“Rabbit Hole,” adapted from David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play by director John Cameron Mitchell, is an emotional experience, as much for the audience as for its principal characters. They are Becca (Nicole Kidman) and Howie (Aaron Eckhart), a couple whose 4-year-old son ran out into the street in front of their suburban home and was hit by a car. Eight months after the accident, Becca and Howie are trying to restore a measure of normalcy to their lives by agonizing over what they should do. For Becca, it’s removing their son’s artwork from the refrigerator and taking his clothes to Good Will. For Howie, it’s attending therapy sessions and staring at a video clip of his son. Unfortunately, there are no right answers and this is especially hard for Becca who wants to take control of an impossible situation and repair her broken life. At one point Howie contemplates an affair with one of his therapy friends (Sandra Oh) while Becca, surprisingly, stalks Jason (Miles Teller), the teenager who was behind the wheel of the car that killed her son.
Nicole Kidman, who excels at playing characters who are reserved and disciplined even on the verge of collapse, plays Becca like a fragile porcelain doll. She spends tension-filled time with her mother (Dianne Wiest) and tries to conceal the irrational anger she feels towards her younger pregnant sister (Tammy Blanchard). “Rabbit Hole,” which takes its title from a comic book Jason is working on in an attempt to find meaning in awful experience, is also an allusion to Alice’s entryway into Wonderland. “Rabbit Hole’s” serious, morbid subject matter is so trying that it’s difficult to see beyond it, especially during the holidays when you’d prefer a lighter fare. It’s worth seeing, however. Maybe in January? 12/23/10
1 comment:
This well made tear-jerker has a creative cast and boasts of some good acting. With the right script and direction I believe that someday Aaron Eckhart may win an Oscar but not here. This film has a lot going for it but its too hard to watch. I give it 2 1/2 sobs!
Post a Comment