Rabbit Hole (2010)
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86% of critics liked it
(182 reviews) -
70% of users liked it
(28,055 ratings)
RABBIT HOLE is a vivid, hopeful, honest and unexpectedly witty portrait of a family searching for what remains possible in the most impossible of all situations.
Becca and Howie Corbett (NICOLE KIDMAN and AARON ECKHART) are returning to their everyday existence in the wake of a… More
RABBIT HOLE is a vivid, hopeful, honest and unexpectedly witty portrait of a family searching for what remains possible in the most impossible of all situations.
Becca and Howie Corbett (NICOLE KIDMAN and AARON ECKHART) are returning to their everyday existence in the wake of a shocking, sudden loss. Just eight months ago, they were a happy suburban family with everything they wanted. Now, they are caught in a maze of memory, longing, guilt, recrimination, sarcasm and tightly controlled rage from which they cannot escape. While Becca finds pain in the familiar, Howie finds comfort.
The shifts come in abrupt, unforeseen moments. Becca hesitantly opens up to her opinionated, loving mother (DIANNE WIEST) and secretly reaches out to the teenager involved in the accident that changed everything (MILES TELLER); while Howie lashes out and imagines solace with another woman (SANDRA OH). Yet, as off track as they are, the couple keeps trying to find their way back to a life that still holds the potential for beauty, laughter and happiness. The resulting journey is an intimate glimpse into two people learning to re-engage with each other and a world that has been tilted off its axis.
RABBIT HOLE is directed by John Cameron Mitchell (HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH) from a script by acclaimed playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, adapted from his Pulitzer Prize-winning play. The cast, led by Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman (THE HOURS, Actress in a Leading Role, 2002) and Golden Globe nominee Aaron Eckhart, includes two-time Oscar winner Dianne Wiest (HANNAH AND HER SISTERS, Actress in a Supporting Role, 1986; BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, Actress in a Supporting Role, 1994), Tammy Blanchard, Miles Teller, Giancarlo Esposito, Jon Tenney and Sandra Oh. -- (C) Lionsgate
- Rating, Runtime
- PG-13, 1 hr. 32 min.
- Directed By
- John Cameron Mitchell
- Written By
- David Lindsay-Abaire
- Genres
- Drama
- In Theaters
- Dec 17, 2010 Limited
- On DVD
- Apr 19, 2011
- Studio
- Lionsgate Films
Critic Reviews
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Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
For all its sympathy and intelligence, Rabbit Hole is ultimately too safe an experience for such a free-form tragedy.
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Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
Rabbit Hole, directed with grace and surprising humor by John Cameron Mitchell, is a delicate tale that shares a great deal of the hurt of Robert Redford's Ordinary People.
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Tom Long, Detroit News
As heavy, stressful, relentlessly sad dramas go, this one goes quite well.
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J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
John Cameron Mitchell directed, making an impressive detour in style and subject matter after his flamboyant Shortbus and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
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Eric D. Snider, Film.com
There's a lot of beauty to be mined from that depressing-sounding scenario, thanks to well-drawn characters, impeccable performances, and sensitive direction.
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Richard Roeper, Richard Roeper.com
Nicole Kidman does her best work in years in a film that at times is almost unbearably authentic.
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Enrique Buchichio, Uruguay Total
Un drama íntimo y conmovedor, narrado con sobriedad, sin golpes bajos y con una profunda empatía y cariño por sus personajes. Dentro de un notable elenco se destacan las actuaciones de Nicole Kidman y Dianne Wiest.
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Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy
Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart give marvelous, shaded performances of grief-stricken parents attempting to move on without forgetting their pain.
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Stella Papamichael, Digital Spy
The actors don't flinch from the task and there is hope at the end, though it may feel like small reward after so much digging.
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Robert Denerstein, Movie Habit
Doesn't quite make the leap from stage to screen with all its power
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Chuck Bowen, Slant Magazine
The DVD is unremarkable, but Rabbit Hole is a wrenching, superbly acted film that deserves to find an audience.
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Drew McWeeny, HitFix
One of the very best films of 2010.
