MOVIE - THE HUMAN STAIN - Review Rating $$$$$ $ (OUT OF 10)

STARRING - Anthony Hopkins (Coleman Silk), Nicole Kidman (Faunia Farley), Ed Harris (Lester Farley), Gary Sinise (Nathan Zuckerman), Wentworth Miller (Young Coleman Silk), Jacinda Barrett (Steena Paulsson), Phyllis Newman (Iris Silk) & Anna Deavere Smith (Mrs. Silk).

DIRECTOR - Robert Benton (Nobody's Fool, Twilight, Kramer Vs. Kramer, Places in the Heart & Billy Bathgate)

Based on the novel by Philip Roth.

Warning - "Spoilers" contained in review

The performances, in the The Human Stain, are so outstanding you may be temporarily lulled into thinking that this film is a masterpiece of psychological intrigue and/or a powerful social commentary. Upon closer examination it becomes apparent that, great performances aside, the wool has been pulled over yours eyes. The film's substance is illusionary and turns out to be nothing more than smoke and mirrors.

The Human Stain's undoing is analogous to a slow death from a thousand contrivances. The event that precipitates a maelstrom of conflict is itself a stretch. The firing of Professor Silk (Hopkins) is based on the very equivocal use of one word. Even when political correctness was at its peak it is unlikely that a similar single comment would have been sufficient, without more, to justify the firing of a tenured professor. The Life Of David Gale began with a similarly weak premise and we all know how good that film was.

The Human Stain's lack of concern, with the veracity of its premise, wouldn't be so problematic if it didn't turn out to be just the first such event in a long series of equally contrived coincidences. These include:

- Silk's wife dying the day he is fired;

- Silk falling in love with a woman half his age (Faunia Farley) who's either been really hard done by, is Susan Smith reincarnated or both;

- Farley's husband being either a crazed Vietnam Vet Stalker, a deeply committed father pushed over the edge by a harlot or both;

- Silk's discovery that there's a famous author, with a bad case of writer's block, hiding in the woods and;

- Silk lied about his true identity and is actually a very light-skinned African American.

The credibility of The Human Stain's social/psychological commentary goes out the window as these coincidences pile up. The short shrift given each of these potentially thought-provoking themes only serves to reinforce the impression that they've only been included to "shock and awe". These personal "bombshells" are the literal equivalent of the pyrotechnics employed, in mediocre Action films, to make you forget about the plot's inherent weakness.

To discuss the implications of the various themes touched on in The Human Stain would be giving the film a level of credence that it richly doesn't deserve. The Human Stain is, to borrow the title of a song by the Canadian Rock Group Trooper, "A three dressed up as a nine".

The only reason to go see The Human Stain is for the opportunity to yet again witness superb performances by some of the greatest actors working today. Watching Nicole Kidman reminded me of the George Burns quote, "Acting is all about honesty. If you can fake that, you've got it made". Her ability to so completely and convincingly throw herself into any and all roles is simply unrivaled. The rest of the cast is brilliant as well. Too bad the movie isn't.

The Human Stain isn't nearly as good as it thinks it is.

Running time - 106 minutes

Check out my TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2003 & WORST MOVIES OF 2003 lists.

Alternative Reviews:

Roger Ebert's Review

Peter Travers / Rolling Stone Review

Newsweek Review

Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

The Human Stain Official Web Site

The Human Stain Official Novel Site

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