The Reader Movie Information

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Movie Information

Overall Rank: 1591

Average Rating: 2.9/4

# of Ratings: 201

Theatrical Release Date: 12/10/2008

Blu-ray/DVD Release Date: 04/14/2009

Language: English

Genre: Drama, Historical

MPAA Rating: R

Director: Stephen Daldry

Actors: Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Alexandra Maria Lara, Bruno Ganz, David Kross, Volker Bruch

Plot: A teenager in post WWII Germany is nursed back to health by Hanna, a woman twice his age. He discovers she like to be read to, and as their bond and passion deepen, they begin an affair until she suddenly disappears. Years later as a law student at the Nazi criminal trials, Hanna comes back into his life, as a defendant at the proceedings. -- Chris Kavan

Logan D. McCoy - wrote on 06/18/2019

This contrived and deceitful romantic drama is ultimately derailed by its Nazi war crime plot turn and seemingly shoehorned in anti-illiteracy message.

Unknown - wrote on 09/12/2015

A well made and acted drama with zero emotional involvement. I couldn't get past the intentionally overbearing melodramatic tone. I never bought into their affair and the reveal of Hanna's 'inability' was obvious right from the start. There are some fine scenes, including a great closure to the story.

Matthew Brady - wrote on 03/15/2014

The film is about a teenager in post WWII Germany is nursed back to health by Hanna, a woman twice his age. He discovers she like to be read to, and as their bond and passion deepen, they begin an affair until she suddenly disappears. Years later as a law student at the Nazi criminal trials, Hanna comes back into his life, as a defendant at the proceedings.Hugh Jack man song at the Oscars. "reader I have not seen the reader".

worleyjamers
Producer

The Reader

worleyjamers - wrote on 06/29/2013

The Reader is an interesting little film. I love dramas and Stephen Daldry is one of my favorite directors (The Hours, Billy Elliot). The reason I say it's interesting is because it features some really great elements, but I don't think it's a "great" film. It's a gorgeous movie, Winslet is great (even though it's not her best performance imo), David Kross is surprisingly good, Daldry's direction is solid, and the supporting cast is quite nice, but overall the film suffers from some pacing problems and it felt a bit emotionally cold to me. I was reminded a lot of the English Patient, only The Reader isn't quite as epic or effective. Still worthy of a recommendation. Nominated for 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress.

Yojimbo
Movie God

"The Reader" by Yojimbo

Yojimbo - wrote on 07/31/2012

A teenage boy has an illicit affair with an older woman in post war Berlin and years later finds her on trial as an Auschwitz prison guard. The Reader is a very worthy examination of German post war guilt and the resulting gulf between the following generations which no doubt resulted in the creation of the Baader-Meinhof gang. The most interesting part of the film is actually the moral debate between the law students and their tutor and it does make some interesting points about the consequences of culpability through inaction, but the structure of the film as seen through the eyes of an infatuated young boy and his older, wiser self doesn't really work. It has that kind of sterile tastefulness that "Oscar nominated" films always have and it completely lacked any emotional involvement …

PsychoKing1227
Producer

Hey There, Kid

PsychoKing1227 - wrote on 08/03/2009

As far as I'm concerned, this film was incredible. Complex, intriguing, quite possibly the most heart-wrenching performance by Kate Winslet since "Revolutionary Road," "The Reader" is one truly brilliant film. Stephen Daldry took a book that was written rather sloppily and simplistically and transformed it into a [let's be honest] visually boring yet characteristically fascinating study of morals, affection, and judgement.
Taking a Nazi prison guard that allowed hundreds of women to burn alive in a church and making her a type of martyr and hero is not an easy task to undertake. Kate Winslet looks like my Mom, too, which made her acting all the more personal and affective. A great film that everyone will enjoy, should they be okay with a dragging second act and a constitution for …