I was looking forward to Tar before this essay... Now, more than ever. Thank you, Scott!
It's been so long since I've seen In the Bedroom, and to be frank, I don't think this is a movie I ever want to see again. Not because it wasn't good or anything, but because it was such a sad, sad movie. So reading the play-by-play here is more than enough for me. 🙂
There are few voiceovers that I like in a movie. One of the major exceptions is another Tom Perrotta book/movie, Election. I really dug the audiobook-like narration in Little Children. I'm not sure if another movie has utilized this device...? What I think I like most about it was how economically it was used, just enough to better illuminate the characters without going overboard.
I'm pretty sure I saw In the Bedroom because of Scott's review at the AV Club. What a great movie. What I remember was the tension, from the live wire that was William Mapother as the ex-husband, to the entire last half hour of the movie. Tom Wilkinson was a revelation to me, as I only knew him from his straight-laced character in The Full Monty. I was rooting for the revenge to happen, but when it did the results were so empty for the mom and dad. It's one of those movies that really stuck with me.
Ooh, this makes me totally want to watch IN THE BEDROOM AGAIN...and I can't wait to read what you guys write about TAR. Yes, on second thought, perhaps Field's Serious Style wasn't a natural match for Perotta's satiric writing in the same way that perhaps Alexander Payne was. And if there's one shot from LITTLE CHILDREN I remember, it's that overhead shot of everyone emptying out of the pool. It's certainly cinematic, but sure, overwrought in a Fincheresque Aerosmith video kind of way. But boy, is Patrick Wilson great here. Love his trio of performances in this era as the hero-in-decline (LITTLE CHILDREN, WATCHMEN and the compulsively rewatchable YOUNG ADULT).
Hopefully, Tar will see IN THE BEDROOM find its rightful position as "properly praised", as it's pretty much covered the whole critical spectrum: from masterpiece, to overpraised, to underrated, to forgotten. It's pretty darn great, if not compulsively rewatchable, and Wilkinson in particular is revelatoringly terrific - even for us on this side of the pond, we only really knew him from The Full Monty, his CV up until then made up of largely long-forgotten TV (give or take a Prime Suspect).
Didn't like LITTLE CHILDREN though, but very much looking forward to TAR.
I was looking forward to Tar before this essay... Now, more than ever. Thank you, Scott!
It's been so long since I've seen In the Bedroom, and to be frank, I don't think this is a movie I ever want to see again. Not because it wasn't good or anything, but because it was such a sad, sad movie. So reading the play-by-play here is more than enough for me. 🙂
There are few voiceovers that I like in a movie. One of the major exceptions is another Tom Perrotta book/movie, Election. I really dug the audiobook-like narration in Little Children. I'm not sure if another movie has utilized this device...? What I think I like most about it was how economically it was used, just enough to better illuminate the characters without going overboard.
"[E]at my head...I'm serious. Coat me with ranch, chase me with cheese if you must, I don't care. It's the only way...I'm saving his life."
-Todd Field, source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHfh73AJxAI
I haven't watched In The Bedroom since it blew me away at the Tiff, Sept. 10th, 2001.
Nice piece here! In the Bedroom is something of a forgotten masterpiece, isn't it?
I'm pretty sure I saw In the Bedroom because of Scott's review at the AV Club. What a great movie. What I remember was the tension, from the live wire that was William Mapother as the ex-husband, to the entire last half hour of the movie. Tom Wilkinson was a revelation to me, as I only knew him from his straight-laced character in The Full Monty. I was rooting for the revenge to happen, but when it did the results were so empty for the mom and dad. It's one of those movies that really stuck with me.
This was terrific. And I love the WISHBONES shoutout. That remains my favorite book of his.
Ooh, this makes me totally want to watch IN THE BEDROOM AGAIN...and I can't wait to read what you guys write about TAR. Yes, on second thought, perhaps Field's Serious Style wasn't a natural match for Perotta's satiric writing in the same way that perhaps Alexander Payne was. And if there's one shot from LITTLE CHILDREN I remember, it's that overhead shot of everyone emptying out of the pool. It's certainly cinematic, but sure, overwrought in a Fincheresque Aerosmith video kind of way. But boy, is Patrick Wilson great here. Love his trio of performances in this era as the hero-in-decline (LITTLE CHILDREN, WATCHMEN and the compulsively rewatchable YOUNG ADULT).
Hopefully, Tar will see IN THE BEDROOM find its rightful position as "properly praised", as it's pretty much covered the whole critical spectrum: from masterpiece, to overpraised, to underrated, to forgotten. It's pretty darn great, if not compulsively rewatchable, and Wilkinson in particular is revelatoringly terrific - even for us on this side of the pond, we only really knew him from The Full Monty, his CV up until then made up of largely long-forgotten TV (give or take a Prime Suspect).
Didn't like LITTLE CHILDREN though, but very much looking forward to TAR.