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The Human Stain on DVD (2003)

The Human Stain cover art
Average rating: 58%
1439112012913
2.5
from 1,085 members
 
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Nicole Kidman, Ed Harris, Gary Sinise, Wentworth Miller
Director: Robert Benton
Studio: WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time: 101 mins
Certificate: 18
User collections: Hot men and their movies
Genres: Drama
Languages: English
Released: 01/05/2007

Brief synopsis of The Human Stain

Director Robert Benton brings Philip Roth's 2000 novel THE HUMAN STAIN to the screen in this lavish production, with expert cinematography from Jean-Yves Escoffier. Coleman Silk (Anthony Hopkins) is a light-skinned African-American college professor who has kept his true racial identity secret for the majority of his life. His career comes to a sudden halt when he makes a comment that is misinterpreted as a racial slur. Soon after he is fired, Silk hooks up with young Faunia Farely (Nicole Kidman). The affair with Farely, who is almost half Silk's age, becomes small-town gossip, and attracts the attention of Farely's psychotic ex-husband, Lester (Ed Harris). As Lester seeks vengeance, still angry at his ex-wife, Silk must make some tough decisions about his affair with Farely, leading to the film's nail-biting conclusion.
Benton draws incredibly convincing performances from his two lead actors. Hopkins ably transcends his Caucasian ethnicity to play an African American. And Kidman fully embraces her character as a downtrodden janitor who is determined to rise beyond her humble beginnings. The two actors conquer the difficult subject matter, offering fascinating commentary on racial mores and relationship issues.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 2 stars out of 5 Radio Times

With this stately adaptation, Kramer vs Kramer director Robert Benton struggles to retain the shocking power of author Philip Roth's angry meditation on race, class, sex and political correctness. This is mainly because Roth's blistering denunciation of hypocrisy hinges on a literary trick that doesn't carry the same visceral punch when adapted to the medium of cinema. Anthony Hopkins plays Coleman Silk, a university professor driven from his job after supposedly making a racial slur. Silk then enlists the help of a local author (Gary Sinise) to tell his story and begins a Viagra-fuelled affair with white trash janitor Faunia Farely (Nicole Kidman). His tragic past is gradually revealed in flashbacks, with Wentworth Miller as the younger Silk desperate to hide the true nature of his lineage. Despite the intriguing material, Benton's probing of America's collective consciousness never convinces — Hopkins and Kidman are miscast, Sinise and Ed Harris (as Faunia's abusive ex-husband) are clichéd and the opening flash-forward dissipates any suspense in the eventual outcome. Worth a look, maybe, but not a close one.

Halliwell's Film Guide

Ponderous drama of guilt and recrimination that gets equally ponderous performances from its two leads; there's no imaginative life in the movie.

Heat

"...Genuinely intriguing... this often feels like an acting masterclass..."

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 1 starsShocking

The Boy from St Albans , 14/03/2005

I would rather eat my own head than watch this toilet again. I brief glimpse of Nicole Kidmans pert bappage cannot save this - it is dire on every level. Save the postman the effort of deliverying this rubbish. Instead of watching this, get the rizla's in, cut off your finger, put in a roach, roll up the contents and then herb it up on your cannabalistic bifta - the excrutiating pain that you will be in is nothing compared to the option of watching this film. Aiiiiii

  82 out of 130 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 1 starsA consummate study in tedium further hindered by some bizarre casting.

theOneliner.com from Truth Or Consequences, Scotland , 17/03/2004

Coleman Silk (Anthony Hopkins) is drummed out of his high-profile University career on a trumped up racism charge. His wife then buys the farm in short order, leaving him understandably upset but his new-found friendship with emotionally damaged author Nathan Zuckerman (Gary Sinise) rebuilds him somewhat. Embarking on an affair with foul mouthed cleaner Faunia Farley (Nicole Kidman), their stormy relationship and 's psychotic ex-husband Lester Farley (Ed Harris) prompt haunting memories of Silk's troubled past to resurface. The most troubling thing about it being that he looks so utterly unlike his younger self (played by Wentworth Miller, perhaps the only bright spot amongst the tedium) it scuppers the whole premise. The point of it all rather escapes me, and it doesn't even have the decency to be entertaining as it flails around grasping for credibility. With excruciatingly lethargic pacing, uninspired dialogue and a silly plot there's little to recommend it unless you really want to see Kidman attempt dialogue with a crow.

  49 out of 62 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsA VERY DECENT FILM ALL-IN-ALL

BARRY NORMAN from THE BBC , 20/10/2004

Yes, a very good film, with a very unusual plot line. I am not going to spoil it...........watch and see. Good acting, especially Kidman in a side of her you don't normally see. Hopkins is his usual excellent acting and great supporting roles from Gary Sinise (extremely under-rated) and Ed Harris. Rent it.....I don't think you will be disappointed.

  24 out of 27 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsSuperb novel - film good

Steve from Finsbury Park , 07/01/2005

This film is based on one of the greatest 20th century novels, by Philip Roth. The writing is spellbinding.

In the book, Faunia Farley's relationship with the Prof is very convincing: they are both damaged creatures in their own way and seek solace from each other. The novel characterises Farley's ex-husband much more comprehensively than the film does - he's also a damaged individual, having fought in the vietnam war and his motives and psychology are better understood in relation to his violent act towards the couple.

Coleman's secret is plausible in the book and his decision is rendered in a heartbreaking way.

The film does capture something of the book's heart but the characters lack context. If you haven't read the book, then you won't be able to smypathise or care for the characters in the same way. The direction is a bit leaden, but the fatal problem lies with the casting of Kidman. I don't rate her as an actress per se, and trying to play a broken and tragic woman, she is plain unconvincing. It's her playing of the role that makes their relationship seem unlikely.

Still, fans of the book should enjoy the ambience of the film and Hopkins typically intelligent playing of the central protagonist.

  21 out of 24 people found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 2 starsSo So

A customer from Birmingham , 02/06/2005

Watchable but not really too fasinating to watch again.Hopkins plays a tutor who resigns when political correctness raises its over the top head at which point his wife joins the pixies in the sky & Hopkins begins a relationship with an equally troubled individual,namely Nicol Kidman.The story jumps back & forth from Hopkins younger days which obviously gives you 'the secret' his been hiding,though theres none of this from Nicoles history apart from her looney ex husband who stalks Nicole/Anthony.Watch at your peril,personally by the time all is revealed I didnt really care....but hey you might.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Rated - 1 starsThe Human Stain

A customer from england , 25/05/2005

im sorry but this one i switched off after ten minutes i couldnt get into it

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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