By: debbie lynn elias
Based on Philip Roth’s novel of the same title, “The Human Stain” takes a look at the human condition and the tragedies that come from secrets, lies and the pure idiocy of people, ultimately providing us a powerful conclusion . As espouted in the film itself, “People are dumber than ever, “but more opinionated.”
Coleman Silk is a well-respected, although not very well-liked, humanities professor at a small New England college. He is intelligent, arrogant and forthright, speaking his mind on all matters, including making reference to some perpetually absentee students as being spooks. When a furor unfolds over his candor and comments, Silk quits his job, vowing revenge for the besmirchment in the form of a tell-all novel on the college, its powers-that-be and personal secrets that will affect and possibly, hurt those that have hurt him. Adding to his humiliation and pain, is the concurrent death of his wife. Lost, alone and with an axe to grind, Silk searches for a ghost writer to help with his book. Finding a kindred spirit in novelist Nathan Zuckerman, the two strike up an unusual relationship and Zuckerman soon becomes a confidant to Silk, ready to bear witness to not only the events of the day but to guilt-wrenching secrets in Silk’s past.
The still grieving Silk also finds himself saying “yes” when hit on the school’s 34 year old cleaning woman Faunia. Self-described as “trailer trash,” Faunia is cynical, forthright and demanding – qualities that Silk can relate to, admire and lust for. She is also exquisitely beautiful despite her tough exterior. But Faunia has some secrets of her own coupled with emotional battle scars that help to shape this May-December relationship.
While the relationship between Silk and Faunia has potential intrigue, such is not the main thrust of the story. This a peripheral. The crux of Roth’s work is about the pain of secrets and lies and the human condition, the result of which has a painful irony as the complexities of Silk and the story play out.
Anthony Hopkins assumes the role of dishonored professor Silk. His forceful charisma is perfect for Silk’s classroom persona. Unfortunately, same fails to carry through when Silk becomes a lust-filled, Viagra-enhanced sexual aggressor. Although this aspect of the performance is estimable, it is less than convincing. Likewise, Nicole Kidman as a janitor? What were the casting people thinking? No matter how many buckets and mops you shove in her hands or how dowdy the clothing, Nicole Kidman is not believable as a janitor. Like Sir Anthony, her performance and delivery are stellar, with her now patented brand of nuanced emotional complexity, but in this aspect of the character, not believable. She is however, believable and seemingly more at ease when playing the object of Silk’s affections, allowing a growing intimacy and mutual character growth to naturally flow.
Unfortunately, the talents of Gary Sinise and Ed Harris are more or less wasted as their characters, Nathan Zuckerman and Lester Farely, Faunia’s psychotic Vietnam veteran ex-husband, are used more or less as literary devices rather substantive necessities. Nevertheless, their work is, as always, solid, but especially in the case of Harris, tempered.
And as has become the rule rather than the exception this year, the film is technically masterful. The cinematography of the late Jean-Yves Escoffier captures the feel of the Roth novel while enhancing the romance between Silk and Faunia. His work helps give a bit more credence to the casting choices. Production Designer David Gropman also leaves his mark with the creation of a university town. Told in flashbacks with narration by Gary Sinise as Zuckerman, the technique works well with an effective deliberateness that holds the audience’s attention and serves as a common thread throughout.
Veteran director Robert Bent, responsible for such works as “Kramer vs. Kramer” and “Places in the Hart”, together with screenwriter Nicholas Meyer, takes “The Human Stain” into uncharted waters, carefully and beautifully navigating between faithfulness to the book and an added sense of darkness and despair with overt sexuality. For the most part, the embellishments work, but when they don’t, the film becomes disjointed and “over the top” resulting in obfuscation of the work’s original message. Nevertheless, “The Human Stain” was worth the effort. Despite it’s shortcomings and mis-castings, it still makes a powerful statement about our times.
Coleman Silk: Anthony Hopkins Faunia Farley: Nicole Kidman Lester Farley: Ed Harris Nathan Zuckerman: Gary Sinise
Miramax Films presents a film directed by Robert Benton. Written by Nicholas Meyer. Based on the novel by Philip Roth. Running time: 106 minutes. Rated R (for language and sexuality/ nudity).
