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The Reader 2008
The Reader opens in post-WWII Germany when teenager Michael becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna (played by Kate Winslet, in her Oscar winning performance), a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair.
Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and their physical relationship deepens. Hanna is enthralled as Michael reads to her from The Odyssey, Huck Finn and The Lady with the Little Dog. Despite their intense bond, Hanna mysteriously disappears one day and Michael is left confused and heartbroken.
Eight years later while Michael (now played by Ralph Fiennes) is a law student observing the Nazi war crime trials, he is stunned to find Hanna back in his life - this time as a defendant in the courtroom. As Hanna's past is revealed, Michael uncovers a deep secret that will impact both of their lives.
Starring Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Jeanette Hain, David Kross
Directed by Stephen Daldry ('The Hours', 'Billy Elliott')
Written by David Hare (based on the book by Bernhard Schlink)
Cinematographer Roger Deakins ('No Country for Old Men', 'The Assassination of Jesse James')
Festivals & Awards Best Actress for Kate Winslet - Academy Awards 2009, BAFTA Awards 2009. Best Supporting Actress for Kate Winslet - Golden Globes 2009, Screen Actors Guild 2009.
Historical, Drama, Adaptation | 2hr 3mins | Rated (R16) | contains sex scenes | Origin: USA, Germany
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- Flicks Review
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5
- The People's Reviews
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Flicks review
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Who says Holocaust films can't be sexy? For the first hour of The Reader Kate Winslet is mostly naked and always fabulous in playing Mrs. Robinson to a 15-year-old boy. It's the late '50s in Germany, and the spring and autumn lovebirds wile away the after-school hours by working their way through literature's greatest hits.
Based on the best-selling novel by Bernhard Schlink, this is a refreshingly literate film. Winslet berates her young consort for reading out Lady Chatterley's Lover. "You should be ashamed of yourself," she says, before adding: "Go on." This revere only lasts until a freight-train straight from the stockyards of Auschwitz crunches into the narrative.
In the hands of a lesser filmmaker this change in tone might prove more catastrophic, but director Stephen Daldry instead uses the build-up to fashion a tragic love story with no easy payoffs. Daldry is helped immeasurably by his cast in fashioning this masterpiece - Winslet in particular. The one-time Titanic pinup has shed her girly image and here plays a character who convincingly ages over the course of four decades.
The best film of the year so far, which leaves one final question: How on earth did Slumdog Millionaire win the Oscar for best picture?
By Matt Nippert, Flicks.co.nz
The Peoples voice
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Daldry's direction the highlight
3
Stephen Daldry maintains a tight, exemplary, direction of a film which offers a lot with its script but fails to realise its potential.
The key problem being that the middle of the film whets the appetite with some juicy courtroom scenes and lecture theatre postulating, which tempts the viewer to think the movie will seek to analyse that great unanswered question in Holocaust pictures - "why did they?". But instead it veers off into the unsatisfying unspoken, ongoing, romantic entanglement angle.
But just because the scriptwriters bailed out on the better plot line doesn't make this a poor film, as Daldry's work keeps you watching.By Marty
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Excellent movie
4
Ignore the knockers. Only a minor bit of pruning would have made it 5-star in my estimation. The rest has pretty much been said already.
By RW
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Brilliant
5
Very enjoyable movie, true to the book and thought provoking. Kate Winslet deserved the Oscar for her portrayal of Hanna. David Kross was great in his role, one to look out for, he is going to make a great actor.
By akt
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Vastly better than Slumdog
5
Brilliant movie. I totally disagree with some of the put-downs published so far. Ignore them!
By RW
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The Reader
2
Well, a little slow, heaps of lines seem to be missing explaining various parts of the movie but a very moving , sad story of pride out of control by the lady.
By Collen
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It lingers for weeks
4
This was an excellent film withveiled theme, strong characters, fine acting and a plot which continued to mislead and provoke.
No cliches here.
