Destroyer * * * *
Everyone is talking about Nicole Kidman's appearance in this film. Not since Charlize Theron did Monster have we seen a transformation so confrontingly ugly and yet so beautiful in its execution.
When we are introduced to Erin she's a burnt out LA detective. Lonely, alcoholic, tired, always angry and obsessed. Why would someone be like that? Once the story begins to unfold, the reason why becomes clear, if never spoken. However, you get the impression Nicole hooked right into it as she develops her character. It all comes from guilt. Guilt for an action in her past and guilt for the kind of mother she has become. It's a fascinating character study.
It's also a pretty gutsy film. Seeing our Nicole hit someone into unconsciousness and then start stomping on their face .... well it just doesn't seem right. But as always she does it well. (Personally I think Nicole Kidman is one of the finest actresses currently working in cinema.)
The story is set both today and the past. Today she has learned that a nemesis from her past - Silas - has returned. And then we return to her past to see who he was and what he did.
He headed up a gang of bank robbers. His status among them was almost cult like as his followers responded to his every whim, disregarding their own self respect and safety.
Seventeen years ago, Erin and another police officer went underground to penetrate the group and become part of them. Things went wrong. She was quickly extracted but she always felt she let her colleague down, she also committed a crime of her own, that went beyond her undercover work. Both actions have troubled her ever since.
Now she has learnt that Silas is back and Erin wants her revenge. This might require intimidation, self violation, bribery, and a lot of other illegal tactics, but Erin is fine with all of that. Nothing is more important to her than getting Silas.
It's a fine drama with more threads to the story than I have mentioned, not least being her relationship with her teenage daughter. It's well directed by Karyn Kusama from an original script written by her husband, and as per the buzz, the brilliant performance by Nicole Kidman is not to be missed.
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| Another side of Nicole Kidman. |
It's also a pretty gutsy film. Seeing our Nicole hit someone into unconsciousness and then start stomping on their face .... well it just doesn't seem right. But as always she does it well. (Personally I think Nicole Kidman is one of the finest actresses currently working in cinema.)
The story is set both today and the past. Today she has learned that a nemesis from her past - Silas - has returned. And then we return to her past to see who he was and what he did.
He headed up a gang of bank robbers. His status among them was almost cult like as his followers responded to his every whim, disregarding their own self respect and safety.
Seventeen years ago, Erin and another police officer went underground to penetrate the group and become part of them. Things went wrong. She was quickly extracted but she always felt she let her colleague down, she also committed a crime of her own, that went beyond her undercover work. Both actions have troubled her ever since.
Now she has learnt that Silas is back and Erin wants her revenge. This might require intimidation, self violation, bribery, and a lot of other illegal tactics, but Erin is fine with all of that. Nothing is more important to her than getting Silas.
It's a fine drama with more threads to the story than I have mentioned, not least being her relationship with her teenage daughter. It's well directed by Karyn Kusama from an original script written by her husband, and as per the buzz, the brilliant performance by Nicole Kidman is not to be missed.
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