"Evil in the American Pastoral"

Sheila 2022-03-23 09:03:21

The more successful part of the film is that the characters are not simply masked. Except for the fact that the victims are relatively simple, other characters are given layers. If Sylvia can also be more "three-dimensional" (I don't believe in skepticism. In reality, she is so simple), of course, such a setting will obviously challenge the mainstream crowd, but the overall film has exceeded my expectations.

The rest of the way is normal, the narrative editing is smooth, almost all the actors are restrained but full of power, and Catherine Keener's performance even on the big screen still surpasses most actresses of the year.

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Extended Reading

An American Crime quotes

  • Gertrude Baniszewski: You know what it's like to be sick, Sylvia. I've been sick for so long, too. I can't... discipline my kids they was I should. I punish them I know, but... sometimes with my medicine I gets so I don't know what I'm doing.

    [begins to cry]

    Gertrude Baniszewski: And I care for them so much. Paula, the thing is... Paula's a lot like me. I had her when I was just about your age. Then Stephanie. Then all the others. Then John left... And here I am on medicine, doing whatever I can to keep my family together. I want something better for Paula... There has to be something better... And I need to protect my children...

    [cries]

    Gertrude Baniszewski: Do you understand that? You kids... you're all I've got... Thank you, Sylvia. Thank you for understanding, thank you.

  • Sylvia Likens: She sacrificed me to protect her children, and she sacrificed her children to protect herself.