Rating: 
Summary: Silence Must Be Heard!
Review: I found Tim Roth's film a masterpiece. The way the director tells the story, simple and to the point - it's just brilliant. My psychologist saw the film and found it very realistic but some scenes, he says, ''are too tough''. So is life. I can't buy this film in Canada and I was wondering yesterday why Tim Roth thought that the entire North America is too incompetent to understand his film. I know now why. If you don't believe me, just read the last review written here and multiply the rednecks.
Rating: 
Summary: are we all talking about the same movie?
Review: i'm really sorry to go against the grain of the the other reviews here, but i feel an obligation to give a different perspective. i personally felt sorry for anyone involved in the making of this movie, especially the actors because the acting was soooo good. it's just sad to see such talent wasted on such a badly put together movie. besides the occasional discussions of incest, which were oddly void of emotion, there was absolutely nothing interesting or developing in the plot. There are long periods of painful nothingness, and the unrealistic and random stabbing of the father towards the end of the movie made me burst out laughing. i'm sorry if i'm not as "deep" as the rest of reviewers because obviously i did not analyze this long, boring, badly scripted movie, as hard as they did. good luck
Rating:
Summary: It's nothing to do with being "deep"
Review: I'm sorry but I just have to disagree with "A viewer" from Irvine, CA. You have every right to your opinion but I just wanted to make the point that the long periods of nothingness to which you object have a point: that life does just drag on at times, and in the case of incest continuing over a number of years, life must have dragged on unbearably for Jess. I don't believe that the film is devoid of emotion to any degree in the way in which it dealt with the incest. On the contrary, the film simply doesn't jam emotion down your throat like so many Hollywood films do. The bleak landscape, the oppressive house, the times when Lara sits alone in utter pain juxtaposed with some degree of resignation - these aspects of the film make it one of the most profoundly emotional that I have seen. Tim Roth credits the viewer with the intelligence and perception to make of the film what he/she will - in my case, a disturbing reflection of the unbearable depravity in human nature.
Rating:
Summary: A brother's crisis
Review: If I hadn't read other reviews here I'd simply say that the movie is mainly a study on a brother's incestuous love (to which he had been beaten by his monstrous father) and jealousy. The scenes that really disturbed me were the boy looking at his half-naked mother, instead of answering the phone, the boy being told by his sister of what she thouhgt of his fuss, and, towards the end, the boy asking his sister "what shall we do" and slam the door shut. See for yourself to know how I came to this conclusion. Mr. Tim Roth is a genius!
Rating:
Summary: Tim Roth directs the "Naked Bunch"
Review: If Tim Roth was aiming to shock audiences, he achieved his goal. This hard-hitting drama, his directorial debut, is about incest tearing a family apart. But as the movie progresses you have to wonder why incest is a problem in a household where everyone walks around naked. The son seems especially screwed up as he watches his mom & sister when they're naked. What's the point of this?!? To prove how messed up our society has become since the innocence of the Brady Bunch? The infamous sex scene between the father & daughter is indeed graphic & I question Tim Roth's motives for including such a scene. We know incest is wrong & we don't need such an explicit scene to convince us. It's like watching "Faces of Death" to see a murder being committed. I wasn't impressed by the stone-faced actor playing the brother, but Lara Belmont is really outstanding in this & I think she's gonna be a big star someday. If you're looking for a sick & twisted fleshfest with no point, then this is for you. If you're looking for a realistic emotional drama, look elsewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Honor thy Father.How can you when he's evil?
Review: In the hands of a less talented or mature director this movie would have come across as exploitation. In the hands of Tim Roth,"The War Zone",is an unflinching,realistic portrait of child molestation that never strays into the area of tittilation. It's probably too realistic and dark for mainstream viewers,but i still feel it's an important creation that sheds light on an destructive sexual deviancy. The main character,Fred Cunliffe,gives a terrific performance as the moral center of the story who is just starting puberty. His sister,played by Lara Belmont,is stunning as the tortured soul.She exhibits the perfect blend of courage,fatalism,inner beauty,and hope. The conflict that she feels between loyalty to her father and what she knows is right is displayed with a maturity beyond her years. I recommend this hidden gem,but with reservations.
