Review of We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) by Joel M — 20 Jan 2013

I need to write about "We Need To Talk About Kevin". Why? Because it's the next movie on my list to review. "We Need To Talk About Kevin" stars Tilda Swinton as Eva Khatchadourian, a mother of a psychotic teen who killed numerous students in a school massacre. That would be Kevin, who is portrayed by Ezra Miller. And maybe if more psychiatrists would of had a need to talk to Kevin during his childhood there would be no need for me to write about "We Need To Talk About Kevin". Confused? I sure am. Anyways, it is no easy picnic for Eve after Kevin commits the gruesome school crime; and that is showcased during the first act of the movie when Eve's house is splattered with red paint everywhere, gets slapped around by angry mothers in supermarkets, and gets treated as a monster by her colleagues at her new job. Kevin's fury against his mother is presented during the film during his early & late childhood, and obviously his adolescence. John C. Reilly portrays Eve's husband Franklin, who tends to underplay Kevin's manipulative ways during his upbringing. Director Lynne Ramsay's directorial effort was decent, but it needed more of a parallel structure in the telling of the narrative; its unevenness detracted from the film's efficiency. Moreover, Ramsay and Rory Kinnear's screenplay needed to have a bit more talk from the adolescent Kevin to provide us more indicators and signs on what propelled him to commit such a vicious act; sure, some had to do on making a point to his mother, but there had to be more why Kevin would go that violent extremity. Tilda Swinton was very good as Eva Khatchadourian, but it is difficult to catch-her-doing a bad acting performance. As much as I love John C. Reilly, he was definitely miscast as Franklin. Ezra Miller was mesmeric in his performance as Kevin, but very much underutilized by Ramsay. I wanted more Miller time! As you see, there is no need to talk highly about "We Need To Talk About Kevin", but then again it's not deserving of smack talk neither.

*** Average.