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Fiona Williams, sbs.com.au
Director John Cameron Mitchell's restrained handling of the film's rawest moments keeps it from descending into soul-wrenching lamentations.
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Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
It might be that this material is simply better suited to the theater, with its enforced artificiality and its crackling, dragging blacks.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
A very fine domestic drama that avoids the pitfall of becoming maudlin and offers many surprising little twists along the way.
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Marc Fennell, Triple j
When Nicole Kidman has full control of her facial muscles she is unrivaled in her ability to play cold, distant emotionally scarred bitches. Its a marvelous performance. That said, the film itself can be so anguished that you will need counseling upon exit
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James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
a raw and complex character study that challenges our identification and sympathies at every turn
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Alice Tynan, Concrete Playground
Exquisitely raw and painful, sure, but also richly humane and deeply cathartic, for David Lindsay-Abaire's Pulitzer and Tony award winning play is nothing short of a masterpiece.
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Jason Di Rosso, MovieTime, ABC Radio National
Quality drama, sure, but it doesn't go anywhere unexpected. For a film whose title evokes Alice's mysterious journey through Wonderland, it might have amounted to a little more.
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Matthew Toomey, ABC Radio Brisbane
John Cameron Mitchell has done an amazing job capturing the heart of these delicate characters.
Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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Raymond W
Despite having a fantastic script and stunning performances from Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart and the rest of the cast, Rabbit Hole is very painful and depressing to watch. It didn't hit me as hard as it might hit other people, but for me, Rabbit Hole was powerful and emotional,… More
Despite having a fantastic script and stunning performances from Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart and the rest of the cast, Rabbit Hole is very painful and depressing to watch. It didn't hit me as hard as it might hit other people, but for me, Rabbit Hole was powerful and emotional, and just blew me away. -
Tired of P
Directed by John Cameron Mitchell, Olympus Pictures, 2010. Starring Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Sandra Oh and Dianne Wiest. Genre: Drama Question: When you are sad, do you hate it when people tell you how to feel and act so you are no longer sad? Rabbit Hole, starring… More
Directed by John Cameron Mitchell, Olympus Pictures, 2010. Starring Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Sandra Oh and Dianne Wiest. Genre: Drama Question: When you are sad, do you hate it when people tell you how to feel and act so you are no longer sad? Rabbit Hole, starring Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart, takes on a family's tragedy and it's aftermath with how the mother (Nicole Kidman) copes with the death of her 4 year-old son. Not a light subject but I was thoroughly engrossed with this woman's plight and how she handled it all. I found it fascinating that everyone around her kept telling her how to feel and react to get over "it". Her reactions, to the constant barrage of advice, was not something I have seen on film much. For that alone I recommend this film. I cannot relate to the specific tragedy this woman (couple) must go through but everyone has been sad at one time or another. We have all had things in our lives that take us on a course down a dark road of uncertainty. Clawing back to the light to what feels normal and safe is difficult especially when friends abandon you, others try to relate their experiences to yours and all you want to do is curl up in a ball and be left alone. The film shows that not everyone handles other's grief well or with respect sometimes. Does Rabbit Hole give any sort of advice on how to handle the overwhelming sadness, emptiness or helplessness? You will have to see for yourself, but it did show that everyone deals with their pain and suffering differently. How and when they begin to get past their loss is as individual as the person. Not only had Nicole Kidman's character have something bad happen to her world but their were other characters in Rabbit Hole that also conveyed how people deal with consequences that are thrust upon them. Rabbit Hole was a tender and poignant film. Nicole Kidman with Aaron Eckhart did a fantastic job at exposing the underbelly of how a couple handles the tragic