Change Your Image
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Reviews
We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)
Strong Directing - Strong Acting - Strong Subject - Off Target
I watched this film with a global audience in Cannes. The theater was packed and the two people who walked into the screening ahead of me were already established filmmakers. I was hit by a brilliance of color and a tableau of events moving back and forth in time. Excellent casting, excellent metaphors, excellent camera-work, excellent writing, but the story was not only depressing, the bulls eye, the center of attention, the whole forward motion of the piece, was in the wrong direction. You knew that you were watching a film and you knew the actors were playing their roles and when the end came, the packed house was silent and then after a moment the booing started. Finally after a little thought I joined in. See a much better film on this subject. See "April Showers."
April Showers (2009)
Important film for all to see, but especially teenagers
Saw this film at the premiere in L.A. It was much more than I was expecting. It is a very emotional story and it is realistically done. Its treatment of school violence is very important for the youth of America and, for that matter, the world's youth to see. I hope the U.S. rating of "R" can be changed or it will prevent young people from seeing it or could stop some theaters from screening it. It definitely should be seen by everyone, but especially teenagers.
The fact that it centers around the victims and the survivors of the tragedy and not the mind or motives of the perpetrator, makes it even more engrossing. I cannot think of another film on this subject that treats school violence in this moving and most accessible manner.