Review of Birth (1984) by Matthew B — 16 Oct 2007
Jonathan Glazer's Birth is a refreshing film; he, in the tradition of Kubrick, gives the screenplay room to breathe and drapes the entire work in a radiant, gorgeously photographed (via Harris Savides), wintry atmosphere.
Nicole Kidman (very daring as a mainstream actress to take on such an anti-Hollywood role) gives a sensitive, emotionally taxing performance as the conflicted Anna; she is ably met by the young but dramatically astute Cameron Bright as the child who could be her reincarnated husband.
Lauren Bacall (still equipped with her characteristic drawl), Danny Huston, Arliss Howard, Ted Levine, Peter Stormare, Anne Heche (stunning, even shockingly good in her revelatory scenes with Bright), Cara Seymour, Alison Elliott, and Zoe Caldwell from a pitch-perfect supporting cast, and Alexandre Desplat (better than any celebrated composer in Hollywood today - Williams, Zimmer, Horner, etc.
) provides a masterfully nuanced, glittering musical score.
This review of Birth (1984) was written by Matthew B on 16 Oct 2007.
Birth has generally received mixed reviews.
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