Film Review: Rabbit Hole

Life's not always that great above the wonderland and beyond the rabbit hole for Alice.

Rabbit Hole (2010)

Overall Score: 84%

Certified: Black Swan

Score Breakdown:

Performance: 90% Plot: 90% Script: 80% Visuals: 75% Music: 80%

Rabbit Hole is I think one of the best family drama that thinks outside the box. Last year's Golden Globe Winner The Kids Are Alright delivers story from a different kind of family. This movie was a twist from the all-American house suburbs and family. It was a classic family. A working husband, a wife that stays at home, a child and a dog. The perfect American dream that will be fantasized by young girls of the America. Until the four-year-old son dies. This is not a spoiler, by the way. The story focuses on the aftermath - set after the incident, take place eight months after the accident and how the family and the people involved, cope with the tragedy.

Nicole Kidman is just incredible. She's aging but not her talent. She really connects with the character, she creates chemistry with everyone in the movie. She is able to play different roles of her character - a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a neighbor and is able to stay put in her character's atmosphere: the troubled mother of the deceased son. She creates relationships with different actors in the screen, and her fragility and her lament is all seen in her performance. She can be dangerous, like a mother of a lion or tiger, protecting her cub, being predatory and do whatever it takes to preserves her and her family. A mother. She can also be seen funny quite times and make the movie less-desperate. Aaron Eckhart represented the all-American dad/superhero/husband of the year, but aside from the perfection he can cry and break down and basically shows that he's strong, but is still be able to be weak. Allowed to be weak, showing a hinge of humanity. He really lives in the past of the character's life, mourning and trying to regain control, getting back on the track he and his family is supposed to be walking on. Both of this protagonist portrays humans. How they are trying to keep up on track with the stages of grief, moving on but not forgetting, finding a solace and happiness after being separated from it. This movie shows adaptation. Self-preservation. Survival. How humans are able to adapt to their life and take it over, taking the wheel.

All the supporting character gives life, gives a sense of reality to the movie. Giving the fact that this is happening, and it can be happening to anyone. Dianne Wiest, who plays Becca's mom reminds me of how would a mother and a teenage daughter would be like in a scene with Nicole Kidman who plays Becca. The fight and the laughs, the disagreements, the little things that turns to bigger things all gives a sense of difference. How there's always a gap between parents and their children, how they relate and connect through different emotions from sad to happy or even anger. Izzy, portrayed by Tammy Balanchard is the exact opposite of Becca, who is more out there and have that in-your-face attitude is an obstacle for Becca. Creates some problem and the magnificent thing is how the story would have it's way of figuring things out between them. Another thing to cope with. For Howie, Sandra Oh's portrayal of Gabby creates an interesting atmosphere, making the viewers guess and challenge on Howie's faithfulness and strength. Milles Teller, as Jason is another character that symbolizes the ending of the five stages of grief. Acceptance. Becca's and Howie's relationship with Jason gives a perspective of acceptance and sends out a strong message in the movie. Everything is swell, it's all a lesson well learned.

There are no metaphors, or Shakespearean languages but the script is powerful. It sends out strong statements and meaning with simple words. The music supports the scenes and the visuals are jut beautiful. Some visuals are boring, meaning that it's just the same as any other movies. But some visuals stands out like the park scenes, or the basement and others which I'm not going to spoil. I love that the movie referenced the science theory of 'Parallel Universe'. An alternate world, some kind of modern rabbit hole. Another life. It gives hope to the characters and the viewers. Some kind of solace, a wonderland that can deliver hope and spirit.

Overall, it's a beautiful movie. It stays true without being dramatic nor boring as hell. It packs a lot of insight in just 91 minutes, take a much shorter time for drama movies that may take about 120 minutes or more. The movie seeks an escape, a rabbit hole, and I'm giving them an escape I'd say that this movie got my blessing to be free. 

+R