October 21, 2009

Kinsey - 2004

Director: Bill Condon
Writer: Bill Condon
Starring: Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, John Lithgow, Peter Sarsgaard, Chris O'Donnell

"Love is the answer, isn't it? But, sex raises a lot of very interesting questions..." The film Kinsey details the life of Dr. Alfred Kinsey (Neeson), from his boyhood as the son of a conservative pastor (Lithgow), onto his marriage to one of his students (Linney), the sex course he teaches upon learning how sexually naive many of his students are (one, played by John Krasinski, doesn't perform certain non-penetrative acts with his girlfriend because he's afraid she'll get pregant), and the world-famous sexual study and publication of two books that would later bring him both renown and scorn among the masses.

The actors give mostly good performances, notable Neeson and Lithgow. Unfortunately, the film's subject matter turns what should be a serious moment or two into a laugh riot, at least for less mature audiences. On top of that, while his wife goes from dark brown hair to a very light gray by the film's end, Kinsey himself barely ages. Such a lack of attention to detail takes the viewer out of the cinematic experience. Overall, it's a decent film, but definitely not a must-see.

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