Very good movie

Rating: 9/10 (20 June 2002)

I'd dubbed this a quiet classic when I saw it last summer but the second viewing definitely pales next to the first, if only slightly.
Nicole Kidman's performance is Oscar-worthy, the atmosphere and intrigue is established perfectly, the supporting cast is wonderful, but the story doesn't quite stand up to too much scrutiny. The emotional development of the story is deliberate and thoughtful while the supernatural logistics of the story seem kind of arbitrary, and that kind of undercuts the final punch of the plot - the suspense is strong but the explanations are invariably weak. Themes of penance and spiritual absolutism introduced at the start don't quite make it to the finish line, at least not explicitly enough. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend but the weaknesses made themselves known the second time around.