18: THE READER (OSCAR SERIES)

Eye on which Oscar?

Performance by an actress in a leading role - Kate Winslet

Achievement in directing - Stephen Daldry

Best motion picture of the year

Where?

Shaftesbury Avenue, 6pm (one of two planned movies for the night).

Comments?

I was readying myself for an uncomfortable movie experience when I settled into my Cineworld seat at Shaftesbury Avenue cinema. I had seen the previews of The Reader and knew this was a movie touching on the annihilation of Jews during World War II. But that was not the half of it.

The Reader is a love story. It is still an uncomfortable viewing, but for a different reason - this is a story of first feelings: love, loss and betrayal. One can relate to the primal feelings expressed by the main characters, if not the context. What makes this movie stand out from your everyday love story is not this context, but the decisions made by the characters, each and every one in defiance of the formula. But each decision rings true, as frustrating as it is to watch.

Decisions have to be made by the audience too - a decision of sympathy and sadness for lost possibilities versus condemnation of an atrocious crime driven by nothing more than a sense of duty. It's a tough one, but the romantic in me fell for the former.

Kate Winslet is amazing as Hannah Schmitz, the object of passion for a seventeen year old Michael Berg (played with perfect innocence by David Kross) who happens across her one day when he falls sick on a tram in his home city of Berlin. All the actors, including Ralph Fiennes, are perfect, but it is Winslet's performance that resonates and rings true, that captivates and elicits conflicting feelings. Right from the start, her mannerisms, characteristics and facial expressions betray a troubled spirit, a woman dealing with her own personal shame, a shame that is misplaced when viewed objectively in the context of her other actions, and ultimately leads to her downfall. Kate Winslet's professionalism means that her performance complements the movie, without upstaging it.

The Reader is a movie that will cling to you long after it finishes, leaving you with mixed emotions and a sense of loss, but one thing is for sure, this is another great performance by a true talent.

Oscar worthy?

Not until I sat down to write this post did I realise that The Reader is up for both Best Director and Best Movie. In fact, after watching the movie, not knowing any different, I thought that it should be. This early on, it's hard to say whether it will fare well in those categories, but without evidence to the contrary, Kate Winslet will win Best Actress - her performance is pitch perfect, subtle where it has to be and just amazing to watch. The Streepster might pip her at the post, but Kate deserves it based on this performance.

Rating?

8.5 out of 10

Post Movie Quote:

"The Oscar Series has begun and Kate looks the goods."