angst builds and then...hubby kills boyfriend. Well, that doesn't seem to go with the flow, but alright. Maybe the separated mother played one off the other.

She didn't though. So, the title becomes a possible lurid thing...but the murder didn't even take place in the bedroom, it's in a kitchen. So...in the end, In The Bedroom is a wanker's title.

I have a bad feeling about this kind of movie making. It's considered adult, brilliant, genius and actors more than love to have endless quiet moments showing off their tics, and shaky hands. But it does not make for a good movie. I'm not saying it had to be entertaining in terms of making me laugh, but it sure would have helped if it had kept my attention.

The story/camera seems to linger on so many objects (such as the Strout Cannery owned by the murderer's family) giving illusions to a deeper story line of intrigue, of a family owned town that the Fowler's may have no hope of putting away their son's murderer. This all amounts to squat when the credits come a running. In The Bedroom isn't a bad story, but it seems as if a short ten page story has been put into a 120 page script.

Aside from two or three quality scenes of tense discussions between some of the actors with dire consequences this movie is over hyped to the hilt. Don't buy the critics rallying cry of 'the most brave adult film all year.' Actors wearing little or no make up and letting the camera linger on them for longer than one should is not brave, it's annoying, even when the cast is putting out a great performance.

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Copyright© Written By: Rob Paul

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