Beau Jumps Back in the Pool With Atom Egoyan's "Adoration" DVD Review

So, all of Jason and Cyrus’ wacky fun back and forth on their Fantastic Fest review’s really have made me want to jump back into the reviewing game with two feet and my now patented big bag full of snark™.

So, on my last trek up to the LEOG lair I went up to Cyrus and said as much.

“Put me in cold coach. I’m ready to play! Reach into your grab-bag and throw me some video fun to lay the smackdown on!”

So he gave me an Atom Egoyan film to review.

Great.

This is like being asked to be in your friend’s parade only to be handed the keys to a hearse and an eight-track tape of GREATEST RUSSIAN OPERA HITS!

(Apparently those idiots are wising up to the fact that I’m funnier than them and have conspired to make me review only movies about misery henceforth. Ha ha ha.)

[[Editor's Note: Well, now that deal is writ in stone.]]

"Adoration" tells the story of Simon (Devon Bostick), a young man being raised in Toronto by his uncle (Scott Speedman) following the death of his parents several years before. When a French class assignment to translate an article about a terrorist bombing results in Simon writing from the perspective of the son the bomber left behind Simon finds himself mired in a controversy of terrorism, what-ifs and motivations, all the while questioning his own identity and past.

Although not as successful or awe-inspiring as Egoyan’s major work, he achieves a great set piece here-utilizing his skills and Soderbergh like series’ of flashbacks to achievements of suspense and disbelief that works in counterbalance with each other in much the same way the haunting concerto that serves as the films score does.

If the film has any real flaws to complain about, it is the three or four instances where Egoyan’s attempt to create poignance and emotional depth come off as just shy of maudlin and, worse, precious. However, even despite that fact that one such moment happens during the climax of the film, the story and the movie still manages to stay strong and arresting purely on the strength of Egoyan’s craftsmanship.

This isn’t a must-see for the masses. It’s something more of a journeyman’s film which at it’s best can be illuminating in regards to our own personal minefields of loss and premature death and at worst something the really annoying film major is going to blather on about while your waiting in line for tickets to "2012".

Extras: A fairly obvious package of deleted scenes (most of them unnecessary), the standard making of doc and a brief and somewhat interesting interview with Egoyan. Nothing earth-shattering for the artier extras-queen on your Xmas list this year but, hey, at least they’re trying.

Next one better be a funny cartoon gorramit.

Click Here to Buy Adoration