Rabbit Hole

This is one of those indie-ish Oscar-bait dramas that deals with a taboo issue in a slightly confronting and serious way (think Little Children or Crash). In this case it's about parents dealing with the death of their child, the ways this can define who you are and how it impacts on a marriage.

We pick up the story of Becca (Nicole Kidman) and Howie (Aaron Eckhart) nearly a year after the death of their fur-year old son. Becca is yet to start moving past the tragedy, she's built a shell around her pain rather than dealing with it or starting the healing process. This also means that Howie has been shut out, an dhe tries to get his wife to join him for group therapy sessions involving couples in similar situations. Becca isn't really interested though, she seeks out Jason (Miles Teller), the teenaged driver who accidentally killed their son, and begins a strange friendship with him. Meanwhile, Howie finds a possible intimacy with Gaby (Sandra Oh), a woman from the support group.

The 'rabbit hole' of the title is a graphic novel written by the character of Jason, which becomes a kind of metaphor for grief, isolation and disorientation. This aspect of the film didn't really go in the direction I expected... I guess, in a way, it's all part of the film's commentary on grief and the way people deal with it in different ways. The film's roots as a play are fairly evident in this respect - it's low on incident and high on angst. Ultimately, it's boring and a bit rubbish.

Kidman's Oscar nomination for her role doesn't really feel justified, and Eckhart has the more sympathetic part to play but it also just as forgettable. Kidman just doesn't convince as a dowdy housewife... who the hell gets stuck into their gardening whilst wearing full make-up? How can the audience be expected to identify with someone who makes creme brulee for breakfast, or a middle-aged man with an abtastic body? It's just not realistic... I understand that Hollywood is glamourous and about showing us beautiful people so we can escape from the humdrum of our lives, but it's not right for this kind of film. If Eckhart and Kidman want to convince in a hard-hitting drama than they need to put a bit of effort in to look the part. It's unforgiveable, really.

DIRECTOR: John Cameron Mitchell
WRITER/SOURCE: Script by David Lindsay-Abaire, based on his play.
KEY ACTORS: Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest, Miles Teller, Tammy Blanchard, Sandra Oh, Giancarlo Esposito

RELATED TEXTS:
- The prize-winning 2006 play Rabbit Hole, written by David Lindsay-Abaire and originally starring Cynthia Nixon.
- Two other films that deal with grief and emotional survival are Ordinary People and The Sweet Hereafter.

AWARDS
Academy Awards - nomination Best Actress (Nicole Kidman)
Golden Globes - nomination Best Actress - Drama (Nicole Kidman)
Independent Spirit - nominations for Best Actress (Nicole Kidman), Best Actor (Aaron Eckhart), Best Director and Best Screenplay.