Writer/Director: Todd Field
Starring: Tom Wilkinson, Sissy Spacek and Marisa Tomei
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
Not many actors in Hollywood achieved the appreciation of Tom Wilkinson. Ever since his rise to fame in the 1990’s, Wilkinson seemed to be an actor with a bright future in the industry. Whether it’s ruthless gangsters, lonely seniors or grieving fathers, Wilkinson played several strong characters. Arguably, Wilkinson’s best strength as an actor was always his powerful commitment toward craft. He is one of those rare actors that would always pour his heart and soul into every role. Wilkinson was never afraid to take risks in his career by portraying complex characters that weren’t likeable. By his willingness to take risks during his career, Wilkinson became an actor which audiences value. An actor with strong commitment to his craft, Wilkinson became a celebrated icon in entertainment. However, recently the actor’s career came to tragic closure when he passed away from heartbreaking stroke causing disaster. In the wake of his devastating death, Wilkinson left behind many unforgettable movies that are definitely worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Wilkinson and adore all the movies he made in his career. However, “In the Bedroom” is definitely my favourite. Released in 2001, Todd Field’s movie offered a powerful portrait of a family facing tragedy. Packed with breathtaking production design, spellbinding storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best dramas ever made. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance from Tom Wilkinson, who embodies a father that faces a painful family tragedy. Ultimately, what makes “In the Bedroom” a masterpiece is its universal appeal. Unlike most family dramas, it tackles strong themes that everyone would relate to. It delivers a meaningful message about trauma which would resonate with everyone. A riveting masterpiece about a grieving family, there are many strong reasons why “In the Bedroom” is a movie worth seeing.
Set on the coast of Maine, “In the Bedroom” tells the story of a family facing pain. Tom Wilkinson portrays Matt Fowler, a practicing doctor that cares deeply about his family’s future. Matt has always given his son Frank (Nick Stahl) the freedom to do as he pleases with his life. Frank is involved in an affair with local teacher Natalie Strout (Marisa Tomei), who is much older than him. Matt has always had a strong control over his family seeking to ensure it’s happy. However, Matt’s life faces a sudden change his son becomes the victim of a devastating murder. Faced with a dilemma, Matt begins to question whether he can move on from loss causing trauma. As all the odds are stacked against his favour, Matt begins to wonder whether it’s possible for him to secure his family’s future. Facing feelings of mourning, Matt struggles to recover from tragic loss of a son he found inspiring.
Todd Field is a newcomer towards themes of family tragedies. Before he directed “In the Bedroom”, Field has never made a film about broken families before. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture hardships of families facing tragedy but he succeeded immensely. Through captivating cinematography, Field captures the lives of families facing tragedy. Evoking Robert Redford’s “Ordinary People”, Field effectively uses close-ups to capture a family affected by tragedy that’s painful. For instance, close-ups elevate the death scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Matt and his wife react with horror when they discover sad news about their son’s death. Through close-ups, Field captures hardships that families in tragedies go through. Close-ups are complex techniques to use in films. Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” demonstrated that close-ups enhance horror movies about scary sharks. Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins” suggested silence is suited to comic-book films about superheroes. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this film. Through engaging visuals, Field captures the tensions that families experiencing tragedy are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “In the Bedroom” that deserves appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, the movie is very well made. Throughout the movie, Field deftly uses the production of houses to capture the lives of families facing tension. During this sad scene, Frank gets into a tense argument with Richard leading to a murder. One appreciates the production design of houses that capture families facing a decline. Through production of houses, Field captures tensions that broken families go through. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. Thomas Newman’s music is integral towards the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the painful burden that broken families bear. Through phenomenal production design, Field captures the lives of families that experience a decline.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “In the Bedroom” is a drama which is compelling. The film is beautifully written, and successfully used sequences of silence to capture lives of families impacted by a traumatic experience. Field’s screenwriting strength is his abilities to capture families affected by tragedy through silence. For instance, silence enhances the restaurant meeting scene. During this grim scene, Matt adopts a silent attitude refusing to talk with his friend regarding his son’s passing. Through sequences of silence, Field captures a family facing tragedy that audiences easily relate to. Silence is a tricky technique. Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” demonstrated that silence elevates dramas about the Holocaust. As Michel Gondry’s “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” proved silence elevates films about memory loss. Nevertheless, it works in this movie. Through a fantastic screenplay, Field captures families facing a pride to pay.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Tom Wilkinson delivers one of his best career performances as Matt. Wilkinson first earned appreciation for depicting criminals in British period films. With “In the Bedroom”, however, he took on his most challenging role. It is not easy to portray a father grieving the loss of a loved one in a doomed family but Wilkinson succeeded. It’s a role that gave the actor a rare chance to showcase emotional range he hadn’t shown before in his career. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most touching role. Wilkinson has always excelled playing heroes under pressure, and “In the Bedroom” showcased his strengths as an actor. Through captivating expressions, he conveys the grief, determination and resentment of a father that faces family tension. It’s a terrific performance from one of the best British actors.
While the movie is mainly a stunning showcase for Tom Wilkinson, the supporting cast is also excellent and worthy of appreciation. Marisa Tomei is magnificent, capturing charisma of a widowed woman struggling to cope with loss of her boyfriend causing trauma. Sissy Spacek is spectacular, bringing heartfelt emotion to a mother grieving loss of her son in devastating tragedy. Lastly, Nick Stahl merits appreciation. As a young college boy that becomes victim of murder, he is heartbreaking.
Finally, “In the Bedroom” will earn appreciation of everyone for capturing grieving families that are stuck in a confined bedroom. Unlike most family dramas, it tackles strong themes which everyone would relate to. It discusses powerful themes including grief, family and trauma that would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be American to appreciate it. The film delivers a profound message about loss which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “In the Bedroom” is one of those rare films about grief everyone will adore.
Fans of Tom Wilkinson will definitely recognize “In the Bedroom” and so will movie-goers that seek meaningful entertainment. A captivating family drama, it honours a star with charisma whose movies attract audiences towards the cinema.
Nearly 25 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about a family trapped in a bedroom facing mourning following their son’s heartbreaking passing, it’s a riveting reminder of a commemorated actor that has built an enduring legacy earning a huge fan following for his abilities to portray compelling characters with larger-than-life personalities in captivating movies which are definitely worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 