The Law lecturer encapsulates the moral dilemma of at least one young German in the context of justice within the law.
Whether his actions and inactions are worse than hers is left for the viewer to ponder.
By Lee
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Spot on
5
A highly sexualized experience.
By Board it up on Benji
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overrated
2
and corny
By keesh
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Beautiful nudity.
2
Too slow, too long, storyline full of holes and Feinnes at his melancholy worst. The boy had the best part and Kate didnt have to do much. Not recommended, see Dean Spangley instead!
By Robbie
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What are you talking about.. Painfully boring and tedious
1
The bad german accents are ridiculous, its like watching paint dry. You could summarize the the story in 5 sentences and not leave much out.
Why are they speaking english if they are all Germans anyway? Oh thats right because its packaged trash for idiots who think that because people sit and stare at the wall a lot that something meaningful must be going on.
Overwrought rubbish.. Matt Nippert I will strangle you if I ever meet you because I saw this movie on the basis of your review even though I heard warning bells as soon as I read the name Kate Winslet.
By Anon
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This movie has a storyline!
5
and it's just as good as the book!
By Sarai
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"Best film of year so far"
5
I completely agree with the Flicks reviewer.
A capitivating, entertaining and provokingly presented story.By brian
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5
Brilliant captivating film that demands the audience's attention from start to finish. Kate fully deserved the oscar but so did the film.David Kross as the young lover was also outstanding. A must see especially for those that enjoy a great story that has passion,intensity & honesty.
By Anne
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great film
4
this is a great film. the acting is first rate.David kross is going to be a actor to watch. This story is very intense and the whole film is great to watch. I do have to admit that Kate Winsett is alittle annoying but she deserved her Oscar. Go see it and enjoy.
Slumdog was bareable...but winning Best Film....This is why noone seems to care about the Oscars anymore. Rubbish like that winning over The Reader is a joke.By murray swann
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Slumdog was a sham...
4
...but The Reader is honest. Go see it.
By BR
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Slumdog won because it was a superior film
3
Slumdog won because it was better than this overlong, dead-on-arrival pic.
By Hugh Lilly
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5
Best film I've seen this year!!! Touches you deep down.
By Angel
Press Reviews
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Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
The crucial decision in The Reader is made by a 24-year-old youth, who has information that might help a woman about to be sentenced to life in prison, but withholds it. He is ashamed to reveal his affair with this woman. By making this decision, he shifts the film's focus from the subject of German guilt about the Holocaust and turns it on the human race in general.
Click to read the full review -
Dominion Post (Linda Burgess)
5 5 out of 5 stars
As both an intellectual and emotional experience, this perfectly realised movie is one that will stay with me for a long time.
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Empire (UK)
3 3 out of 5 stars
The epitome of middle-brow 'quality' drama -- admirable within its limitations, but Bernard Schlink's Oprah Winfrey Book Club-approved book wasn't exactly literature, as this isn't exactly cinema.
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Hollywood Reporter
An engaging period drama. But German postwar guilt is not the most winning subject matter for the holiday season.
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Los Angeles Times
It is only, frankly, the strength of Winslet's performance that rises above conventional surroundings and makes The Reader the experience it should be.
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New York Times
The film is neither about the Holocaust nor about those Germans who grappled with its legacy: it's about making the audience feel good about a historical catastrophe that grows fainter with each new tasteful interpolation.
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NZ Herald (Peter Calder)
3 3 out of 5 stars
Bloodless adaptation of a good novel is almost rescued by Winslet at her best.
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Total Film (UK)
4 4 out of 5 stars
Pleasingly adult material powered by elegant, muscular performances. A strong adaptation of a slippery novel.
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TV3 (Kate Rodger)
5 5 out of 5 stars
A thought-provoking and incredibly rewarding five star watch.
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Variety (USA)
Stephen Daldry's film is sensitively realized and dramatically absorbing, but comes across as an essentially cerebral experience without gut impact.
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