In some
respects, this is possibly one of the greatest films of
all-time -- and, yes, I said all-time. Yet, in other
respects, it is one of the worst films of the year.
Imagine that -- kind of a contradiction, though I think I
can explain it enough to make sense. Any way you
look at it, "The Human Stain" is one of the most
ambitious films of the year, and is certainly worth
watching, if not solely for the performances and plotline
that keeps the audience thoroughly engrossed.
Sir Anthony Hopkins stars as Coleman Silk, a classics
professor at an acclaimed university. After an
unintended racist remark, and the controversy that
follows, he resigns his post. Enter Gary Sinise as
Nathan Zuckerman, who is going to write a book about Silk
and his ordeal. Eventually, Coleman falls in love
with Faunia Farley (Nicole Kidman), a woman from the wrong
side of the tracks, who is his exact opposite in every
way. They try to keep their affair a secret, but her
abusive ex-husband Lester (Ed Harris) eventually discovers
the secret and threatens to make trouble. SPOILER
ALERT: I AM ABOUT TO DELIVER CRUCIAL PLOT ELEMENTS
THAT COULD RUIN THE FILM FOR YOU -- READ ON AT YOUR OWN
RISK. The secret at the base of the film is that
Coleman Silk, whom everyone thinks to be Jewish, is
actually African-American, which we see in the flashbacks
throughout the film. Anna Deavere Smith plays Silk's
mother.
This film is, basically, about love and one's role in
society. In the flashbacks and in the way we know
his life would have turned out, we see how racism shaped
Silk's life. We also see the pain he must be
suffering, after being accused of making racist remarks
towards African-Americans. The love shared between
Hopkins and Kidman seems very pure and very genuine,
though they are exact opposites; yet, we see how it works.
Hopkins plays Silk as a man who has lived a good life
because of his secret and is seemingly ripped apart in his
later years by that same secret.
Anthony Hopkins is absolutely phenomenal in the best
performance of his career. He is brimming with
intensity and emotion throughout and I have never seen him
in a role quite like this before. An Oscar worthy
performance is also delivered by the always great Ed
Harris as the abusive ex-husband, who plays a key role in
the development of the story. Nicole Kidman is
lacking in her role, but us still good enough to be
convincing, and Gary Sinise is the same, as always --
intense, yet stone cold and emotionless.
What makes this film one of the best films of all-time is
the power and drama at the center of the story. The
way in which master director Robert Benton crafts his tale
and carries it out is expert and the best I have seen in
years. Yet, Anthony Hopkins is just not believable
as a supposed African-American. And, though that
would usually not matter -- when that is, essentially, the
basis for the film, it matters quite a lot. And,
Hopkins just doesn't look the part, as powerful as his
performance is. And that little fact is what made
this film one of the worst films of the year -- the
casting flaw.
So, you can choose between the two and pick which one you
like the best. Combining those two elements,
"The Human Stain" is one of the best films of
the year, with one of the most unbelievable plot twists,
though the plot twist works. Confused? Don't worry
-- so am I. I don't know if Oscar will reward a film
like this, but it most certainly should, merely for the
performances contained within. This is a film of
intense power and heartbreaking drama that keeps the
audience thinking even after they leave the theatre.
Go and see this film, if you can, and I don't think you
will find yourselves disappointed.
