Review of The Reader (2008) by Kim B — 12 Jul 2011

Wow this movie was extremely explicit, one of the sexiest films I've ever seen as far as directing goes. That being said, didn't it bother anyone else that this kid was so young (in the film and literally)-I mean it kind of ruined the eroticism.

If it was a15 year-old girl (18 year old actress as in the movie) with a 40-something-year old man in those sex scenes everyone would be like that's wrong. The film didn't seem to make a big deal of it which bothered me.

I was also very confused about some things like why does she take off from Michael-because she thinks he will find out or because he had his own life, why doesn't he tell her secret-is he mad at her over leaving him or he believes she has no guilt for her actions or to protect her shame, and did she kill herself from guilt from being a guard why then if for so many years she had none or was it because of Micheal being cold? A lot was left unsaid, which is fine because obviously the characters were hiding things from others but I wish a little more was explained because this film had a lot of surprises and accusations.

The acting both from Kate Winslet and David Kross was phenomenal. I truly felt the young Micheal's heart wrench and blow to the ego as someone who is taken advantage of being naive, trusting, in-over their heads, and innocent in first-time love.

Kate get's so into her role that her performance seems effortless and truly genuine, completely open and relaxed in showing her character's raw emotions. Kate's character seemed to be selfish, ignorant, cold, and sociopathic.

Not only as an SS is she a human who doesn't think of morals, but she sleeps with someone too young for her and expects him to be at her beckon call and controls him, when he doesn't do what she wants she abandons hims.

I couldn't understand why she would be so ashamed of being illiterate, but not empathize with other human beings sufferings. I loved the directing, but felt the screenplay was lacking.