Page-2 | 'We Need to Talk About Kevin' movie review, trailer: Swinton conveys strength | Movies | NewJerseyNewsroom.com -- Your State. Your News.

Page 2 of 2

It is clear from the start that Eva and her first-born lack normal mother-son empathy. In her hospital bed, she stares blankly while her cheerful husband Franklin (John C. Reilly) lavishes attention on their newborn. But by the time she stops his stroller in the street by a jackhammer, we sympathize. It's the only thing that drowns out his incessant howling.

We see Eva patiently rolling a ball to a slightly older Kevin, trying to get him to roll it back. We hear her asking him to say "Mommy," and his reply, "No!" We catch his nasty grin as he poops his pants at age when most children are well beyond diapers, then does it again deliberately after Eva cleans him off.

Through all this and more, Reilly as the genial Franklin seems ever more oblivious, even credulous, convinced that their son is "a sweet little boy."

If the movie Eva were as sharp-tongued and smug as her son is, they might be more of an even match. As it stands, though, she seems put-upon despite an apparently successful career. Franklin also must be doing well to contribute to the well-off suburban lifestyle that he insists upon for the family. But in his dealings with his son, he just comes across as clueless.

A progression of young actors — Rock Duer, Jasper Newell, Ezra Miller — play Kevin with consistency, but as almost continuously unlikeable. Of course, he's been seen from Eva's view, and Kevin does suddenly turn cheerful every time his father arrives home.

That discrepancy might build up some tension, and raise the question of whether Eva is projecting her own feelings onto Kevin.

"Just because you're used to something doesn't mean you like it," he tells her. "You're used to me."

But the movie Kevin seldom generates sympathy, especially in his interactions with his little sister Celia (Ashleigh Gerasimovich).

As we have again been sadly reminded in recent days, ours is a society where sociopathic teens can inflict damage beyond the home, so describing "Kevin" as a "domestic horror story" seems beside the point. Even if we consign "Lord of the Flies" or "A High Wind in Jamaica" to older, more philosophical approaches, there have been a number of good movies on the subject of children's inhumanity to children. Or is that just humanity?

Last year, "Polytechnique" by the great Québécois director Denis Villeneuve made its belated debut in New York. In 70 minutes, it takes viewers through the prosaic prelude, harrowing center and soul-rending aftermath of a shooting rampage. Although these are intermixed, the stakes are always apparent, the telling concise. There is not a single wasted frame.

In contrast, "We Need to Talk about Kevin" often diminishes its impact with cinematographic tricks, needless time shifts and one-note characters. What it offers in recompense is Tilda Swinton, carrying the story among her many burdens, to an ending that at last feels like progress.

Joe Tyrrell may be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or followed on Twitter @ jtyrrell87