death of their child. Anger, resentment and the search for closeness with others in order to feel something other than pain are all present in this story. There were times of humor and a cathartic need to take a large sigh during some scenes. But above all, the overwhelming sadness that had taken over the grieving mother (Nicole Kidman) and then her pursuit to be left alone to discover her own path out her darkness was awe-inspiring. Kidman outdid herself on keeping the subject matter palpable and relatable even if you have never lost a child. Does this film have a happy ending? Well, I won't say but the journey that was exposed was worth watching because how authentic the story was portrayed. My favorite thing: Nicole Kidman's performance. My least favorite thing: Can't really think of anything at the moment. Rating: PG-13 Length: 91 minutes Review: 8 out of 10 For more reviews: www.tiredofpreviews.com or www.expatspost.com -
Kase V
'Rabbit Hole' is a very well made drama that has a sad story at it's core, but us not too hard to watch. Anyone can watch this film and be satisfied with the characters attitudes and emotions and not feel that heavy burden of misery that these films sometimes try to… More
'Rabbit Hole' is a very well made drama that has a sad story at it's core, but us not too hard to watch. Anyone can watch this film and be satisfied with the characters attitudes and emotions and not feel that heavy burden of misery that these films sometimes try to force on you. Of course, it ha filled with great performances from Kidman and Eckhart, who really fill out the the characters completely. This is an intriguing, and interesting look into the usual type of drama we've all become tired of seeing. 'Rabbit Hole' is fresh and well-executed. -
Jason R
It's not going to brighten your day, but Aaron Eckhart and Nicole Kidman give a pair of performances that you're not going to see very often. What is remarkable about this movie is that it manages not to be unwatchable despite the subject matter -- it ably communicates the… More
It's not going to brighten your day, but Aaron Eckhart and Nicole Kidman give a pair of performances that you're not going to see very often. What is remarkable about this movie is that it manages not to be unwatchable despite the subject matter -- it ably communicates the subtleties of pain dulled by time rather than going for what would have been easy emotional cheap shots. In a sentence, Rabbit Hole is art rather than entertainment. Highly recommended if you're in the mood. -
Cynthia S
Oh my. I just finished watching this..and my heart hurts. An absoutely raw, and truthful, portrayal of the shades of grief. Not a feel good at all, so probably not for everyone. However, top of the line acting all around here. Should have won awards, not only nominated, in my opinion. -
Chris W
This is the powerful and moving story of Howie and Becca, a couple struggling to cope with the loss of their 4 year-old son Danny after his death 8 months earlier in an accident. The film is a downer, but there is hope, and there are moments of levity and peace, so it's not a… More
This is the powerful and moving story of Howie and Becca, a couple struggling to cope with the loss of their 4 year-old son Danny after his death 8 months earlier in an accident. The film is a downer, but there is hope, and there are moments of levity and peace, so it's not a complete bummer to sit through. I will say that it is probably one of the most thoughtful and realistic movies about dealing with grief and loss, although that's kind of relative since no two people ever deal with it in the same way. Still though, when it comes to dealing with a tough subject, this film gets it right. The acting is superb. Both Eckhart and Kidman shine as the grieving parents struggling to keep it all together, but Kidman's performance just might be a bit more devastating and notable. The supproting players, especially Dianne Wiest, are really good as well. I quite enjoyed Miles Teller's performance as Jason, the young man who accidentally killed Danny. John Cameron Mitchell handles the material in a very sensitive way that is never overbearing, and never too cynical nor too sentimental. It can be hard to watch certain scenes, but the film is very authentic and every viewer will probably be able to relate in some way. I really wasn't sure how I would feel about this movie. I can't say I was looking forward to seeing it, given the subject matter, but I heard the buzz about the acting, so that's the main reason I got interested. I am glad I watched this. My day is a little less sunny now, but I don't feel emotionally wrecked or anything. You should really see this. The performances are amazing, and the way everything is handled is very tasteful, and the film is quite insightful with how it presents the various ways people cope with grief and the way it affects life. -
Anthony L
