Rating: 
Summary: Housekeeping
Review: It's always a challenge to view a movie after it's garnered a few Oscars, because of the hype. If I could point one reason as to why this movie was so well received by the Academy, I would say it was the courage and abandon with which it went against the grain of New England (American?) conservatism (it's another conversation as to how such a simple concept of art should seem to innovative to Hollywood).The symbolism of a house, and the bedroom that separate the people living in it is strong -- they are physically together, but mentally stored away in different compartments... perhaps for good reason. Son Frank (Nick Stahl) is studying to be an architect, and drafts elaborate structures of dream houses in his room. Dad Matt (Tom Wilkinson, who is really the star of the film, despite what everybody says about co-star Sissy Spacek's performance) is a doctor who can't fix what's going wrong with his family this summer. Mom Ruth (Spacek) conducts hymns that doesn't salve her astute perceptions of the world. Yet because the symbolism is so strong, so apparent in every nook and cranny, its overabundance renders it somewhat contrived. The direction is exemplary, and if nothing else, the performances elevate the film a few notches above what it actually is. After the first tragedy of the movie strikes, the camera splices up scenes that mimick the on-screen relationship fragmentation, and by the time there's an abject role reversal between the parents, you get the feeling that the pieces won't come together again.
Rating: 
Summary: Suspenseful? What???? Not this movie...
Review: You all know the plot to the movie now... Some other review referred to it as Lifetime TV subject matter which I completely agree with. I usually stay away from movies that have won a ton of Oscars or whatever because they are usually dull as can possibly be. This movie basically proved my theory yet again. I rented the movie because it was supposed to be suspenseful. Well, that it definitely wasn't. I mean, you knew what was going to happen as soon as you see the bad, bad ex-husband. There was at least one scene that was shocking even though you knew it was going to happen just the way it was shown on film. I will say that the acting was really good in "In the Bedroom". All the lead characters did great work, but there was no suspense! I mean the movie is over two hours long and it feels like 3+ just because it's so slow and quiet most of the time. At least 30 minutes could have been cut out of this film and it would have been better and kept the same meaning. I was also disapointed by the ending, but I've come to expect that from slow movies that never gain speed ("The Ninth Gate"... ugghhh...), however I'm one of those people that if they rent or go to the theater they must see the whole film. Summary of the film: Story of a made-for-TV film that would be shown on the Lifetime network except painfully longer, but with better acting.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: My roommate describes this film as Stanley Kubrick-esque. I agree. There are long stretches with no dialogue--no sound. The action, when it comes, takes the viewer by surprize because the film so lanquidly tells the story of these people. I found the juxtaposition of the men and women in the film with the lobsters, so important to the small Maine coastal town, brilliant. You realize quite quickly that the scene on the lobster boat, where the Dr. says that two male lobsters can't be in a trap, in the bedroom, at the same time and that the older female lobster can kill the males, too, is important because of the link with the title. Immediately, the volatile relationships of lobsters are juxtaposed with that of the triangle of Natalie, Matt, and Natalie's ex. Later, and more subtly, the metaphor is further drawn out to include the Dr., his wife, and Natalie's ex. Both women, in their own way, become the older female lobster that kills the males. I never thought lobsters could be so profound! This movie was slow, but beautifully so. I highly recommend. Sissy Spacek gets better with age; Tom Wilkinson is great. Marisa Tomei's accent is a bit out of place in Maine, but she's wonderful, as well.
Rating:
Summary: Painfully slow in some parts, but thoughtful and well-made
Review: This movie tells a very moving story about revenge, jealousy, divorce, and parental relationships, but in a very artful and subtle way. There is none of the wearisome heavy-handedness that plagues many Hollywood pictures. The scenery of the New England town is also goregeous. My only complaint is the excruciating slowness in the middle 1/3 of the film, but it does serve a purpose and is an approach that very few films take. Well done.
Rating: 
Summary: My take on ending
Review: The more I watched this this movie the more annoyed I became. You could see the tragedy unfolding and the fathers attitude to his just out of High School son's envolvement with an older women with a troubled marriage and two children was idiotic. The mothers concern about the relationship was correct. The way in which the father places the blame on his wife for the loss of there son because she had always been so cold and distant(may he should of spoke up earlier) was comical.
