We Need to Talk About Kevin

Movie: We Need to Talk About Kevin

Genre: drama

Synopsis: Eva (Tilda Swinton) and Franklin (John C. Reilly) are the parents of Kevin (as a todder: Rock Duer, at 6-8: Jasper Newell, as a teenager: Ezra Miller).  To say that Kevin is disturbed is like saying that Charles Manson was not a nice man.  From the day he was born, it is as if Kevin’s mission in life was to make his mother’s life miserable.  He is absolutely amoral, but is clever enough to keep this side of himself hidden from everybody but his mother.  The movie is a series of flashbacks leading up to the ‘event’ that is the defining moment in Kevin’s life.

My two cents: I had read the book, so I knew what to expect.  I was not crazy about the way the movie jumps back and forth between flashbacks and the present (not sure if the book did this or not).  The coldblooded cruelty of Kevin is really breathtaking.  I was particularly impressed with the Kevin-the-toddler.  The baleful malevolent stare that this toddler had was amazing.  The actor playing the 6-8 year old Kevin was also amazing.  This is not to detract from Ezra Miller’s performance – its just that these other two actors were so young.  Tilda Swinton absolutely nailed her portrayal of a woman who has had her spirit totally beaten out of her by her son.  If you don’t mind a bit of creepy violence, this acting alone in this movie makes it worth your while.

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