A difficult subject to make a film about - It may have been based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning play but that is no guaranty that it was ever going to work on film, so hats off to the director and actors. John Cameron Mitchell isn't such a one-trick pony after all which is nice to… More
A difficult subject to make a film about - It may have been based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning play but that is no guaranty that it was ever going to work on film, so hats off to the director and actors. John Cameron Mitchell isn't such a one-trick pony after all which is nice to see, no ego's here, he gave the story the respect and care it deserved and all credit to him, begs the question, why has he only made 3 films so far? The acting is also of a very high standard - Eckhart and Wiest are on good form as always, as is Kidman but I have to say, she is a love/hate actor for me and since Margot at the Wedding I've really struggled to enjoy her films - I digress, good performance, not worthy of all the award nominations I didn't think but good non the less. It was Miles Teller's subtle but poignant performance that really impressed me, his characters involvement in the story really gave the film its edge and really sets it apart from some of its 'Independent' contemporaries. -
Thomas J
The dark subject of this movie brings and dark experience for the viewer as well. But unlike other dark themed movies, I did not want to help find a solution, I just wanted it to end. I had too much sympathy for the cause of darkness. -
Spencer S
A simple and unsanctimonious vision of the death of a child, not everyone will be able to comprehend, or even sit through all of this in its entirety. The grief portrayed by Kidman and Eckhart is unsettling; Becca is in denial, though open to forgiveness by the one person she should… More
A simple and unsanctimonious vision of the death of a child, not everyone will be able to comprehend, or even sit through all of this in its entirety. The grief portrayed by Kidman and Eckhart is unsettling; Becca is in denial, though open to forgiveness by the one person she should vow to hate. Howie, on the other hand, would like to move on, but comes to terms with his emotions in the wrong fashion. The performances by both are extraordinary, Kidman a powerhouse of awkward emotions and socially unacceptable behavior. She's outspoken and rude in most instances, but is apologized for with the subtext of grief. Still, she continually follows and talks to her son's killer, a high schooler with a numb personality, but an amazing outlet in the form of a comic book called Rabbit Hole. The plot is unavoidably predictable and full of clichés that Oscar nominated films possess, but there's something so sinister and disturbing about the parent's torment, that everything is made up for in the desperation in Eckhart's eyes and the volcanic anger on Kidman's face. A great character study. -
♥˩ƳИИ &
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest, Miles Teller, Tammy Blanchard, Sandra Oh, Giancarlo Esposito, Jon Tenney, Stephen Mailer, Mike Doyle Director: John Cameron Mitchell Summary: In this raw drama based on David Lindsay-Abaire's Pulitzer Prize-winning play of… More
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest, Miles Teller, Tammy Blanchard, Sandra Oh, Giancarlo Esposito, Jon Tenney, Stephen Mailer, Mike Doyle Director: John Cameron Mitchell Summary: In this raw drama based on David Lindsay-Abaire's Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name, Becca (Nicole Kidman) and Howie (Aaron Eckhart) grapple with the realities of life eight months after the death of their 4-year-old son, Danny. Even with Becca's well-meaning mother (Dianne Wiest) offering comfort and weekly group therapy always available, the couple go about their own secret ways of coping. My Thoughts: "Bravo to Nicole Kidman. I can't remember when her acting has been SO good. She blew me away with her performance. You felt every bit of her pain and anger. Aaron Eckhart also put in a great performance. They both portrayed their character's in an raw and honest way. I was most interested in the interaction between Becca and Jason. At first I didn't understand what her intention was following the school bus around, but eventually it's revealed. What it must take her, being the grieving mother, and him, the reason for her pain, anger, and grief, to just sit near one another. It was a bit tense and sad. Great performance by Miles Teller as well. I felt as much sympathy for Jason as I did for Becca and Howie. Great story with really great performances." -
Lanning :
Gadzooks, this is an awesome film! <p>Sheez, who am I trying to kid, man? -- no pun intended. I give up already. This is not awesome; it's aw-ful. If I had more energy, I'd add it to mine and Walter's list of partial-watched-ness ho-hummers. But it's not… More
