Films, "The Reader"

Ah, so Anthony Lane (New Yorker, 3/29) not only despises "Chloe" but "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" as well. Pooh on him. He hates Larsson's left wingity, clearly, and Lisbeth Salander swoops right over his head and he can't catch her, not even in print.

Last night "The Reader" was on TV and I miraculously noticed it at the exact time it started instead of halfway through. I was deeply moved, loved that film. It reminded me how marvelous is Kate Winslet. When "Titanic" came out, I refused to go see it (because it was way too romantic and insanely popular), and still haven't seen it, and because she starred in it, I didn't like her either, even though I'd never seen her. (I can be stupid sometimes.) Then she was in a few films I had to see, because they were wonderful films ("Revolutionary Road" in particular), or happened to see, and grudgingly I've outgrown my original prejudice to admire her extremely. I think maybe "The Reader" is her best because her character is so not beautiful, so not romantic, so flawed, and so tough yet vulnerable. The moral dilemmas in the film are harsh, and there are no resolutions or apologies. This is unusual for an American film. No obligatory happy ending, just a greater level of understanding and a drop of compassion.

I'm in a bad mood today. It's getting warm, and I have a mouthful of expensive dental work next week, and I'm trying to find all the documentation I need for taxes (excavating the mounds on my desks). Blah!