How to read The Reader's roles
By Steven Zeitchik
Harvey Weinstein caught some heat for plans to potentially push neither Ralph Fiennes or Kate Winslet for lead actor kudos in "The Reader." But after seeing the movie it's apparent to us that he's right. Fiennes is a no-brainer; he's part of the frame story and, while an important character, is there to offer an authoritative narrator through which to view the story.
Winslet's former Nazi Hanna Schmitz is a trickier case, but we'd argue her role is supporting too-- she occuipes the screen for a decent amount of the movie (we'd ballpark it in the 50% range), but her presence mainly serves to raise the film's moral questions and act as a mirror of sorts for main character Michael Burk. (Of course it also works out neatly that Winslet will be pushed for best actress in "Revolutionary Road," assuring that she will not split the vote in that category...and robbing it of possible Harvey vs Rudin drama).
It's only David Kross, who plays the impressionable and conflicted Michael for much of the movie, who is probably the true leading actor, and he will likely be pushed for supporting actor too. But while it's an impressive performance, the truth is he's probably a long-shot for any nom, lead or supporting, so it's hard to get too worked up over his categorization.
We'll have a more extended post on the movie -- and its both beguiling and self-conscious classic style -- shortly.
exciting and educational, but would be suffering with something more on this topic?
Posted by: advetarma | February 11, 2009 at 04:39 AM