Review of The Human Stain (2003) by Ryan M — 30 Jul 2004

DIAGNOSIS: Amazingly Bad!

You have a movie with the talents of Anthony Hopkins, Nicole Kidman, Ed Harris, and Gary Senise. All four actors give their expected solid performances. Unfortunately, all these performances are marred by the context of story that they are placed in. The cinematography was nice in this movie, everything else was trampled on or destroyed in this film.

The Human Stain starts off with promise, depicting Anthony Hopkins as a bull-headed professor whose determination can get about anything accomplished. Then, about twenty minutes into the film, the story begins to crumble. The movie takes on so many complex, potentially emotional issues, and instead of taking any measures to treat them with the weight which they deserve, these heavy elements are instead hurled at the audience one after the other until they all collapse into a gruesome and messy tangle.

It's quite a spectacle to see this movie just completely come apart at the seams and collapse onto itself. For some time, I was hoping that a new movement in the story would explain all the other elements, serving to strengthen and justify them. This never happened. The movie simply bites off more than it can chew, and ultimately is unable to deal with even one of the many issues it raises with any real sincerity.

The movie, The Human Stain, is truly as bad as its title. Do yourself a favor and never ever see this movie. The only type of person who could enjoy it is one that likes seeing really volatile and important issues distorted and forced to fuel a spectacularly ridiculous melodrama.