Review of Apt Pupil (1998) by David R — 21 Jun 2008
Perhaps it's one of the most difficult things for an actor to do, but to successfully pull off an accent that is not our own is probably one the easiest (and often the first) criticism of a performance.
Yes, Ian McKellen is no German. But then again, he is no sadistic killer either. He should be commended, however, for his attempt at the both of them: if there has been any movie that I believe could break Sir Ian from the typecast of Gandalf, then this film is it.
He fits in this film marvelously as the storyline unfurls, moving slyly and abruptly on perfect cue. This is not, however, a one man show because I truly think that the casting was done tremendously well - specifically, the roles played by Brad Renfro and David Schwimmer.
In the case of the former, I felt that the lead role's transition through his character's development to be executed very well: his move from curious and confident control to outright cruelty for the sake of self-preservation is haunting but beautifully done.
In the case of the latter, Schwimmer enacts his typical role of a kind-hearted, well-intentioned person who is ultimately taken advantage of because of the virtuous principles he represents. The most perfect moment of this film is the final meeting between Renfro and Schwimmer: this moment is what makes this film so horrible yet so perfectly crafted.
I highly suggest this film and I intend on enjoying it through repeated viewings in the near future.
This review of Apt Pupil (1998) was written by David R on 21 Jun 2008.
Apt Pupil has generally received mixed reviews.
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