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FREE OF A CLEAR NARRATIVE
Lou Lumenick
The New York Post
May 8, 2009 Friday
ARMENIAN-Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan ("Ararat") skillfully explores
familiar themes in "Adoration," though as is often true with his films,
the story line seems overly contrived.
For reasons eventually made clear, a high school student (Devon
Bostick) falsely claims that his Palestinian father - a violin
repairman who actually died with his pregnant musician mother in a
car crash under circumstances that are in dispute - was responsible
for the attempted terrorist bombing of an airplane.
The hoax, which is encouraged by the student's mysterious French
teacher (Arsinee Khanjian), soon spirals out of control on the
Internet and provokes, you guessed it, a debate on the difference
between freedom fighters and terrorists.
"Adoration," which hinges on a number of coincidences, contains some
really fine performances, including a surprising one from Canadian
utility player Scott Speedman as the student's rough-hewn uncle
and guardian.
In English, French and Arabic, with English subtitles. Running
time: 100 minutes. Rated R (profanity). At the Lincoln Plaza and
the Sunshine.
Lou Lumenick
The New York Post
May 8, 2009 Friday
ARMENIAN-Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan ("Ararat") skillfully explores
familiar themes in "Adoration," though as is often true with his films,
the story line seems overly contrived.
For reasons eventually made clear, a high school student (Devon
Bostick) falsely claims that his Palestinian father - a violin
repairman who actually died with his pregnant musician mother in a
car crash under circumstances that are in dispute - was responsible
for the attempted terrorist bombing of an airplane.
The hoax, which is encouraged by the student's mysterious French
teacher (Arsinee Khanjian), soon spirals out of control on the
Internet and provokes, you guessed it, a debate on the difference
between freedom fighters and terrorists.
"Adoration," which hinges on a number of coincidences, contains some
really fine performances, including a surprising one from Canadian
utility player Scott Speedman as the student's rough-hewn uncle
and guardian.
In English, French and Arabic, with English subtitles. Running
time: 100 minutes. Rated R (profanity). At the Lincoln Plaza and
the Sunshine.