canadianfreak_17

I just watched this film and went into it with fairly high expectations due to the insane amount of buzz surrounding it and the performances of the cast. For the most part I was not disappointed. I liked how the story progressed and slowly you are offered pieces of the puzzle regarding the death of Howie (Eckhart) and Becca's (Kidman) son. You have to keep watching really to get the whole story as to what happened and in the process it really effectively draws you into the character's heads and what they truly are feeling. Nicole Kidman gives quite possibly the finest performance of her career which will almost assure her a 3rd Oscar nomination. She hits all the notes perfectly in a very nuanced performance that demonstrates the grief, confusion and utter despair this woman is going through even if she doesn't show it enough for her husband's liking. Eckhart gives an almost equally compelling performance as the husband who is dealing with his grief very differently than his wife's. Dianne Weist rounds out with a great performance as Becca's mother who tries to support her daughter in anyway she can albeit sometimes it seems as if Becca would rather she just leave her along. Well acted, emotionally riveting and while melodramatic at times, a very realistic portrayal of grief.