The scene on the lobster boat where first a male with a claw that has been lost in battle is shown and then a female with young is described as easily being able to take out two males is pivotal. The part of the trap where the loberters are held is known as the bedroom.
After he has comitted his act of revenge the father seems bewildered over a picture he saw in his victims apartment in which Marissa and her children seemed so happy in there former life, a look he had seen when Marissa was with his own son. All the while he is rubbing a finger that was clawed by a lobster. Had he just gotten rid of a big problem for Marissa? Was this her intention all along? Why was she in a relationship with his son?
Rating:
Summary: Great writting, and acting.
Review: I found that the writting, and the acting to be excelent. I couldn't predict what was going to happen, before it happend. The actors played their parts to perfection. They were very believeable and real.
Rating:
Summary: 'Bedroom' Ayes
Review: ''In the Bedroom'' is a very intriguing and well-crafted film. Filled with raw emotion and pitch perfect performances, Todd Field's modern masterpiece showcases a family's grief, and hits right on target. With his superb direction, and Thomas Newman's eerie and extremely well-blended score, the silent stretches shriek irrepressibly, leaving the audience jarred and heartbroken. At one moment suspenseful, the next disheartening and tragic, ''In the Bedroom'' emerges as the most deft and poignant film of the year.
Rating:
Summary: In my humble opinion . . .
Review: I couldn't wait to see this film. Unfortunately I was living in a tiny village at the time of its theater run, so I never heard about it until it garnered so much attention at the Golden Globes and Academy Awards. I couldn't wait for the DVD. In fact, I bought it the first day. It was worth the wait. SEE THIS FILM! I can't begin to imagine anything as life-shattering as losing a child in such a violent manner. The tone and atmosphere of this movie is so heavy and dark that it somehow manages to capture that feeling. It was like the most overcast, stormy day imaginable. No movie has left me feeling this hollow since DEAD MAN WALKING. I'm not saying the feelings this story will stir are pleasant; the exact opposite is true. However, this film is HONEST to an extent I never thought possible for film. It will take you into the depths of this kind of despair. Maybe it isn't cheery, but I knew that before I ever watched it. That said, the sound quality on this DVD is awful. I thought something was wrong with my player; I went as far as to jiggle the wires. I turned it up full-volume and I still had to sit in front of the television to make out the words. I began to doubt my own hearing abilities. My rating primarily reflects the quality of the writing, acting, and directing. If the sound quality were decent I'd give it 5 stars. However, I can't recommend this DVD to anyone. The sound is too bad. Rent, if anything.
Rating: 
Summary: Pleaseeee
Review: It would be a much more pleasant world if the anger contained in this movie truly exhausted the anger of those in society who deal with the murder of loved ones. But, alas, it is another example of capitalist explotation of people's situations in the name of art. Very few people who have been in this situation could find validity in the representations of these people on the screen and those who find value in this film are merely voyeurs to the truth.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best films to come out of Hollywood in years
Review: This is an extremely well-directed and well-acted family drama that, like the obviously compared to classic "Ordinary People", can be described by many different people in many different ways. And that is obvious by reading many of the reviews here (some reviews, by the way, are rather disturbing--suggesting that the "violent scenes" weren't enough to keep it going, making me wonder if they think there needs to be violence in movies to add excitement). Anyway, no need to rehash the details of the story (you're best off knowing little to nothing about the story before you see it). Also no need to say that the actors are quite excellent (Tom Wilkinson a particular standout; he's really the star of the show). What I do want to note is the direction, editing, and lighting in the film. I haven't seen a movie with this kind of directorial flair in a long time that didn't come across as too forced or pretentious. And that became obvious from the very beginning, as the opening scene faded out to the open credits. I found it quite stunning. Made me wish I had seen it in the theater instead of waiting for the video. Some people didn't enjoy this movie because they were too busy taking sides with the characters, the issues, etc. That's not important here. Does every character in every movie either need to be all good or all bad to be understood by your average moviegoer? Does everyone in the movie need to behave the way you would? Isn't part of the reason we watch movies to witness other people's experiences and imagine what it must be like to experience them yourselves? Call me dumb (which I'm not), but I thought that was the point to this film. If you are one of those seemingly few people that do watch movies to witness and imagine other people's experiences, then you're in for a rough yet very rewarding ride. Otherwise, spare yourself the time and spare us from having to read another stupid, inarticulate, pointless review.
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