The Human Stain (DVD)

The Human Stain is another one of 2003's films that received a drubbing from several critics, but yet it is another film that I actually enjoyed to some extent. While it is by no means a cinematic masterpiece there are several elements here that make up for a good movie.

Yes Anthony Hopkins plays a black man who is white, and yes, Nicole Kidman plays a woman living the working-class life as a janitor, but if you have a hard time believing that these two actors can pull off demanding roles then that is something you will just have to deal with.

This is quite a complex story to simplify down to a paragraph or two to let you know what you are in store for but let me try.

Hopkins plays Coleman Silk, a fair-skinned African American, whose life has led him in several directions including the abandonment of his race to enlist in the Navy as a white man. His path soon leads him to a teaching career in which trouble soon arises as he questions the attendance of two missing students asking, "What are they, spooks?" The students are soon revealed as African American and the comment is taken out of context, turned racial and Coleman is relieved of his position.

Tragedy follows and Coleman's life seems absolutely unbearable but through a new found friend and the movie's narrator is Nathan Zuckerman (Gary Sinise), along with the budding relationship with Faunia Farley (Nicole Kidman) there suddenly seems to be reason again in the world.

I was drawn into this film from the very beginning with a very dramatic opening sequence and the film is shot and the colors used in bringing it to life really add to the dark nature of the story being told here.

Hopkins turns in another great performance and Kidman, who rarely impresses me, is fantastic.

I am sure Miramax thought they may have had an Oscar contender in the works when this movie hit theaters considering the names and the fact that Academy Award winning director Robert Benton was helming, but since there wasn't even a whisper at nomination it seemingly was lost in the shuffle.

As for special features there isn't really much to talk about except for a short Behind-the-Scenes featurette and a tribute to cinematographer Jean Yves Escoffier (The Human Stain, Good Will Hunting, Rounders), who died before the film ever hit theaters.

I am by no means telling you this is a film to add to your DVD collection but if you are a fan of such movies as 21 Grams or House of Sand and Fog then this would certainly be a movie you should at least rent, I don't think you will be disappointed.