Affliction (1999)

Paul Schrader's Affliction, adapted from the novel by Russell Banks (The Sweet Hereafter), charts the slow descent of small-town sheriff Wade Whitehouse (a raspy, gruffly restrained Nick Nolte) into violence, the legacy of the corrupt love of an abusive, alcoholic father. The story ostensibly centers on a hunting death on the outskirts of town, but as Wade digs into what may or not be a conspiracy, his personal life spirals out of control. James Coburn, who deservedly won an Oscar for his mocking, sneering performance, is Wade's father, who jumps back into the cycle of abuse when Wade moves in to care for the aging man. Chronicling the story in distant, dispassionate tones is Willem Dafoe as Wade's younger brother Rolfe, who "escaped" his father's legacy in a world of books. Schrader has made his reputation revealing the scarred psyches of American men trying to reconcile the contradictions of masculine fantasy and social reality, as in his screenplays for Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, and in Affliction he creates his most poignant and powerful work. The quiet beauty of the snow-blanketed New Hampshire setting (using Canadian locations) and Schrader's restrained yet intimate cinematic style builds the underlying emotional tensions until they explode in startling close-ups, revealing the repressed fear, rage, and helplessness cracking through Wade's carefully maintained façade. As Rolfe's narration coolly analyzes his brother's affliction, he reveals his own: an emotional remove so complete that he's edited himself out of his family history. The legacy of abuse leaves no one untouched. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com essential video

With a little more silence this movie would have been perfect...

I want to start by saying that on paper, `Affliction' is one of the most impressive character studies I've ever had the privilege of reading. The novel, written by Russell Banks (that author I keep touting as the greatest American writer of all time), is an outstanding piece of literature; a marvelous study of the slow progression of anger, pain, misery and ultimate insanity. On paper, `Affliction' is a masterpiece; on the screen, `Affliction' is merely a good movie.

It is a good movie, don't get me wrong, but this is not a great movie.

The problem lies in the pacing, so honestly I guess I can heap all the blame on director Paul Schrader. The thing about the novel is that Banks has this beautiful way of allowing his characters to stew in their own predicaments. There are long passages that seem to just build more tension and cast more darkness over the story and the characters within it. I think back to what Atom Egoyan did with `The Sweet Hereafter', allowing the sweeping views of the snow covered town to bring to life the `stillness' of Banks novel. He complemented the script with his expert direction. `Affliction' seems a little too rushed. The script is impeccable, much like `The Sweet Hereafter', changing very little in adaptation and staying very true to what Banks originally penned.

I can't help but think that this film would have been perfect had it added about thirty minutes of silence; interjecting random scenes of serene camera movement throughout the bustle of the story to establish the mood needed to elevate this film and bring it to the novel's level.

The film tells the story of Wade Whitehouse, a man pushed to the edge of his very sanity thanks to the people all around him. He lives in the same small town in which he grew up. He works the same dead end thankless job he's worked almost all his life. He's tormented by memories of an abusive childhood and he's struggling to win the war against his ex-wife over the affections of their daughter Jill. A series of events (an accidental death of a well respected man and the death of Wade's mother) start a domino effect almost, causing Wade to drift rapidly into the depths of insanity.

The film lacks the emotional impact the novel did, for the novel allowed us time to appreciate the mental deterioration overtaking Wade, and it gave us enough background in order to understand it. Here, his freefall seems almost too sudden at times.

Performance wise though, this is a goldmine. I am not a fan of Nick Nolte. I find his breed of overacting to be a hindrance to the films he inhabits. In fact, aside from his rather surprisingly controlled performance in `Cape Fear' I have hated everything he's done. This though, is a masterclass. Honestly, the fact that this is Nolte floors me. He has such deep understanding of Wade's character (maybe even more so than Schrader) and he exhibits that knowledge in every movement he makes. He delivers such a grounded and emotionally rich performance here; I'm stunned. James Coburn won the Oscar for his sadistic portrayal of Wade's abusive father, and while I'm not sure I'd hand him the Oscar I do believe he is marvelous here. Sissy Spacek is not the face I pictured when reading the novel, and so casting her as Margie seemed a bit off, but she works wonders with the part. These performances feel so small yet hit you very hard. They work far better than the film itself.

In the end I have to say that this is a very good movie, and if you have not read the novel you may even consider this a great movie. I was expecting a little more time invested in establishing the dark serenity that comes from reading Banks' work, so I was disappointed with Schrader direction.

Still, the film is a solid B, but the novel is an A+. December 9, 2008

A noir with a touch of Bergman!

Paul Shrader is one the few filmmakers who never has bent his convictions about propelling his independent entries, permeated of dark and bleak memories. Like Fassbinder for instance, he is well aware his role in the cinema , what is to become a sleepless lighthouse around our ethical consciousness.

Small constable investigates a supposed shooting, but he is firmly convinced it was a premeditate murder. Meanwhile he is haunted by his childhood because his drunken and abusive father.

This was for Coburn the great acting of his lifetime and that's why he won a more than deserved Academy Award.
September 11, 2008

Ready to Implode

Nick Nolte is excellent as a man who is seriously about to implode. Watching him in this role is like waiting to hear thunder after the lightning strikes. He is constantly on the verge of losing it, while he is also constantly trying to smother his wrath. You get the feeling that there is going to be a four alarm fire erupting at any time and Nick Nolte is about to run out of the water that is dousing his flames inside.

James Coburn plays his father. A nasty man, always drunk, always evil. We begin to see where Nick Nolte's character got his deep rooted angst. Being raised by such a man has left permanent scars inside of Nolte's character. Everyone that comes into contact with Coburn's character is left wounded.

It's a story about a cop in a small town who is trying to connect with his daughter, fight his ex-wife for custody, begin a new life with a new woman, tend to his father who has just lost his wife, investigate a hunting accident involving his best friend and coming to grips with his past, his family and his future.

This is no light hearted movie. There is depth and feeling. This movie might not make you feel happy, but it succeeds in reaching into your emotions and forcing you to feel what the main character is feeling. Not always pretty, but very effective.

This is one of the better movies I have seen. The acting is superb, the story is meaningful, the scenery makes you feel cold. 5 stars for this film for having the ability to bring out emotions in the viewer. Not for kids, heartbreaking, sad and perfect for what it was trying to do. March 24, 2008

One of the best movie's you'll see

I have no idea why there are negative reviews of this movie here. Maybe some people can't handle the dark nature of the movie. This is a piece of art that is fully realized and very powerful. There's not a wasted moment on the screen. Nolte and Coburn are tremendous. A detailed story rich in small symbols, worthy of more than one viewing. February 28, 2008

Haunting...

I watched this movie late at night on the IFC a few years ago, and it haunts me still. The abuse of a child lingers on, and it's so evident in this movie. I have a very difficult relantionship with my own father, and found myself moved to tears in this movie. The ending shocked me, and very few movies have the power to do that to me. I highly recommend this film, as long as you understand what you're getting into by watching it. August 3, 2007

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