READER, THE - DVD review

"How far would you go to protect a secret?"

"The Reader" is an adaptation of the 1995 book by Bernhard Schlink, which holds the distinction as the first German novel ever to reach number one on the New York Times bestseller list. Despite receiving five Oscar nominations, critical reception of the film has generally been mixed. Now that I've seen it for myself, I can understand why. The multi-layered story involves very sensitive subject matter, and presents it in such a way that every viewer will forge their own interpretations and conclusions. Oddly enough, it's this kind of controversy that actually makes "The Reader" a very strong film, and one that everyone should set aside a couple of hours to watch.

The story is mostly told in flashbacks, and begins in Berlin, Germany during the nineties where a man named Michael Berg (Ralph Fiennes) is haunted by memories from his past. Back in 1958 when he was just fifteen years old (played by David Kross), Michael falls violently ill on his way home from school and is forced to take a breather in the entryway of an apartment complex. While regaining his composure, a tram conductor comes to his aid and she assists Michael home where he's eventually diagnosed with scarlet fever.

After his recovery a few months later, Michael decides to pay a visit to the kindhearted stranger to offer his gratitude, and is greeted by Hanna Schmitz (Winslet). As a woman twice his age, Hanna doesn't seem to take much interest in Michael at first, but soon enough they find a common ground when Michael starts to read to Hanna and the two are embroiled in a passionate affair. It becomes a symbiotic relationship, as Michael's stories excite Hanna and in turn she rewards the teen with carnal pleasures. The two meet as much as they can for the entire summer, until one day Michael shows up and Hanna is gone without a trace.

A few years later when Michael is attending law school, his class observes a trial for Nazi war criminals and to his horror, one of the defendants turns out to be Hanna. As the case progresses and Hanna's terrible deeds as a concentration camp guard at Auschwitz are revealed to Michael, a shocking revelation surfaces that will have a major impact on both of their lives.

I think the main reason why some critics have issues with "The Reader" is that they feel the movie crosses the line by almost condoning the improper sexual relationship of a woman and teenager and then wants us to pity a participant of the holocaust. Personally, I didn't really feel this way when I watched the movie, though. For me, the story wasn't about Hanna at all, but about Michael and the bombshell he had to try to make sense of and come to terms with. He's basically a symbol for an entire generation that has been going through the same horrible feelings upon learning the sins of their fathers during World War II. The seduction and trial issues are merely plot devices designed to draw this out into the open, and the fact that they strike an uncomfortable chord with the viewer is just the art of good storytelling.

It's the outstanding performances in "The Reader" that practically carry the entire film by themselves. Winslet is magnificently brilliant as Schmitz in her Oscar and Golden Globe winning role—who at times is tender, alluring, and delighted with the simplest things in life, while other times she's a very troubled and misguided soul. The young David Kross is the other powerhouse in the film, and I'm surprised he hasn't been drawing more critical acclaim. He's pitch-perfect as a naïve and confused teenager caught up in a sexual whirlwind, and he completely nailed the agony and despair he was suffering when his whole world was being torn apart. Winslet and Kross are truly amazing talents indeed.

If the movie has any flaws, I'd have to say it's a few of the filming decisions made by director Stephen Daldry. The good news is that he captures mood and tension terrifically, and has a very keen eye for creating postcard-esque imagery that lights up the screen. I just felt that some sequences were too long for my tastes, so much so that they became a bit overly melodramatic and tiresome. I also don't want to spoil anything, so I'm just going to say around the climax there were at least two occasions where the film dragged a little in trying to get a point across when it wasn't necessary. But aside from these very slight misfires, "The Reader" is still a remarkably competent and thought-provoking film with some of the finest performances I've seen in a long time.

Video:
The Weinstein Company presents "The Reader" on DVD in widescreen 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The image is very sharp and crisp, and the picture is accented with a hint of grain that is barely noticeable. Colors are cool, earthy and often highlighted by natural lighting, and black levels are very strong. Even for a DVD, the detailing is also impressive, bringing out all of the little cracks and crevices of Berlin structures and there was one scene where I could make out the peach fuzz on Winslet's cheek. I'm sure anyone who purchases or rents this disc should be pleased with the high quality of the picture.

Audio:
"The Reader" includes Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks in English and French, as well as optional English and Spanish subtitles. This film is primarily dialogue driven, and at the beginning the spoken parts almost sounded a hair distant to my ears. It seemed to get better later on in the movie, so I'm not sure if it just fixed itself or if I just got used to the track, but I think it's something worth noting here. Surrounds are mostly reserved for subtle background noise, although there's one particular instance where Ralph Fiennes' character has a narration montage that makes them really come alive. The score by Nico Muhly also periodically drifts to the rear speakers, filling the room with a nice and soothing ambience.

Extras:
The main supplements on this disc consist of five featurettes: Adapting a Timeless Masterpiece: Making 'The Reader' (23:01) is a traditional "making of" with the cast and crew discussing the story, characters, etc.; A Conversation with David Kross and Stephen Daldry (9:46) spotlights the young German actor; Kate Winslet on the Art of Aging Hanna Schmitz (12:49) covers Winslet's make-up and prosthetics; A New Voice: A Look at Composer Nico Muhly (4:07) is a short vignette on the score's composer; and finally Coming to Grips with the Past: Production Designer Brigitte Broch (7:21) takes viewers behind the scenes of a few of the German sets and locations.

The bonus features conclude with a run of eleven Deleted Scenes (42:08) which also includes extended versions of certain sequences, as well as the film's Theatrical Trailer (2:32).

The Final Cut:
"The Reader" is an elegant and often unsettling drama commanded by two of the most riveting performances of the year. The DVD features an excellent picture, good audio, and a meaty, if a little pretentious, supplement package. Even though the movie won't sit well with everyone, it's still one that deserves the acclaim and should be seen by everyone at least once. Highly recommended.