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Similarly, In the Bedroom is gaining impressive kudos from almost all sides, but a few religious-press critics are nevertheless disgruntled. The story follows a family that suffers a sudden and grievous loss, and as a husband and wife hold their marriage together in the aftermath their pain slowly turns to hardened, vengeful intent.

The USCC critic praises director Todd Field, whose "accomplished directorial debut is subtly intense and deliberately paced," and applauds "exceptional performances from the ensemble cast."

Tom Snyder (Movieguide) disagrees. "The first two-thirds of [the film] are one of the best-acted, most rewarding family dramas of the year. The final third of the movie, however, rejects forgiveness, redemption and true justice in favor of revenge and a confused, unintelligible warning about controlling mothers."

Mainstream critics are hailing the film as deserving of Oscar nominations, especially for the performances. "So spare and true to the rhythms of life is this film that its sudden turns leave you as shell-shocked as genuine tragedy might," writes Flick Filosopher MaryAnn Johanson. "Small, personal, and human throughout, this almost uncomfortably raw film stabs you in the heart with emotion, but it's not sentimental, and it's not a tearjerker. It takes you to a hard place beyond tears. [Tom] Wilkinson and [Sissy] Spacek so ably inhabit the Fowlers, their journey through emotional disaster, and all the things that go unsaid in a marriage … that you almost feel as if you shouldn't be watching at times. But it's impossible not to … you'll feel as rocked as the characters do, as if your world will never be the same again."

Next week: The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring opens everywhere. We'll have part three of our review round up, plus critical responses to the new Cameron Crowe/Tom Cruise reunion, Vanilla Sky.

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More review roundups are available in the Film Forum archives.

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December (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45