Gadzooks, this is an awesome film! <p>Sheez, who am I trying to kid, man? -- no pun intended. I give up already. This is not awesome; it's aw-ful. If I had more energy, I'd add it to mine and Walter's list of partial-watched-ness ho-hummers. But it's not even worth that much energy. Borating ridiculous.<p> Nicole Kidman . . . is someone I won't waste anymore viewing energy on, prepositionally-sentence-endingly -- or as English majors might say it, she is an "actor" upon whom I will not waste anymore viewing time. Really awful. <p> Diane Wiest . . . long time, no problem. <p>Sandra Oh, oh no. <p>Aaron Ekhart, uh, Ek! <p> Tammy who? -- who the borat cares. <p> Giancarlo, ah, something-a-ma-jig, oh, yeah, Esposito? Who??? Exclamation mark. <p> Man, this one is baaaaad. And I gave it THREE tries. Dumb. -
Randy T
Heart-wrenching tale of a husband and wife struggling to come to terms with the death of their four year old son. A hard watch for empathetic souls (like me) but highly recommended. -
Melvin W
This movie was pretty good in it's own subtle, sad way. Great performances by Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest, and Miles Teller save the movie from being the melodramatic crap some are calling it. Overall I was satisfied with the way the overused plot was used to show… More
This movie was pretty good in it's own subtle, sad way. Great performances by Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest, and Miles Teller save the movie from being the melodramatic crap some are calling it. Overall I was satisfied with the way the overused plot was used to show the characters sadness and guilt. -
Brad W
What a beautifully and heartwrenching film. Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart deserved a lot of praise for this. The plot was genius, even if slow at times. It really can relate to other people in the world who've dealt with loss. In the end this movie was truly amazing, and… More
What a beautifully and heartwrenching film. Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart deserved a lot of praise for this. The plot was genius, even if slow at times. It really can relate to other people in the world who've dealt with loss. In the end this movie was truly amazing, and the true gem of the movie is the truthfulness to real life situations. -
Jameson W
I thought this was excellent! I was very surprised by this film; I expected it to be good, but it was better than what I imagined. Nicole Kidman received an Oscar nomination for he role...I originally just assumed the Academy threw her in the lineup simply because she's a star… More
I thought this was excellent! I was very surprised by this film; I expected it to be good, but it was better than what I imagined. Nicole Kidman received an Oscar nomination for he role...I originally just assumed the Academy threw her in the lineup simply because she's a star and generally good in all of her films. I was completely wrong, as I was with the film, also. This film was great...one of my favorites of 2010! The film starts out a little slow, but once it picks up, it's so good. The thing I loved the most about the film is that the story is so common, yet completely real. I have never seen a film, dealing with the same basic plot line, feel as real as Rabbit Hole. The dialogue and screenplay was absolutely fantastic. I literally felt like I could have been standing in a neighbors home; the script was so realistic. The acting that went along with the fantastic script: Superb! Nicole Kidman gives a truly great performance. One of the best of her career, and absolutely worthy of her Oscar nomination. Aaron Eckhart also gives a fantastic performance...definitely among the best performances of his career. Hats off the supporting cast as well: Dianne Wiest, Tammy Blanchard, Miles Teller, and Sandra Oh...they all give very solid performances. I cannot speak more highly of this film! It truly blew me away. It was so simple, but real beyond belief. The acting is solid all across the board. See this film! I can't recommend it enough! -
Jennifer X
It does an excellent job of portraying grief, but the music and scenery are all a touch too whimsical for me. -
Dan S
A touching, moving portrayal of a couple (Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart) dealing with the death of their four-year old son, and all the little reminders they deal with on a daily basis concerning their fallen angel. Instead of amping the drama up to an unbearable melodramatic level,… More
A touching, moving portrayal of a couple (Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart) dealing with the death of their four-year old son, and all the little reminders they deal with on a daily basis concerning their fallen angel. Instead of amping the drama up to an unbearable melodramatic level, director John Cameron Mitchell methodically ushers in his power and message through his characters, all while giving his audience an ending that should leave one devastated. Kidman turns in arguably her best turn since 2003's "Dogtown" (a near-masterpiece in its own right), and this really gives the movie an extra push into "greatness" territory. Unlike the melodramatic and at times unbelievably scripted "Reservation Road", which also dealt with a couple losing their son, Mitchell plays his cards right, and lets Kidman work her magic, and the result is something wonderful. A must-see for any parent, and certainly a film worth anyone's time, for that matter. -
