I found the film to be mind blowing and strong. A novel that seemed impossible to make into any sort of film truly came alive. I can't get over how just tremendous and outrageous Nicole Kidman's performance was. I read that she even switched writing with her left hand to her right to portray the novelist. And the supporting cast was just shining. Miranda Richardson (an all time fave), and the great Toni Collette were stellar. Oh wow!!! and the young Jack Rovello. I don't think I can say wow enough about him. Having been quite the little paranoid obsessive child myself, I could relate to his every expression and worry. What a little expressive emotional face and voice. This kid's got it. Fascinating. Ed Harris just looked dead, which was perfect. His voice and eyes just felt, while his body moved robotically. FELT. Such amazing acting! Can I give them all carrots and cupcakes?
Such an amazing script. It was all beauty and truth to me. Beauty and truth of what we feel and what we are when we can get beyond the day to day tasks and dive deep into our selves, when we go to those places where we are so far into our own heads that we cannot escape and then we must fight to even remember the small things. That you must live and love the best you can and breathe and your only other choice is death or that spiraling whirlwind of nothing and everything which is extreme depression. Okay, okay, I know some people may not "get it" and say things like "people aren't like that". And to those people I will say, I am glad for you that you or someone you care for has not experienced depression, but just because your world hasn't been touched by madness or complete instability, it doesn't mean it is not real. And when I say instability I don't mean concrete absolutely horrifying problems like starvation, violence, and poverty. My direct world has not been affected by starvation or mass genocide, but I know it exists... I refer to the problems addressed in the film. Emotional abandonment, chronic depression, and coping mechanisms, which can truly be as frightening to deal with inside on a personal scale, not outwardly. I wish I had thought this through and written a more concise thoughtful review, but I am ranting because I just loved it soooo much. Nicole Kidman deserves an Oscar for this, as does screen writer David Hare, and I know everyone else will say Charlie Kaufman Charlie Kaufman...yada yada yada...Kaufman-Shmaufman the hype is boring me.... David Hare gets Tara's vote supreme with a gracious hard taco!
I can't believe I threw tacos into my opinion of this excellent movie, but FOOD IS MY WORLD, BABY!