Nick Nolte deals with the sins of his father, played by James Coburn, in Paul Schrader’s searing Affliction. New to Blu-ray from Shout Studios.
The Film
The cycle of abuse continues in a flat circle in Paul Schrader’s dark family drama Affliction. Adapted from the novel by Russell Banks and starring Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek, Willem Dafoe, and James Coburn (who won the Oscar for his role) has retained all of its bite in the almost three decades since its release.
A small-town sheriff Wade Whitehouse (Nolte) feels something suspicious about the hunting accident that killed a tourist. Things are not adding up for Whitehouse who splits his time between drinking, smoking pot, being a crossing guard, and handing out tickets. However, something darker arises in Whitehouse as he begins to deal with his abusive, alcoholic father and his own lacking as a father. Rather than face the harsh realities of who he is and where he came from Whitehouse dives into an investigation into an accident that no one else thinks is a homicide but him. Can he prove everyone wrong?
Much like the best of Schrader’s work, Affliction probes the darker parts of the male psyche. The film is not a crime film though it presents itself as such. Giving an audience all the signs of a procedural with a troubled lead at the center of it. Though the film gives none of the redemptive arcs that so many cliché genre entries do. Rather the death at the center of the film is what pushes Whitehouse down such a dark path without any sort of redemption.
That exploration of the darker recess of the male psyche is fertile ground for every actor involved. Nick Nolte and James Coburn are at their very best here. Playing the very troubled son and father stuck in a cycle of alcoholism and abuse neither sees. Nolte’s descent into madness and violence is the kind of work that few push themselves toward because of how ugly it gets. The actor has none of those mannered considered thoughts as he dives into the abyss with Schrader cheering him on. The result is a career-best performance.
Equally adept a performance is that of Coburn. The actor takes the shape of a true monster fueled by age, anger, alcohol, and dementia. Coburn never blinks or shies away from the demonstrative nature of the character. Just because an animal is old does not mean it will not strike – which Coburn’s Glen Whitehouse is the epitome of. The work was so accomplished and convincing, that Coburn won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
Affliction is Schrader working at his very best and his bleakest. The result is a film that is as devastating as anything in the writer/director’s career.
The Transfer
The all-new 2K Scan from the Original Film Elements is a wonderful representation of the film’s 35mm image. The transfer favors the grittier image giving with the film grain and the oversaturated image bumped in the details that the DVD never had. The result is a beautiful transfer that favors the active film grain patina that works for the film’s snow-filled setting and darker story. The way Affliction has been handled with care and eye towards the detail of how it should look is a testament to the work done by Shout Studios to bring films to home video in the best possible way.
The Extras
None were provided for this release.
The Final Thought
Affliction is a dark vital piece of cinema. Highest Possible Recommendations!!!
Nick Nolte deals with the sins of his father, played by James Coburn, in Paul Schrader’s searing Affliction. New to Blu-ray from Shout Studios.
The Film
The cycle of abuse continues in a flat circle in Paul Schrader’s dark family drama Affliction. Adapted from the novel by Russell Banks and starring Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek, Willem Dafoe, and James Coburn (who won the Oscar for his role) has retained all of its bite in the almost three decades since its release.
A small-town sheriff Wade Whitehouse (Nolte) feels something suspicious about the hunting accident that killed a tourist. Things are not adding up for Whitehouse who splits his time between drinking, smoking pot, being a crossing guard, and handing out tickets. However, something darker arises in Whitehouse as he begins to deal with his abusive, alcoholic father and his own lacking as a father. Rather than face the harsh realities of who he is and where he came from Whitehouse dives into an investigation into an accident that no one else thinks is a homicide but him. Can he prove everyone wrong?
Much like the best of Schrader’s work, Affliction probes the darker parts of the male psyche. The film is not a crime film though it presents itself as such. Giving an audience all the signs of a procedural with a troubled lead at the center of it. Though the film gives none of the redemptive arcs that so many cliché genre entries do. Rather the death at the center of the film is what pushes Whitehouse down such a dark path without any sort of redemption.
That exploration of the darker recess of the male psyche is fertile ground for every actor involved. Nick Nolte and James Coburn are at their very best here. Playing the very troubled son and father stuck in a cycle of alcoholism and abuse neither sees. Nolte’s descent into madness and violence is the kind of work that few push themselves toward because of how ugly it gets. The actor has none of those mannered considered thoughts as he dives into the abyss with Schrader cheering him on. The result is a career-best performance.
Equally adept a performance is that of Coburn. The actor takes the shape of a true monster fueled by age, anger, alcohol, and dementia. Coburn never blinks or shies away from the demonstrative nature of the character. Just because an animal is old does not mean it will not strike – which Coburn’s Glen Whitehouse is the epitome of. The work was so accomplished and convincing, that Coburn won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
Affliction is Schrader working at his very best and his bleakest. The result is a film that is as devastating as anything in the writer/director’s career.
The Transfer
The all-new 2K Scan from the Original Film Elements is a wonderful representation of the film’s 35mm image. The transfer favors the grittier image giving with the film grain and the oversaturated image bumped in the details that the DVD never had. The result is a beautiful transfer that favors the active film grain patina that works for the film’s snow-filled setting and darker story. The way Affliction has been handled with care and eye towards the detail of how it should look is a testament to the work done by Shout Studios to bring films to home video in the best possible way.
The Extras
None were provided for this release.
The Final Thought
Affliction is a dark vital piece of cinema. Highest Possible Recommendations!!!
Shout Factory’s Blu-Ray edition of Affliction is out April 16th
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