Up and coming young star Ezra Miller shines alongside costars Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilley in Lynne Ramsay’s adaptation of Lionel Shriver’s novel, We Need to Talk About Kevin. Swinton is known for her roles in “Michael Clayton”, the Narnia fims, “Burn After Reading”, and several others. On the contrary, Reilly is widely known for his roles in outrageous comedies like “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” and “Stepbrothers.” Their respective roles, in this film however, are much different from any other characters they have ever played. The film shows you the life of a mother who raises a child that becomes a mass murderer and how she deals with the aftermath. Though a deep and disturbing subject, people of this generation who know about the Columbine and Jonesboro killings will appreciate and I daresay it, enjoy this exceptional and emotional film. Never have I walked out of a film so speechless, yet so full of words. For this reason, I give a pat on the shoulder to Lynne Ramsay and her outstanding cast.
The story unfolds through the perspective of Eva, played by Tilda Swinton. The film flashes between clips from the present, the past, and past past. Sounds a bit confusing, right? At the beginning of the film, you are certainly cocking your head and frowning, but as the movie progresses you begin to understand how brilliantly perfect this seemingly complicated storyline turns out to be. In the present, Eva flashes back to her past before having her son, Kevin, and like I said to the past past before Kevin was born. In this way, we get to know the character and why she is the way that she is before revealing the story of her son. Right away, we can tell in the first several minutes of the film that something bad has happened to her. After several scenes that show her relationships with her husband, her son, and daughter, we finally reach the moment we’ve all been waiting for (spoiler alert). Why are people staring at her? Why does she always look so out of it and depressed? Who is she visiting in jail? We find out Kevin has killed a number of students at his high school along with his father and sister.
The development of Miller’s character combined with his exceptional acting makes for one of the best parts of the film. Kevin’s snotty attitude and disgusting smirks make you want to reach into the screen and slap the kid, and Ramsay’s constant repetition of such actions throughout the film will have you clenching your fists at the mere sight of the boy.
The onscreen chemistry between Swinton and Reilly and even Miller is so real, I almost forgot I was watching a fictional film. As mentioned previously, the roles Swinton and Reilly took on for this film are much different than their previous projects. Upon reading the synopsis and cast listing, I was a bit skeptical about how the two would perform. All I can say is after seeing them excel the way they did, I could not picture anyone else even attempting at these characters. Also, given that many of Reilly’s past films are with Will Ferrell, who I am not a big fan of, I was not too keen about Reilly. But my perception of him as an actor completely changed after this movie. Props to you, John!
Furthermore, the perspective from which this film was written made me like the film even more. The story would have been completely different if it was from the point of view of the father or even the sister. But quite simply because the relationship between Eva and her son was not near what it was between Kevin and his father, we can really see the emotional effects the mother-son and father-son relationships had on her. You can tell she is questioning her role as a mom and whether or not she is she responsible for the way her child turned out. Swinton’s ability to have a constant glazed look in her eyes, never a smile, and a dazed nature constitutes for a really emotionally fixated character. I also particularly enjoyed it being from the perspective a woman because more often than not films are shot from the point of view of a male. It is true that the book was written from a female perspective by a male author. I think, however, the fact that the director was female has something to say about the way the film was conducted.
Though I enjoyed the overall amazingly adapted screenplay and how it was shot, one specific quote really turned the story for me and made me feel content again. At the end of the film we see Eva visiting Kevin in jail on the day of his two-year anniversary (of his killing rampage). After questioning her contribution to his misbehavior throughout the movie, she finally decides to ask him why he did it. He responds, “I used to think I knew, but I’m not so sure anymore.” For what seems to be the first time in the whole movie, she embraces her son. At this moment, despite hating the kid with a deep passion, I began to feel a little sympathy for him for the pure fact that he is finally realizing what he did and how it affected her.
Sure we have all heard and some even seen, if you’re into that sort of thing, thrillers like “The Ring,” “Orphan,” and “The Omen,” in which young children kill. This film, unlike these, covers a more realistic approach to a killer child, which makes for an eerie realization amongst viewers. You leave the theatre with chills on your arms from being freightened, yet also having a smile across your face. The ability to do both is a rare quality that I feel Ramsay should have been better recognized for. I was astounded to hear in the closing ceremony of Cannes that “We Need to Talk About Kevin” received no credit, almost upset if I’m being honest. Unlike some other movies recently made, this film allows the audience to connect and feel something on a completely different level. And ending on that note, I could not encourage you more to go see the film. Make sure you’re in the right mood because it is heavy but I hope you enjoy!
Directed by Lynne Ramsay
Starring Tilda Swinton, John c. Reilly, Ezra Miller
Distributed by Diaphana Distribution
Running Time 106 minutes
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