Through the looking-glass

blackberrybabe

Personally, I had never heard of Diane Arbus before this movie. I wanted to see this because of Robert Downey Jr. I was hoping he would make a movie with Nicole Kidman, & neither of them disappoint. This is an interesting film. Kidman has the title role of Arbus, a woman looking for more than typical convention of 1958. She loves her husband and children, but is drawn to Lionel (Downey), a man with a condition that covers him completely in hair. As the two spend more time together, she pulls away from her family & falls in love with Lionel.

Robert Downey Jr is one of my favorite actors. His portrayal of Lionel is amazing. He makes him seductive, mysterious, sympathetic & lovable all at once. Although I did not like that he is pursuing a married woman, Downey makes you cheer when they finally consummate their love. He can tell a story with just his eyes and considering Lionel's condition, that is a must. He does an amazing job, both with verbal & non-verbal emotion. Downey really is one of the greatest actors of our generation.

Ty Burrell is another strong performance as Diane's husband Allan. You can feel his pain as he sees his wife pull away from him and their children. It is interesting to note that at the beginning of the film Allan is clean-shaven. After meeting Lionel, he grows a beard. Then in his last scene he is clean-shaven again. I hope we see more of Burrell. He earned his stripes in this film.

Kidman of course does not disappoint. Her portrayal of Arbus makes you completely understand her desire for more. She is perfect for the role. You cry with her, laugh with her, and cheer for her. Perfect.

An interesting love story and a great way to learn about Diane Arbus, this film kept me interested the whole way. Be sure to look for the Alice In Wonderland references--a tribute to Arbus herself. This movie is definitely a must-see.

score 8/10

blackberrybabe 10 March 2008

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1836862/