A powerful, authentic and compelling drama

Rating: 10/10 (9 March 2010)

First of all, I'm surprised and disappointed by the weak reviews this film received from a significant number of critics. In my opinion, "The Reader" was, by a small margin, the best Hollywood film of 2008. "Milk", 2008, is also excellent, however, I felt "The Reader" was a little more powerful and the entire cast gave exceptionally good acting performances, especially newcomer David Kross, as the young Michael Berg, besides the obvious powerful performance of Kate Winslet, as Hanna Schmitz. I considered "Frost/Nixon", "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Slumdog Millionaire", all from 2008, to be very good, but not excellent films. The five films mentioned here were the five nominees for the Best Picture Oscar of 2008. The feel good "Slumdog Millionaire" won the Oscar for Best Picture.
The story is based on a German novel of 1995, and concerns the remembrance of a long ago summer love affair between a 15 year old boy and a 32 year old woman. This story point apparently was objectionable and distasteful to many critics. I disagree with their perspective. Of course, the behavior of Hanna Schmitz, in the story, is wrong and immoral and could be considered statutory rape. For this offense and the later, more serious offense committed later by Hanna Schmitz, I found myself surprisingly sympathetic to her plight during and after her trial. The story, as depicted in the film, spans 34 years of the life of Hanna Schmitz. "The Reader" was shot mostly in Germany, where the original story of the novel takes place. I was impressed with the emotional authenticity, weight and honesty of the film.
Director Stephen Daldry, with his stage background, does an excellent job obtaining the best possible performances with all of his actors in the film. Daldry certainly knows how to tell a story with significant and authentic emotional impact. The courtroom trial is dramatically authentic, powerful and emotional. There is some raw sexuality in the summer lover affair and it's done with admirable restraint and grace.
Though Kate Winslet has given some very good to excellent acting performances before this film, which include five Oscar nominations, I felt this was her most compelling and powerful acting performance ever, since her feature film debut in "Heavenly Creatures", 1994. This performance in "The Reader" represents her sixth Oscar nomination, so it was certainly her time to finally win.
Winslet has received six Oscar nominations for acting in only 15 years, which is certainly impressive. Most actors and actresses do not even receive a nomination during their entire acting career. Since 2004, it became apparent to me that Winslet was an especially gifted and promising film actress. I have thought of Winslet as "The Great Kate", since 2004. With time, I believe it is certainly possible for her to reach Meryl Streep's amazing acting achievement of 16 Oscar nominations. After Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet is the film actress I hold with the highest esteem, respect and admiration.
Besides Winslet's great acting performance in "The Reader", I was most impressed with newcomer David Kross, as the young Michael Berg. As a native German speaker, he not only mastered the English language, he proves himself very genuine and sensitive with his acting and has an authoritative voice, in this, his third feature film. I will be watching for future film performances of his, as he appears to have a promising acting future.