Review of The Reader (2008) by Alex R — 22 Oct 2010

I thought The Reader was a very twisted film. If you know the plot of the film, you'll know why I say it's twisted. I'm not saying the film bad, it's excellent and terrific. The story is very interesting and the cast is great, but the plot is messed up.

What I mean is that the film is not confusing, but the plot is wow. a Young man one summer has an affair with a woman, who years later encounters in court hearing where she is being judged for being part of the SS during the Second World War.

I thought that was messed up, but very interesting thing at the same. I don't view The Reader as a chick flick, because it dwells on a dark subject, and it's too dark to be just another story.

Really, the affair in the film was strong for one summer, thats it. The thing I loved about The Reader was that it took a completely different direction than any other "love story" at first I thought it was going to be justa typical cliched love story.

Boy was I wrong. This film combines elements of love story, but it doesn't long, it's more a fling than anything. The second half of the film is a well structured, courtroom thriller with drama and suspense.

The Reader is a terrific film with a solid story, a great cast of actors and great directing. I always enjoy Ralph Fiennes and Kate Winslet gives the performance of her career. She's come a long way since her days of Titanic, she's truly matured as an actress.

The Reader is a refreshing drama and it will surprise the skeptics that think its just another love story. The film is strongly acted and despite it being slow, the story is so intriguing that you don't care that the film sort of drags on a bit.

Also some reviews have pointed out that the film they tried to make the film to make Hanna Schmitz look sympathetic and the victim. I felt nothing for that character, no sympathy or empathy. I didn't think the film was about making Schmitz the victim, I though it more about showing her as a criminal, and thats what the film is about.

People who think that Schmitz is the victim don't get the point of the film, I though Ralph Fiennes character was the victim because Schmitz played him like a fool, and lied to him throughout the film.

The films takes an unbiased point of view on both main characters which I think is important.