She isn’t my first love, or my greatest love, but she is my last love” Anthony Hopkins says as Coleman Silk in Robert Benton's new movie “The Human Stain”. Actually this movie is an adaptation of Philip Roth's novel. I believe that reading the book would be more engrossing and beneficial than watching the movie.
I don’t know why the director showed the end at the beginning of the movie. It really makes you angry to see a movie, where you know the ending. Besides, it was completely unnecessary to flash-forward. The film starts with general information about our character Coleman Silk, who is a well-known classics professor with a big secret. As the story develops, Coleman starts to have an affair with a young woman called Faunia played by Nicole Kidman. Their sex based friendship turns into a strong and sensitive relationship as they realize that they need each other. Actually this relationship creates a question mark in my head since their relations start by Coleman’s (around 70 years old) giving a lift to a strange woman (Faunia, 35). Then he ends up being invited for some sexual intercourse. Although I did not find this that realistic, let’s see what happens… Later on this relationship makes Coleman flash-back to his youth which clarifies his secret. Never the less, I think, the existence of Faunia's dangerous ex-husband puts a little spice into the movie that is really slow and monotone in most of the scenes.
As the movie proceeds the audience gets the idea that racism in society plays an important role in a human being’s life and their choices. This racism issue in the movie is strongly correlated with the character Coleman Silk considering his secret. I won’t be giving out this secret here because it might ruin the story.
In my opinion there is a huge gap in the movie. Although I haven’t read the book, it won’t be too hard for the audience to feel the weak adaptation. As far as I heard, the book is excellent. However, in the movie, most of the scenes do not seem realistic enough although being supported with good acting. Besides, after seeing the movie, the lack of fluency makes you think “hmm…that’s it?”
Those of you, who are looking for a perfect movie, will be disappointed at the end. Thus don't expect too much. This time I leave the decision to you…
Have fun!

Rating:

Atilla Karakurum (IE/III)