The Door in the Floor

I say surprise because I had never heard of this film until it popped up on a UK satellite channel recently. Like so many other 'smaller' films from across the world, I suspect it never achieved significant cinema release in the UK. This is a real quality film in all departments, the story, the direction, the acting, the location, everything. Bridges confirms his status as one of the most interesting actors of his generation, not only because his laconic style and obvious craft are always a pleasure to watch but because he has this knack (or intelligence and skill) to select material that is never less than good and occasionally excellent. Kim Basinger continues to grow more interesting and watchable with age and the other cast members are professional, discreet – they can act! Each to their own I know but for me, this film represents the best that American cinema can produce and equal to anything from anywhere is the world. A delight for the film-goer that has a mature outlook and enjoys seeing stories about human drama, no guns, no CGI special effects, just good honest quality. If you have the chance to see it, I recommend this film highly.

I loved "Widow For One Year" and was a bit skeptical about "A Door In The Floor". I just didn't see it translating well on screen and I have to admit I'm not a Kim Basinger fan either. Well I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with the screenplay and the acting. Yes I felt sad that the other complex part of the story was omitted but after hearing John Irvings comments in the bonus features he put my sadness to rest. I completely see where he was coming from on the difficulties of portraying the other events to be true to the intended meaning. Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger were very compelling. Kim Basinger did a brilliant job at coming across as a sympathetic character while remaining emotional hardened in a state that allowed her to leave her daughter and sleep with a young teenage boy. One of the things I love best about John Irving is that he creates characters so flawed yet so redeemable and complex. He show the other side of the coin to making bad choices vs. good. He shows that to each screwed up life there are stories of how people get there and how everything around them contributes to who they become. Because of pain some submit to fears, some submit to pleasures, some submit to sorrow. And although some learn to conquer the emotions and pains of life, some don't, and for them it seems Irving wants us to see that they do the best they can to survive it and protect those they love in their own messed up ways. Underneath these characters that seem morally challenged is pain and the desire to survive it. I guess having said that it is sad that Ruth's story was never told. All things considered this was a very good movie based on a brilliant book.

I spent the first half of this movie utterly despising it, but in the end I admit it's a good movie. If you're not easily offended.

The story revolves around the extremely dysfunctional marriage (and not in a funny way either) between a couple surviving the wreckage of a tragedy. A writer (Jeff Bridges) and his often catatonically depressed wife (Kim Basinger) are failing miserably at raising their young child (Elle Fanning). Failing miserably is the understatement of the year. Their actions border on child abuse including overt extramarital affairs, leaving the bedroom door wide open so that their 4-year-old daughter witnesses sex doggie style, leaving her unattended or generally ignored much of the time resulting in serious accidents, and (although this is debatable depending on how open you are with your kids) walking around butt naked. Oh, maybe I should mention that one of them commits statutory rape. 60 times.

If you can get past that, you're in the clear.

You soon realize, or should soon realize, that this is the story of some individuals who are using tragedy to excuse their selfishness while obliviously wreaking havoc on a small child's mind. And that is the central theme of the film and the key to understanding the cryptic reference of the title "The Door in the Floor".

As you can see, this is a very challenging and possibly controversial story. In that respect it reminds me of the Terry Gilliam film "Tideland" which revolves around a 30-year-old man's relationship with a pre-teen girl; the audience is supposed to be disturbed, and yet we are supposed to dig deeper past the shock to understand the meaning.

So if you watch this movie, don't spend your time trying to figure out who's the "good guy" like I did, or you'll find yourself hating the experience. Instead take it for what it is: the story of some very flawed individuals stumbling through life the only way they know how.

Due to the extremely awkward sexual situations, I do NOT recommend this as a date movie, a romantic evening with your hubby/wife, and for the love of Moses do NOT watch this movie with your kids. Or your parents.

This is a must see. As a jaded New Yorker, I sit through every film, minute by minute, saying to myself, can I believe this moment. In this film, 99.9% of the moments of this film are rich in reality, all the way down to the subtle nuances of a child's syntax. You leave the theatre not questioning the motives or intentions of the characters, but loving them and respecting their choices. Irving captures life as it is, and the actors never go to extremes to manipulate you. The story, is well crafted enough to move you. Jeff Bridges has always been a talented actor and demonstrates incredible poise and intention.

Having just seen this movie I cannot believe Jeff Bridges was not nominated for this performance (but after Paul Giametti getting overlooked this year, what do you expect) Perhaps people don't know what good acting is: not 'ACTING' but truth, naturalness, and a revelation of how people really behave--but Jeff is so subtle and unshowy that he just becomes the part (Kim Basinger was first rate too)Put this film up against the pretentious and showy twaddle that was American Beauty, and we see what a farce the Oscars really are. The monologue towards the end of this film where Jeff talks about the accident and the death of their two sons was heartbreaking--because it did not go for drama or histrionics, just pure, emotional truth. I urge people who have not seen this movie to please check it out--I don't think you will be sorry--if you are open to the possibility of films that treat you and respect you as an adult, and shows human beings in all their frailties in the most heartbreaking of experiences.