Very good, but no Masterpiece

Rating: Null/10 (21 January 2009)

The Reader is a great adaptation of the amazing novel. The screenplay is of the highest caliber. It revolves around everything the novel focuses on, and it gives these characters some dimension and force. Of course, the main performances here are spectacular. David Kross is very realistic, and although at times he felt awkward to me, I think he still managed to make all of his expressions be fitting and work with his character. The tour-de-force here is Kate Winslet. What is possibly her best year, giving an amazing leading performance in her other brilliant film,Revolutionary Road, here she plays her character of a different caliber that she has never done before. Her acting is certainly of the highest rank, and she deserves all the recognition. Ralph Fiennes, a great actor, managed to pull it off very well too. We feel for him, playing the older Michael. The film has some amazing cinematography, costumes, set designs, and amazing make-up. It does come with it's flaws though. I felt that some of the small actors were not up well for their writing. They were not bad, no, but maybe too bland. The music score was brilliant, but I thought at scenes it was way too loud, and went on for too long. But of course, the highs of the film bring everything to another level. Quite brilliant film