We Need To Talk About Kevin is a film that I heard relatively good things about, but had never seen until now. I am a fan of non-linear storytelling as long as there is order amid the chaos, and I can actually tell what is going on. As a first-time viewer, I have to say that the first twenty to thirty minutes is nauseatingly disjointed, however once you are able to put all of the pieces together it is quite a good film.
We Need To Talk About Kevin is the story of a mother who struggles with loving her son as he commits increasingly violent acts throughout his childhood. This movie is an example of a film that gets better after multiple viewings. The first time you watch it you are struggling to comprehend what is going on, but after one or two more viewings, you are able to piece everything together and realize how brilliant this film is. Sometimes this can work to a filmmakers' disadvantage but, for me personally because of how often I watch movies, this kind of film-making can also be a stroke of genius.
Tilda Swinton plays Eva Khatchadourian. The brilliance of Swintons' performance is in the subtleties she does as an actress. When you see Eva struggling beyond belief at raising her son, you never feel as if you are watching an actress. You feel like you are watching a human being. As the movie comes to its horrifying conclusion, the realization that comes over Eva as she figures out how disturbed her son is makes you truly feel for the character. Swinton portrays shock and horror splendidly, and because of this you truly feel sympathy for her character.
John C. Reilly has been one of my favorite actors over the past fifteen years or so. I love it when actors who are mostly known for their comedy stretch their legs, and go for more dramatic roles. Reilly plays Franklin in the film. Reilly completely disappears into his character as a father who just believes that his son is going through teenage angst. There is a brief scene between him and Tilda Swinton in a hospital where, like with Swinton, you feel like you are watching a parent be concerned about his son. Franklin is a kind of "everyman" father who is just trying to do what is best for his family, and Reilly nails it yet again.
Ezra Miller as a teenage Kevin is the standout performance in this movie. In all my years of watching movies, I have never seen a teenage actor give such a dark and terrifying performance. Like the other two actors before him, Miller gives a hauntingly genuine performance as the brash and evil Kevin. The brilliance in Millers' performance is that you have a feeling that Kevin has a master plan throughout the film, but you do not know what it is until the very end. When you see what he has done you see him basking in his glory, and there is some of the most horrifying imagery ever put to celluloid.
Lynne Ramsay is the director of We Need To Talk About Kevin. Ramsay directs this film, again, knowing that multiple viewings will be needed. With all this in mind, the way she cues us in about certain events that will happen is amazing. There is a subtlety in the way she presents the imagery that leaves you chomping at the bit to figure everything out. Personally, I think what she did with the film is quite beautiful.
We Need To Talk About Kevin is a heavy film that is not for everybody. It is a film that makes you feel the need to unwind after watching it. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, and if you have the stomach for it, I can recommend this beautifully haunting film.
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