A profound piece of work from actor and first time director, Todd Field. This is the first Masterpiece of the new century. An extremely well acted and concise illustration of grief and true love.

just from scanning the shown critic's lowest ratings(and i'm sure they are in the minority), i really wonder, just what is a good film to so-called 'critics'.....the acting was superb, the directing very.....life-like is the only way i can describe it........and the story so heart-wrenching, i wonder how anyone could not be moved by this comment on society in the most genuine and well-rounded view of death of a loved one (in this case murder) that i have ever seen.… Expand

I bought this used before knowing anything about the film from blockbuster. What a great choice! This movie stirs the soul. I think we can all relate to at least 1 if not all the main characters involved. The villain is unclear... it seems as all the characters hold some form of evil inside of them whether it be by neglect, indifference, anger or revenge. This movie will no doubt leave you with the same kind of gratification that one had gotten from hearing that Hitler committed suicide before serving justice.… Expand

Good.

Movies don't get much better than this. Reality is always more interesting than fiction, and this is life imitating art.

Without a doubt, One of the finest movies ever made! This movie is such an excellent film. It is a tiny bit slow at parts, but isn't every movie? The acting is what really makes this movie so great. The story is about a New England couple, Matt (Tom Wilkinson) and Ruth (Sissy Spacek) Fowler who both deal with the loss of their son Frank (Nick Stahl), who was murdered by his older girlfriend's (Marissa Tomei) ex-husband (William Mapother). After the killer gets set loose due to lack of evidence, they both can't believe it. With anger they even start blaming each other. The mother chooses to not only blame Frank's girlfriend but her husband Matt also. This is an excellent movie not only good for drama fans but for others. Sissy Spacek is beyond fantastic in her role, while Marissa Tomei is very good also. I would have to say the best performance in the whole movie is Tom Wilkinson's absolutley compelling and riveting performance that should (but of course didn't) win him the Oscar for Best Actor. Denzel Washington was the most popular, that's why he won the award. It was also politcally correct at the time. If you haven't already watch this film. It is very depressing so make sure to have a tissue box with you. Tom Wilkinson and Sissy Spacek's performances remain to this day some of the greatest performances I've ever seen on screen or anywhere! (10/23/04)… Expand

This film comes close to flawless as it ever could. With an absolutely riveting performance by Sissy Spacek and a powerful performance by Tim Wilkinson, this film is one of the top films of 2000. Quite disturbing, yet artistic, this film is poetic and poignant. It epitomizes what a film can be when everything is in order.

One of the finest films ever made. Pure poetry.

Excellent drama about life, love and loss, superb acting, a film that touches the fringes of emotion and sets the heart on fire.

Very direct, honest in its telling. Enjoyed it a lot. Very consistent - it slowly and methodically unwinds to its inevitable conclusion. An accomlished bit of story-telling.

Tense, with tremendous performances by everyone involved. Todd Field's direction was superb. Highly nuanced camerawork and editing add layers of depth to the already excellent performances. Fine dialogue and unsettling meditations on loss and revenge make this one of the best films I've seen in the last year. Certainly THE best of the five 2002 Academy Award nominees.

Stunning. Slow-paced? Yes, but meant to reflect a rythym of life. This could be an easy movie to dismiss for some, simply because the performers and director make it all look so ordinary. But that is entirely the point; this is a lovely, convincing story. Tom Wilkinson gives the best male lead performance I've seen in several years.

Storytelling at its best.

True to life emotions.

Extremely well made "little" film that has a deliberate pace that will enthrall you if you allow it. Robbed, I say! Robbed at the Academy Awards. The best movie of the year with the best lead acting performance I have seen in six years. Tom Wilkinson was nothing short of brilliant! The most wonderful anquish subdued performance since William Hurt in "The ACCIDENTAL TOURIST."

Slow?? This is real life! With all due respect to Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, Tom Wilkinson gave the best performance of 2002.

Best film of 2001. Slow, but this is not some silly popcorn flick. This is REAL.

This was clearly the best movie of the year. The acting -- especially the unacknowledged supporting roles -- are very real and believable. (Of course, the lead performances are terrific too.) Those who complain about it being slow are the types of people who hate watching a 1-0 pitcher's duel, because there isn't enough action. Instead, they should appreciate the craftsmanship of pitcher's masterpiece -- which is exactly what "In the Bedroom" is. Too slow? Go watch "Superman" sequels.… Expand

This movie is SUPERB! The acting is fantastic and Marisa Tomei does her best work ever. The story walks along at a deceptively slow pace. The script is excellent from the first line, (you must hear the begining of the movie, if you get there late, don't bother going) to the very last line (probably the most brilliant line in the movie). If you don't understand metaphor and subtle writting, this movie isn't for you. Just remember: hear the first line to the last line!!!… Expand

This was one of those rare movies that forced me to rethink my opinions (in this case, on the issue of revenge). I readily confess to being very impatient while watching this movie; but I don't take this initial impression seriously, since it was, necessarily, an ignorant one (I had no idea of where the director was heading). By the time the final credits came on, I had already discarded it, and was processing an unexpected interpretation of what I had just seen. It was only then that I realized that Field's project was a careful depiction of the role of revenge within a network of human relationships (extending from within a single family all the way out to a whole community). In the following days I thought a good deal about the movie. Eventually I got hold of a copy of the story by Andre Dubus on which the movie is based, and discovered that the movie made some very substantial and impressive contributions to the original. The movie is not perfect (I particularly agree with those who find the recitations of Blake and Frost during poker games a bit precious). But Field has made a movie with the kind of universal resonance one more readily expects to find in a Greek tragedy than in a Christmas season flick. … Expand

At last, a movie that didn't leave me feeling I'd been had -- I got my money's worth. There seems to be a drought of quality in the Hollywood film industry over the past few years. In The Bedroom breaks that mold. This movie had no hype and is "top shelf." The acting was superb -- Sissy Spacek, Tom Wilkinson, Marisa Tomei. Everyone I know who has seen Bedroom raves about it. I was riveted to the screen, as was the entire audience who watched the film with me.… Expand

This is this year's most powerful film period. It just might be the best film of the year.

This is not an entertainment, this is a film. Something that doesn't come around too often these days. Thank all involved.