Silence is NOT Golden

Rating: 2/10 (31 October 2006)

I really didn't care for this film. I appreciate it's symbolism, and the acting was okay--not great--just okay. I always thought Sam Niel was really great. Holly Hunter was okay. The little girl stole the show. Harvey Kitel should NEVER appear naked in another film again.
As far as plot--it was trying too hard not to be trite, that it became trite in its efforts. Trading a finger for a piano key? The handsome husband being a jerk, while the homely lover turns out to be gentle?
The sex scenes were too much. It was disgusting! Other films have managed to achieve subtlety with love scenes...not this one. I remember how when this film first came out, I got tired of people telling me how "artistic" it was...and I just didn't appreciate it, yada yada.
...But, to be honest, It was nearly porn. Porn sandwiched in between artistic and symbolic scenes, mostly involving the daughter.
And overall, I found it kind of overly-dramatic, trying to get you to feel some emotion and sympathy for an adulteress.