Part of A Celebration of Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart play Becca and Howie Corbett, a couple trying to mourn, but unsure how to do it. They have retreated into politeness and private rituals, appearing more and more isolated in their upper middle-class home, which looks especially barren now that their young son is gone after a hit-and-run tragedy. Becca rebuffs her family, snapping at her more reckless sister and humiliating her mother (Dianne Wiest) every chance she gets. As Howie makes genuine efforts to connect, Becca begins to reach out to the boy who killed her son, a teenaged driver whose life was irrevocably changed by the incident. Their relationship, full of curiosity, suppressed rage and a surprising mutual recognition, forms the fascinating counterpoint to the discordant notes of a marriage in crisis.
Director John Cameron Mitchell — in a major shift away from the libidinous joys of his prior films SHORTBUS and HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH — shapes this material with maturity and grace. Kidman’s sensitive performance elevates the film — as always — but RABBIT HOLE is also notable for being the first outing of Blossom Films, Ms. Kidman’s own production company which would go on to produce a number of films and successful television projects, such as Big Little Lies, The Undoing and this year’s roundly acclaimed Expats.
“Nicole Kidman is just astonishing in RABBIT HOLE — subtle, fierce, brutally funny, tender when you least expect it, and battered by the feelings that hit her when she forgets to duck.” —Peter Travers, Rolling Stone “The reason to see it is Kidman. She’s wonderfully transparent, subtle and honest.” —Chris Tookey, Daily Mail (Feb 10, 2011)
