Review of Affliction (2012) by Fong K — 13 Dec 2016

I kind of love this admittedly flawed film. What do I think is flawed? Largely the narrative, which is far from bad, but at times makes a bit less sense than it should. More than once it really feels like a book compressed into the length of a feature film, and you can sense that bits of the plot are missing.

Along similar lines, while Dafoe's narration is occasionally on point, it often feels like it was dropped in because the screenwriter couldn't figure out any other way to introduce some idea from the book that felt crucial.

So, why do I love it? Because the central performances in this film are incredible and they all serve what I think is Schrader's biggest interest in making the film ... focusing on the legacy of violence.

Coburn towers over this film afraid of nothing and nobody. Nolte embodies a small boy reacting to perceived injustices with no control over his anger. Dafoe is withdrawn, but supports Nolte beyond the bounds of reason due to a bond forged in their traumatic childhood.

I could watch these three perform these parts with no story at all.