Kate Winslet is fine here, but didn't deserve the Oscar for this one - and I'm a big fan of her. And the movie is just ordinary, commom piece of moral drama with war background. The result is something distant, boring and mediocre. David Kross and Winslet might be the only highlights in this one.

Features some really great elements, but I don't think it's a "great" film. It's a gorgeous movie, Winslet is great (even though it's not her best performance), David Kross is surprisingly good, Daldry's direction is solid, and the supporting cast is quite nice, but overall the film suffers from some pacing problems and it felt a bit emotionally cold to me. I was reminded a lot of the English Patient, only The Reader isn't quite as epic or effective.

Correctly outed & by some punished for being Oscar bait; to be fair it's rarely something that ever bothers me in a movie. "The Reader" is undoubtedly a very good all-rounder. If this film has a weakness it's David Kross, who doesn't have the presence or skill to punch his weight with the excellent Winslet. In the end the movie swamps him, & it's not until Fiennes takes over the lead some kind of equilibrium is restored. In short; melodramatic, but engaging, with two or three brilliant scenes.

The success of this film is founded mainly on Kate Winslet, great acting. The first part is good, but the end part is uninteresting, despite the relevant issues addressed.

I knew virtually nothing about this movie going in, save that it's a Stephen Daldry film. That's probably the most desirable state to have when seeing this. Suffice it to say that it is one WEIRD love story; it's the kind of thing you could easily see not working, but it mostly does. Also kind of interesting in that it was just released, yet two of the producers are already dead. It helps a lot if you're a guy and had a really hot affair with an older woman when you were young

All about Winslet. Fiennes doesn't even look like the kid, but riveting film none the less, and dares to speak about taboos.

Props for the original story though it fizzle out during the last third.

Daldry,Winslet&Fiennes pull off quite a feat in fomenting sympathy 4 the truly unsympathetic. Questions like do truly evil acts make 1 "evil" & should the punished evildoer be denied any acts of kindness for the rest of their lives? r only easy 2 answer when speaking generally; as soon as they involve some1 u know, it's much harder 2 say.Asking the audience 2 reconsider an evildoer will understandably turn some viewers off. But 4 those who can, the film provides plenty 2 think about.

#10#, reviews, Kate W!