Review of The Reader (2008) by David S — 17 Mar 2012

While it was very watchable and the actors delivered good performances the whole film feels very 'worthy' and tailored for the Oscar voters. There are lots of meaningful looks between the characters and whole sense of the lack of communication means that there is a coldness about the whole thing that prevents the audience from fully empathising and therefore engaging.

I don't think it's Winslet's best performance but she is still very good and probably deserved her Oscar if not for this then for 'Revolutionary Road' instead. I just wish it had more of the emotion of 'Hours', Daldry's other Oscar baiter.