Carlos M
John Cameron Mitchell does a very great job in his first non-gay-themed film, conveying a lot of sensibility to a delicate, painfully sad story, which could have been made too depressive and difficult to watch by a heavy-handed filmmaker. Besides, the performances are outstanding,… More
John Cameron Mitchell does a very great job in his first non-gay-themed film, conveying a lot of sensibility to a delicate, painfully sad story, which could have been made too depressive and difficult to watch by a heavy-handed filmmaker. Besides, the performances are outstanding, especially from Kidman and Wiest. -
Lewis C
A very powerful movie about a husband and wife who lost their young son in an accident eight months ago, and the stress it puts on their lives and relationship. Rabbit Hole is full of genuine moments and gives a very realistic look at the possible effect such a tragic event can have… More
A very powerful movie about a husband and wife who lost their young son in an accident eight months ago, and the stress it puts on their lives and relationship. Rabbit Hole is full of genuine moments and gives a very realistic look at the possible effect such a tragic event can have on people. Nicole Kidman gives her best performance in several years as the mother, Becca. It's nice to see that she still has the capability to pull off a deeply humanistic and complex role like this. Even when Becca is being a very unlikable character, Kidman has ways of reminding us why she's that way, and of the barely hidden turmoil roiling beneath the woman's surface. Aaron Eckhart is great, as well. His give and take with Kidman grounds the movie in the reality it needs to be effective. I'm not quite sure if the "rabbit hole" metaphor of the title worked as well as it should have, and the conclusion of the movie didn't totally feel like a natural progression of the 80 minutes that came before it, but those are my only complaints. The great performances of the two leads elevate this over similar recent movies about the loss of loved ones (like The Greatest, for example), even if the overall package doesn't fully fulfill its potential. -
Steven C
John Cameron Mitchell's "Rabbit Hole" is really outstanding. Here is a film that portrays grief in the most natural way possible. (Hello, "Antichrist", are you listening!?) The film never, once, falls into genre convention, melodrama or cliche. Everything… More
John Cameron Mitchell's "Rabbit Hole" is really outstanding. Here is a film that portrays grief in the most natural way possible. (Hello, "Antichrist", are you listening!?) The film never, once, falls into genre convention, melodrama or cliche. Everything feels real. Becca and Howie feel like real people. This is in large part to the excellent writing and direction, and especially from the emotionally daring and available performances from Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart. Even side characters feel exactly right (Dianne Wiest, Sandra Oh, Tammy Blanchard, Miles Teller are all excellent). For as straightforward as "Rabbit Hole" is, it always seems risky. Maybe it's because the filmmakers let the story speak for itself. They let the characters breathe and you are gently shown their deepest, darkest feelings, letting you embrace them without judgment. "Rabbit Hole" really is something rare and special.
Cast
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Nicole Kidmanas Becca -
Aaron Eckhartas Howie -
Dianne Wiestas Nat
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Tammy Blanchardas Izzy -
Miles Telleras Jason -
Sandra Ohas Gabby
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Giancarlo Espositoas Auggie -
Jon Tenneyas Rick -
Stephen Maileras Kevin
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Mike Doyleas Craig -
Roberta Wallachas Rhonda -
Patricia Kalemberas Peg
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Ali Marshas Donna -
Yetta Gottesmanas Ana -
Colin Mitchellas Sam
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Deidre Goodwinas Reema -
Julie Laurenas Debbie -
Rob Campbellas Bob
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Jennifer Roszellas Sotheby's Receptionist -
Marylouise Burkeas Librarian -
Jay Wilkisonas Gary
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Ben Hudsonas Sammy -
Salli Saffiotias Lori -
Ursula Clare Parkeras Lilly
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Phoenix Listas Danny -
Sandi Carrollas Abby -
Teresa Kelseyas Mary
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Sara Jane Blazoas Jason's Mother -
Brady Parisellaas Caden -
Dianne West








