Review of Affliction (2011) by Jennifer A — 22 Jul 2009

Affliction is a chilling human drama that effectively explores abusive and dysfunctional family relationships.

Affliction (1997) - 8.2/10.

Director - Paul Schrader.

Starring - Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek, James Coburn, Willem Dafoe, Mary Beth Hurt, Jim True.

Wade Whitehouse (Nick Nolte) is a sheriff in a small New England town. He spends most of his free time smoking pot and boozing it up. The middle-aged man is permanently scarred from his upbringing; specifically the relationship with his abusive alcholic father Glen (James Coburn). Wade's own marriage failed and his ex-wife (Mary Beth Hurt) hates him and his own daughter fears him. His only refuge is girlfriend Margie (Sissy Spacek) who loves him despite his flaws. When his mother passes away Wade's brother Rolfe (Willem Dafoe) arrives complicating the situation.

I've always been a fan of Paul Schrader. He's penned some of the best screenplays to hit the big screen over the past 30+ years, including "Taxi Driver", "Raging Bull" and "The Last Temptation of Christ". He has been less consistent as a director, but he's certainly in his comfort zone with "Affliction" and film in which he also adapted the screenplay. Schrader is at his best when he deals with dark themes with a raging, alienated character at the forefront and Wade Whitehouse fits the description here. Wade, intensely played by Nick Nolte, is a loose cannon with plenty of demons in his closet. And he can't escape the long-running abusive relationship with his father, played brilliantly by James Coburn in an Academy Award winning performance. The rest of the supporting cast (Sissy Spacek, Willem Dafoe and Mary Beth Hurt) are very good as well.

It's not an easy film to watch, but it's first rate Schrader. And the acting couldn't be any better. Highly recommended.