We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

Directed by Lynne Ramsay
Produced by Jennifer Fox, Luc Roeg, Bob Salerno
Screenplay by Lynne Ramsay, Rory Stewart Kinnear
Based on "We Need to Talk About Kevin" by Lionel Shriver
Starring: Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller
Music by Jonny Greenwood
Cinematography: Seamus McGarvey
Edited by Joe Bini
Production company: BBC Films, Oscilloscope Laboratories, UK Film Council, Footprint Investment, Piccadilly Pictures, Lipsync Productions, Independent, Artina Films, Rockinghorse Films
Distributed by Artificial Eye
Release date: 21 October 2011 (United Kingdom)
Running time: 112 minutes
Country: United Kingdom, United States
Budget: $7 million
Box office: $9.2 million

"We Need to Talk About Kevin" is a psychological drama film directed by Lynne Ramsay and based on "We Need to Talk About Kevin" by Lionel Shriver. It tells the story of Eva, the mother of a murderer who punished his family, his teachers and classmates.

Cast

• Tilda Swinton as Eva Khatchadourian
• John C. Reilly as Franklin Plaskett
• Ezra Miller as Kevin Khatchadourian
• Jasper Newell as young Kevin
• Rocky Duer as infant Kevin
• Ashley Gerasimovich as Celia Khatchadourian
• Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Wanda
• Alex Manette as Colin

Every film with Tilda Swinton is worth seeing and "We Need to Talk About Kevin" isn't an exception. At first it may seem incomprehensible, then hard and leave after-pains - all these make it a serious picture to watch.

Tilda Swinton's acting is on the high level as always: it's interesting to keep an eye on her ne'er-do-well mother and her torment about what she did wrong in upbringing. The role of Eve's son is well performed by Ezra Miller ("The Perks of Being a Wallflower") - you can't predict how Kevin will behave in the next second.

Advantages

• Tilda Swinton as Eva Khatchadourian
• Ezra Miller as Kevin Khatchadourian
• The story 

Disadvantages

• Flashbacks are quite abrupt at times

"Strangenesses"

• Why one child is normal while an other one has issues?

Clue Moments

• Red paint
• The final scene
• The bow

Upbringing is an absolutely hard work - if parents overlook any detail, consequences might be unpredictable, especially with a difficult child. Who may say is he thinking of something else? It's better to seek professional advice in order to avoid problems which may lead to an accident...

Soundtracks

1. Buddy Holly - Everyday (Trailer Song)
2. Lonnie Donegan - Muleskinner Blues
3. Lonnie Donegan - Ham 'N' Eggs
4. Lonnie Donegan - Nowbody's Child
5. Washington Phillips - Mother's Last Word To Her Son
6. Wham! - Last Christmas
7. The Beach Boys - In My Room (2001 Remaster)
8. Helena Gough  - Tephra
9. Jana Winderen - Aquaculture
10. King'S College Choir - Once In Royal David's City
11. The Choir Of Trinity College Cambridge, Henry J. Gauntlett - Once In Royal David`s City
12. Marc Williams, Paul Fletcher - Christmas Wish
13. Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel - Happy Days
14. Liu Fang - The Ambush
15. Liu Fang, Harmony Ensemble - Farewell To My Concubine (Live)
16. Bella Vocce Choir - Once In Royal David's City
17. Blossom Street Singers - Once In Royal David's City
18. Festivechoir - Once In Royal David's City
19. The Huddersfield Choral Society - Once In Royal David's City
20. Libera - Once In Royal David's City
21. Schiedams Kerstkoor - Once In Royal David's City
22. Truro Cathedral - Once In Royal David's City

Quotations

* * *

Eva: You don't look happy.
Kevin: Have I ever?

* * *

Eva: Haven't you ever wished you had somebody else around to play with?
Kevin, 6-8 Years: No.
Eva: You might like it.
Kevin, 6-8 Years: What if I don't like it?
Eva: Then you get used to it.
Kevin, 6-8 Years: Just because you're used to something doesn't mean you like it. You're used to me.
Eva: Yes, well, in a few months we're all gonna get used to somebody new.

* * *

Franklin: Hey, Kev. Listen buddy, it's easy to misunderstand something when you hear it out of context.
Kevin: Why would I not understand the context? I am the context.

* * *

Eva: Why would you have something like that?
Kevin: I collect them.
Eva: Doesn't it a weird thing to collect?
Kevin: I don't like stamps.
Eva: Then what's the point?
Kevin: There is no point. That's the point.

* * *

Kevin: It's like this: you wake and watch TV, get in your car and listen to the radio you go to your little jobs or little school, but you don't hear about that on the 6 o'clock news, why? 'Cause nothing is really happening, and you go home and watch some more TV and maybe it's a fun night and you go out and watch a movie. I mean it's got so bad that half the people on TV, inside the TV, they're watching TV. What are these people watching, people like me?

* * *

Eva: You just can't get uncomfortable enough can you?
Kevin: Uncomfortable? With my own mother?

* * *

Kevin: You know, you can be kind of harsh sometimes.
Eva: You're one to talk.

* * *

Eva: So, how's school going?
Kevin: It's going.

* * *

Celia: Me and Kevin were playing Xmas kidnapping.

* * *

You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 8/10

Entertainment: 7/10

Acting: 8/10

Originality: 7/10

Music and Sound: 7/10

7/10