Much like The Human Stain last year, Nicole Kidman’s latest film Birth is floating just below the radar, and boy is that a good thing.
I first saw this trailer and thought I was in for a supernatural thriller. Then I looked a little deeper into the storyline and learned it is a little bit more complex than that. This is the story of a woman, Anna (Kidman), who loses her husband when he dies suddenly of a heart attack while out on a jog. Subsequently, 10 years later, she is ready to re-marry, but a slight monkey wrench is thrown into the works when 10-year-old Sean (Bright) shows up at her engagement party and drops the bomb that he is indeed the reincarnation of her late husband.
Starring at Anna with a look that could convince someone O.J. is actually innocent Anna begins to explore this possibility and takes steps no woman should ever take regardless of the situation.
While this story is a bit off beat the possibilities are there for a creepy little dramatic thriller, but thanks to several scenes that seemed to drag on for a millennium and one scene where a nude Nicole is joined in the bath tub by an equally nude 10-year-old boy you realize that this is just creepy.
I am all for pushing the envelope in films, but when there are certain situations and scenarios that should not be explored. Once the before-mentioned scene began I felt like I should close my eyes and my thoughts were no longer on the movie and more focused on how any mother could even let such a scene happen involving her 10-year-old son.
I can’t recommend this film for anyone, primarily because I can’t imagine a specific moviegoer that would enjoy it. That said this is one to avoid, and if you do happen to see it you will most likely to be running home for a shower because it just makes you feel dirty.
