"Rabbit Hole" Review

Precisely written and expertly acted, "Rabbit Hole" plunges its audience into the grief-stricken minds of its main characters. Analyzing the various emotions tied with death and loss, it presents its audience with two characters who deal with their grief in two very different ways, while still feeling the same amount of sadness, guilt, and heartbreak.

When Becca (Nicole Kidman) and Howie (Aaron Eckhart) lose their only child in a tragic car accidents, their previously strong marriage starts to crumble. Instead of addressing her grief, Becca seeks to shut off her emotions, so she is not constantly reminded of her loss. In attempting to forget her son's existence, she tries to remove everything in the couple's house that carry memories of him. Contrastingly, Howie externalizes his grief. Not wanting to let go of the memories, he constantly watches old home movies of his son and goes to support groups in the hopes of finding sympathy from others. As the two attempt to work out their grief, they clash due to their opposing methods.

Directed with gentleness by John Cameron Mitchell, the film never feels overbearing or dishonest. Instead of amplifying the film's tragic narrative with overly sentimental music or manipulative imagery, Mitchell relies on the strength of David Lindsay-Abaire's screenplay, based on the Pulitzer-Prize winning play, to convey the story's emotionality.

The film also relies on its ensemble to convey the film's heavy emotions in moving, but honest, ways. While Aaron Eckhart does a good job at conveying Howie's external grief, Kidman easily outshines him as the emotionally isolated Becca. Through her performance, Kidman conveys the cold, often bitter, side-effects to her grief. While the audience certainly sympathizes with her character throughout, we also question her judgment when she lashes out at her grieving husband, caring mother, and reckless, but ultimately well-meaning, sister. That Kidman is willing to explore the darker, nastier side of her character proves that she is not only a great actress, but also a brave one. Her performance, along with the film's smart writing and precise, subtle direction, makes "Rabbit Hole" one of the best, and most moving films of 2010.

I Got the Blues

"Blue Valentine" is a brutally honest portrait of an emotionally complicated relationship. Its precise direction, paired with its exceptionally natural performances, makes for a superbly intellectual experience, as well as a moving one. The film charts the relationship of its two main characters, Dean and Cindy, from its sweet beginning of to its messy, ambiguous end. While following this relationship, director-writer Derek Cianfrance explores Dean's idealized view of romance and Cindy's loss of passion. Through Cinafrance's ideas, actors Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams craft two shockingly authentic performances. Williams beautifully captures Cindy's both sides of her character - both her light tenderness, as well as her dark cynicism. Gosling wonderfully embodies Dean's reckless behavior, along with his eagerness to please. The audience can sense their heartbreak from simply reading the expressions on their faces. That "Blue Valentine" is willing to examine these characters in an honest, meaningful way makes it not only a painful story of failed romance, but also a superbly moving work of art.