7/10
When you hear of a film about a couple grieving for the loss of a young child, it's natural for the heart to sink, as you imagine a TV movie of the week, complete with tears, heartbreak and redemption. Fortunately, this is not that kind of film. Instead it is a wonderfully deft and insightful drama that should win Nicole Kidman her second Best Actress Oscar.
She's the mother of the child, and Aaron Eckhart is the father. Danny died some months ago, but nothing and no one has moved on. The couple co-exist but without warmth, sexuality or intimacy. Her slightly trashy sister and her conventional mother (the wonderful Dianne Wiest) try to help, but Kidman is dealing with things in her own way - fiercely proud, independent (apparently) and defying sentimentality. The couple also go to a bereaved couples group, but that doesn't really cut the mustard either. The most striking thing she does is to start following a school bus, for reasons that become apparent later in the film.
There are so many good things about this film. It's short (less than an hour and a half); it's beautifully written without a false note; the scenes between the different characters are all wonderfully handled, allowing you to see the perspective of both participants; and the acting is of a universally high standard. I would be lying if I pretended it was a laugh a minute (although there are laughs), but equally, this is very far from being a tearjerker - though I would be surprised if you remained unmoved by it. If there are another 10 films this good in 2011, I will consider myself a very lucky man.
Adam Hewitt - 9/10
It could happen to any family... And there is certainly no blame... John Cameron Mitchell's Rabbit Hole is a superb production based on a David Lindsay-Abaire screen play carefully depicting how a family deals with truly tragic circumstances after the accidental death of their young boy. Rabbit Hole out shines any of John Cameron Mitchell’s previous work through a vivid and very real drama. You would find it hard to argue against Nicole Kidman’s (Becca) best actress Oscar nomination. She is outstanding! The individual relationships she has with Aaron Eckhart (Howie) Miles Teller (Jason) and Dianne Wiest (Nat) are highly believable and staggeringly affective. I feel it important to make clear that as outstanding as Nicole Kidman is in Rabbit Hole this is certainly not to take anything away from what is a wonderfully acted film overall.
Rabbit Hole tells the journey a family goes through months after Danny, a 4 year old son, of Becca and Howie is killed. Under Mitchell’s direction we see this delicate journey through the perspective of both mother and father. Both husband and wife deal with this ordeal separately but thankfully in a well constructed ending Becca and Howie find their own council in the foundations of their love. There is a well balanced portrayal of the male perspective vs. the female perspective as both Becca and Howie test the strength of their love and at times risk losing it all together. Despite this the love between the two is never in question; mercifully is far deeper than a simple ‘love story’.
I loved the surprisingly little attention played on the actual event of Danny’s death. The tragic events are slowly learnt as the film progresses but become less and less important with no detrimental affect on the story line. Time is spent on such devastating and risky topics as grief, torment, stains on true love, and the very human methods of coping with death which makes for a captivating watch. We are left with the notion that such pains can become "bearable" gives a surprisingly uplifting message to the film. Simple screen play at it's most effective.