Rating:
Summary: Honor thy Father.How can you when he's evil?
Review: In the hands of a less talented or mature director this movie would have come across as exploitation. In the hands of Tim Roth,"The War Zone",is an unflinching,realistic portrait of child molestation that never strays into the area of tittilation. It's probably too realistic and dark for mainstream viewers,but i still feel it's an important creation that sheds light on an destructive sexual deviancy. The main character,Fred Cunliffe,gives a terrific performance as the moral center of the story who is just starting puberty. His sister,played by Lara Belmont,is stunning as the tortured soul.She exhibits the perfect blend of courage,fatalism,inner beauty,and hope. The conflict that she feels between loyalty to her father and what she knows is right is displayed with a maturity beyond her years. I recommend this hidden gem,but with reservations.
Rating: 
Summary: A Travesty Of A Superb Novel.
Review: My one star rating is for the technical aspects of the film, particularly the cinematography.
All these people trying to work out why the characters did certain things should read the book. They obviously felt they had to change some very important aspects of the novel.
It is made plain in the book that the daughter was the instigator of the 'incest' and that she was jealous of her mother's reltionship with her father. When the baby was born she took her opportunity.
Another important thing changed in the film is that in the book Tom THINKS he is having sex with Carol but as he is blindfolded he's unaware that it is his sister.
SO my advice is READ the book.
Rating:
Summary: Not for the weak of heart
Review: On one hand, I couldn't help but admire Tim Roth for depicting what was once the most taboo of issues so unflinchingly. The subject of incest has, for whatever reason, come into fashion over the last few years ("Eve's Bayou", "The Sweet Hereafter", "The Celebration", etc.), but none of them has tackled the issue as straight-on as Roth has. The children's behaviour toward the act -- the daughter's nihilism and the son's bleak withdrawal -- are realistic and believable (her's as a mean of fooling herself that it's her fault, and his's a natural response borne from his confusion and disgust), but that's also the primary problem of the film. Right from the beginning of the film, the grimness and self-destructiveness of the characters are so oppressive that it never provides the viewer a point of entry into the film. By the time the unsavoury act is depicted, the misery of it all weighed on me so heavily that I was tempted to look away. It almost seems like the film relishes in exploiting the misery of the family (like when someone tells you a sordid story and although you wanted to hear all about it initially, your desire is lessened as more and more wretched details are revealed until you no longer want to hear the story, but the storyteller continues on enthusiastically). I realize this is a serious subject and maybe it's because I've never experienced the consequences of incest firsthand, but I could not get myself involved in the story. However, with that said, this film has stuck with me. Roth doesn't provide an easy way out for us by explaining the motivations and actions of each character. We have to figure that out ourselves later, even though we may not want to, and for that, Roth must be commended.
Rating:
Summary: SLEEPER HIT OF 99
Review: One of the sleeper hits of 99, CROUPIER being the other, this film is a beautifully artistic masterpiece. It also proves that Tim Roth is not only a great actor(FOUR ROOMS,RESOVOIR DOGS) he can now be considered to be one of the best rescent filmmakers. Yes, this would be his directing debut.
Although you've never heard of this film, own it, see it. This film is unbelievably powerful and unforgettable. It's about the boy who trys to save his family. The actors turn in brilliant performances lead by Ray Winstone(SEXY BEAST). He plays the father who eventually is unable to hide his hidden secret. Forget the Oscars, this was the best supporting acting job this year.
This type of movie does not come around often but it's one of those that's hard to watch but yet you can't stop watching. Do yourself a favor and buy this film. Should've been nominated for at least 5 awards including Best Picture and Director. This DVD has audio commentary and the making of the film.
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