"We Need To Talk About Kevin" (2011) Directed by Lynne Ramsay

“The people on TV, inside the TV, they’re watching TV”.Show more

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Another part funded and supported film from the UK Film Council and National Lottery, this third film from Lynne Ramsay is based on the best selling original novel by Lionel Shriver and quite simply one of the best films of 2011, if not the 21st Century so far. With a screenplay adaptation from Ramsay and Rory Kinnear this film is simply a tour de force for 112 minutes. The film can be a difficult watch at times and even more so to comprehend as the weaving of twisted and intricate narratives never allow you to fully settle into the film, but this is certainly another challenging film from the Director and more importantly, an absolute triumph.

A truly unsettling and bizarre opening sequence sets the scene, quickly establishing the twisted narrative timeline and introduction of all main characters. “Eva Khatchadourian” (Tilda Swinton) is quickly seen reliving her memories through her dreams and nightmares, of her son “Kevin Khatchadourian” (played brilliantly as a younger Kevin by Jasper Newell and as an older teenager by Ezra Miller) and of her devoted and loving husband “Franklin” (John C Reilly on brilliant form as always). Another Ramsay film with a small overall cast, there are key cameo and supporting roles throughout, however the emphasis always falls to Tilda Swinton in particular who is utterly brilliant in every scene.

The opening seconds alone mix the timeline throughout as we as an audience walk towards an open set of French Windows whose blind is gently flowing on the breeze, the only audible sound appears to be an indistinct whirring noise in the distance. Is this now, the present day, or still a dream flashback? Cutting to Eva, now held aloft by a large crowd of people (shot from above — a Ramsay trademark) as she is daubed in a red current jus of some kind (red becomes a key theme of the film throughout as well), she is exultant, overjoyed, beaming and with a real tangible sense of being alive.

The above paragraphs are taken from my spoiler free review of "We Need To Talk About Kevin" originally penned and published nearly a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog on 20th January 2023 and which can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original article linked immediately below:

https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/we-need-to-talk-about-kevin-2011-b86cb198802b

This spoiler free review is also integral to my 7th and final volume of my "essential film reviews collection". Only currently available in e-book format, all sizeable volumes of multiple film reviews are priced at £4.99 per volume or, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package, each and every volume is free to read:

Volume 7

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4WX4CGD

All 7 Volumes

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

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