In The Bedroom review

Director Todd Field is a true polymath: he made several low-budget and short films (Nonnie and Alex, The Dog) in the early 90s which were greeted with critical approval and he has written most of the work he has put on the screen. As a jazz musician he has received praise for his talent, and scored several of his own works. He has been a consistent screen presence from his first appearance in Woody Allen's Radio Days, but is probably best known to the public for his role as the mysterious pianist Nick Nightingale in Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut. With his new film (his fully-fledged directorial debut), the public awareness of Todd Field is about to change. One of the best American films in recent memory, it announces the arrival of a major new talent.

Set in a rural American seaside town, this is the story of Matt and Ruth Fowler (Wilkinson and Spacek), a middle-aged couple with a comfortable and happy relationship. Matt is the local doctor while Ruth teaches music at the nearby school. They dote on their solitary child, the handsome but balanced Frank (Stahl) and spend their days organising barbecues for the local community or fishing off the local port. The only blot on their existence is Frank's choice of girlfriend: although they don't dislike the older Natalie (Marisa Tomei), they fret about the fact that she is a divorcee with a small child. Still, if it makes their son happy and as long as it doesn't interfere with his prospects as an architect they are prepared to let it pass.

Natalie however has a monster in her background in the shape of her ex-husband Richard (William Mapother). This is a man who cannot let go and refuse to countenance the fact that his now ex-wife is consorting with a younger man. As Richard becomes increasingly threatening, the whole of the family gets involved and when a tragic and shocking incident occurs their lives are changed forever.

What lifts In The Bedroom way above the typical family drama is the facts that all of the pieces fit together to make an extraordinarily satisfying whole. The actors are given a wonderful script to work with and each of them makes their characters wholly lived-in and believable: Wilkinson is particularly superb as the gentle and caring patriarch while Marisa Tomei puts in a performance that is a world apart but equally deserving of an Oscar as her turn in My Cousin Vinny. Not to be outdone, Spacek is terrific as the slightly subdued mother, Stahl perfect as the determined youth and Mapother (Tom Cruise's real-life cousin) comes into his own as the menacing ex-husband. This is a masterpiece of ensemble acting.

The greatest credit must go to Field for allowing the story to tell itself in a patient yet still tense manner. His direction is gimmick-free but always in control and he refuses to allow melancholy or predictability to creep in. In The Bedroom may not be a happy film, but is one which will imprint itself on your mind for some time after the credits have rolled.