Avis sur le produitThe Human Stain (DVD, 2004)

Famous Actors, Great Performances, Sort of Strange Tale

The title of this movie is never really explained in this 2003 story of a noted college professor, Coleman Silk (at first Wentworth Miller and then as a senior citizen by Anthony Hopkins), falsely accused of racism because he used the word "spooks" to describe 2 students who had never attended his class.

This character study also focuses on the multi-employed janitor-milkmaid- postal employee, Faunia Farley (Nicole Kidman) that he meets as a widower. Their love affair is scorned by many including a new friend of Coleman's, Nathan Zuckerman (Gary Sinise), who is twice divorced and living in a secluded cabin near a lake. Not only is she too young for Coleman, but also she is a threat to Coleman's survival because of her previous marriage to Les Farley (Ed Harris), a psychotic Vietnam veteran.

The movie poses many questions. Why are we attracted to the people that we are attracted to? Why do we have shame about what has happened to us in life? And finally, why can we not be honest and still respected?

With haunting music throughout, this movie will make you think about our own secrets that we hide from others and why we do it. But in the end, the movie left me a little dissatisfied with its conclusion.

This movie won no awards in spite of its great cast. In fact, some critics say that the lead actors were miscast. I do not agree with that. Anthony Hopkins, Nicole Kidman, Ed Harris, Wentworth Miller, and Gary Sinise are all superb in their roles, but they are playing parts that you would not expect.

As I said before, this movie leaves you with a lot to think about.Lire l'avis complet...

Below Average fare by good actors.

I did not read the novel so I am not comparing the movie to the book. Standing alone, the movie is average at best. The performances of the main characters are convincing enough, but the subject matter is basically a bore. The only viewers I can imagine actually finding the subject matter interesting are blacks who have pretended to be white.... Or the odd older man, still holding out hope for a woman half his age to show up and titillate him.

I couldn't care less to see a movie about a girl obsessed with her childhood abuse. Purely for the dysfunctional set..... And why must Hollywood throw in a gratuitious male/male dance? Why? Because they like to mix things up, just on general principles.

Frankly, I wish I had spent my money on something else.... Like "Meet Joe Black"! Oh - wait - I did! Now THERE'S a movie worth seeing!! Anthony Hopkins' role there justifies its existence!Lire l'avis complet...

Does not do justice to the Roth novel

I did not like this movie. I am a reader and great fan of Phillip Roth novels, and this movie was adapted from his novel of the same name. The novel goes into great depth about the background of the characters, so that you understand the emotional dilemma. The movie leaves you not understanding anything about the chartacters, other than their sexual desperation, which is the least important part of their personalities. The main character has a fascinating upbringing as an enlightened Negro family. The movie doesn't go into depth about this at all , so I was disappointed. Please read the book; it delves deep into lives of a light skinned black American family and how each family member copes with life. The book teaches us about this racial aspect of growing up in New Jersey, and the movie does not touch that subject.Lire l'avis complet...

It could have been better...

I chose to buy this movie because Wentworth Miller is hot and I wanted to see what kind of an actor he is outside of Prison Break. The title had an interesting sound to it, I see why you can't judge a book by it's cover in this case a dvd case by it's cover.

In my opinion the story was too disconnected, Nicole Kidman needs to give up acting forever, she is horrible in this kind of story, it was a complete disapointment, except for Wentworth Miller and Gary Sinise this movie was a bust.

The music was so so...
One should relize that you can't be born black and American and then change to white and British. Ed Harris had a character that was pointless and I didn't like the way he picked on the old man for being sexually active, this is a good thing at his age.

Erin & Lisa Reed

Wentworth is the best,and he looks great in this movie, YAHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!Lire l'avis complet...

THE HUMAN STAIN is a must-see movie experience!

The Human Stain movie is one of the most important films that I have viewed in a long time. It is the story of a mixed race family where one son (played by Anthony Hopkins) looks like a white person and then pretends all his life to be Jewish. Looking at him, anyone could think just that without any second thoughts. He leaves his family (some of whom clearly look black) and marries and becomes a literature professor while keeping that secret his whole life! I highly recommend this film as it contains timely nuances about life and living in the United States during a time when racism ruled every aspect of life and living. To add another star for this film - it is based on a true story . . .Lire l'avis complet...

The Human Stain, a Trip Worth Taking

The Human Stain is a ponderous tale. The film opens with a flash-forward revealing the two main characters in a car crash on an icy road and you know it’s going to be a trip worth taking.

In the film adaptation of Philip Roth's novel "The Human Stain", Hopkins and Kidman are both as mesmerizing. I found the film to be a strong, confident film that strikes several emotional nerves without being oppressive.

The story evolves around Anthony Hopkins as Coleman Silk, a distinguished professor at a New England college whose professional life is crippled by accusations of racism and whose personal life is tortured with a lie he has been living with for over fifty years. Kidman is cast as the lonely Faunia, the illiterate 34-year-old janitor that begins an unlikely love affair with Hopkins.

An excellent character study well worth the watch.Lire l'avis complet...

The Human Stain

The quality of the DVD that I received was not the best, so I was not able to hear everything, but this has a very original story line with an absolutely ironic ending. Anthony Hopkins is one of my favorite actors and Nicole Kidman though she's not a favorite of mine, did a good job. You find out that even though you think you know someone, everyone has a secret or two that they don't share with anyone. I usually don't like a story that is narrated, but the actor that narrates a lot of the story, did an excellent job.Lire l'avis complet...

QUALITY MOVIE BEARS FRUIT!

After reading some so-so reviews on this movie I asked myself why I bought it. Well, I sat down to watch and was not expecting a whole lot. Boy! Was I pleasantly surprised. This movie moved me. Hopkins played the role as a lonely old codger fired for "racist?" remark in a class he was teaching and the story unfolds from there. Kidman was very believable as an abused trailer trash young woman of questionable values. Gary Sinese, Ed Harris and Wentworth Miller's output just added more credability to the cast. A little too much dialogue at times but it allowed me to get to know the characters a little better. Excellant movie....A RARE FIND!Lire l'avis complet...

Great story

Can't beat Roth for a great stork about complex people

Achat vérifié :  Oui | État : occasion | Vendu par : decluttr_store

Thought Provoking!

A true work of art from beginning to end..well written, well acted and well done..Anthony Hopkins did a fantastic job playing the perturbed scholar..Nicole Kidman did a great job playing the grief stricken troubled younger Woman..it is soo refreshing to see a older man actually wait until after his wifes death to bed a younger woman..Ed Harris as a psychotic Killer brilliant..this film is a masterpiece..movie buffs will love this film...Lire l'avis complet...