Human Stain [DVD]

"The Human Stain" is the film version of a highly acclaimed book by Philip Roth. It is a moving and powerful, if rather sad story. I suspect that it wasn't possible in a normal length film to do justice to all the ideas in the original book, and having watched the film I will now have to read the book to find out.The film begins with a car crash. Then it jumps back a few months, and you are told that Coleman Silk (Anthony Hopkins) is a distinguished Jewish classics professor, and Dean of a college which he has turned round at the price of making plenty of enemies.It is five weeks into a new academic term, and Silk is giving a seminar. He notes that two students, who had missed all his previous lectures and seminars, are absent yet again, having failed to attend a single one of his lessons since arriving at the college. He asks if they are real, or "spooks." Never having laid eyes on the individuals concerned, he did not know that they are black. Spooks used to be a rude word for an african-american, so Coleman Silk finds himself accused of racism.Silk explodes with anger, giving ammunition to the enemies who want an excuse to oppose him, while those he has helped do not dare stand up for him. The irony is that he could have stopped the allegation in its tracks with a truth which he cannot bring himself to share - for he has been living a lie for many years.The title "The human stain" refers to the impact all of us have on the world around us.The film is not particularly fast paced, but it is very powerful, and has some excellent acting, particularly from Hopkins as Coleman Silk in old age, Wentworth Miller who plays Silk as a young man, and Nicole Kidman as Faunia Farely, a penniless young woman who he becomes involved with. Other performances worthy of note include those of Anna Deavere Smith, and Ed Harris as Faunia's psychotic ex-husband.Not a film to watch if you want a "lift" or cheering up. But a good one if your want some powerful and moving drama.

In this 2003 drama Coleman Silk (Anthony Hopkins) resigns from his job as College Dean after being accused of making a racist remark in class. The incident brings about his wife’ death and to avenge his loss of career and companion he seeks out writer Nathan Zuckerman (Gary Sinise) in order to write a book about the events. Then he meets the much younger Faunia Farley (Nicole Kidman) so what will happen to the project now?Much of the film takes place in flashback with a first person narrative which allows us to gradually build up in-depth profiles of the main characters, who, despite their exterior bluster are depicted as flawed and fragile, each influenced by tragedy and external events, something lacking in most movies. The acting is great, the picture and sound clear, but the problem here is the movie jumps, not in time, but in introducing new themes without any build-up, the romance with Faunia being a typical case as is the introduction of threatening letters [lose a *]. The central twist occurs about mid point, which seems a strange place to reveal the big secret, but it really has little effect on the overall story as it’s all moved on since the start.The single disc plays 4 trailers before offering scene selection, subtitles [English, English Hearing Impaired, none], bonus material [behind the scenes, Jean Yves Escoffier tribute] and play. Rated 18 this has at it’s heart racial identity and prejudice, there is some inexplicit nudity [back and side] and one full frontal scene, frank sexual discussion including talk of child abuse and descriptions of domestic violence but nothing visual and has frequent swearing –including the ‘F’ and ‘C’ words.Filmed on a massive $30 million budget, this was a massive box office flop, but that really is irrelevant for this isn’t a light drama but a claustrophobic and thought provoking indictment of prejudice and of living life as a lie. The finalé is superb in uncovering the effects of that lie [regain a *].

I think my problem with the film is that I had read the book first. However I found Anthony Hopkins hard to believe as a black man - even one passing as Jewish. Generally it kept to the storyline but there was much which was omitted which provided insight into the story. Emotional? Yes - just a little more sugary than the book. It needed greater contrast - a deeper low - and for the back story to be told later rather than in flashbacks.However Roth's work is hard to portray on camera as so much relies upon the complexity of the plot and the starkness and riches of his words. And this was a good attempt. The parallels between this and American Pastoral are quite clear and that they are in a linked trilogy was equally unsurprising. Loved the book.

Not bad dvd relationship was bit difficult to undetstand.

Unlike what one reviewer says here, this film is NOT loyal to the book, as it misses out the huge section on the problems of Lester, the ex-Vietnam soldier with PTSD and the whole consideration of that war and its effects on people of all nationalities and generations. In addition, much though I love Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman usually, they are totally miscast in this film. It's a cliche, but the film is no where near as good as the book - not surprisingly really given the depth of Roth's writing, which is hard to capture in a movie.

Antony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman both acted extremely well, and created a palpable chemistry. I didn't think the older character looked sufficiently like the younger one, but not sure how much it mattered. Within the context of the story the ending was perhaps the only possible one.

Compelling performances by all involved - all characters are well developed and presented as flawed individuals several of whom provoke sympathySeveral adult themes sensitively and evocatively presented non judgmentally .........Solid story line at just the right pace - just a tad far-fetched - but entirely credible....It's a satisfying and thought provoking movie - one I'll keep to re-watch.