Affliction (1997)

reviewed by
Michael Redman

Trapped in a downward spiral

Affliction
A Film Review By Michael Redman
Copyright 1999 By Michael Redman

***1/2 (Out of ****)

One of the most frightening occurrences in nearly every adult's life happens in front of the bathroom mirror. While shaving or applying lipstick, you'll catch a glimpse out of the corner of your eye. One of your parents is staring at you from behind the glass.

Most people's childhood memories of their parents are of ancient people in their thirties or forties. When the child reaches that age, his self-image is rarely that...then there's that vision in the mirror.

While we may be fated to look like our parents, we don't have to become them if we don't want to. Most of the time, though, DNA isn't all that's replicated in children.

Small town cop Wade Whitehouse (Nick Nolte) hates his abusive alcoholic father Glen (James Coburn), yet every day Wade becomes more and more Glen. Although the broken-down man is on his last legs, he dominates his son's life.

Wade is stuck in a dead-end job in a dead-end town. He's primarily a school crossing guard and his other part-time job consists of running errands.

He's destroyed two marriages to the same woman. His young daughter assures him that she loves him, but doesn't want to spend time with him.

Wade's one place of refuge is with girlfriend Margie (Sissy Spacek), a waitress at the local diner. He's unconsciously working on sabotaging this relationship, himself.

He sees a chance to change all of this when a wealthy visiting union official is killed deer hunting. It's ruled a hunting accident, but Wade uncovers clues that it might be a mob hit.

Until the end, it's uncertain whether it was an accident or Wade is onto the truth. Maybe he's finally gone off the deep end. It's possible he's created this drama to take his mind off his own desperation.

The film is less about the mystery than it is about Wade. It paints a vivid portrait of a man struggling with overwhelming personal failures. To top it all off, he has a toothache that won't stop.

Nolte is astonishing in the role. He transcends "Nick Nolte" and becomes Wade. It's no wonder that he won New York Film Critics and National Society of Film Critics awards and was nominated for an Oscar.

The casting of Coburn is inspired. The two look and act enough alike that it's easy to believe they are related. His Supporting Actor Oscar is well-deserved.

Screenwriter/director Paul Schrader is in touch with males on the verge of madness. His scripts for "Taxi Driver" and "Raging Bull" lead directly into this one.

The film is filled with chilling scenes. As in Fargo, the town is constantly snow-covered. Released widely during the first week of spring when the audience is yearning for warmer weather, the movie is a reminder of the long hard winter just past.