a disturbing but ultimately uplifting film

This film was utterly absorbing after a somewhat sluggish and distractive beginning -- I couldn't help but make comparisons in my mind to "Carrie" when Meryl Streep's childhood character makes furniture rise (and my puzzling over how no one in the room seemed to find this remarkable). But once this slow train picked up speed, it rolled relentlessly to a harrowing, but ultimately redemptive, end. I was emotionally spent when it went to closing credits.

"Magical realism" is a literary element found in much of Latin literature, and while in some stories it can seem silly, here it becomes essential to the flow of the plot. The genius of the script is how it uses this element but never strays into "spooky" territory; we take what we seeing on the screen with absolute seriousness (with the exception of the "Carrie"-like moments discussed above. Maybe if somebody could have just said, "My God, she's making the lamp rise!" it would have maintained the sense of reality of the moment.)

All the performances were first-rate. I've seen Jeremy Irons playing unlikable characters before, but never have I wanted so much to pick up a poker and swat him in the head with it as in this film. But Irons is a remarkable actor, and just when he has us convinced he's beyond saving, he turns into the person Meryl Streep's character had seen all along -- and we believe it.

Streep and Glenn Close once again show us why they've maintained their place in the A-list sorority for so long.

But I do have a nit, a problem that's common in films with a story line that takes place over decades. In some films, certain characters never seem to age. Jeremy Irons certainly did, as did Streep and Close. But remember the half-brother of Winona Rider's character, the grown-up who took liberties with her when she was a child? Fast-forward about 20 years to the scene where she's now grown and has a daughter of about 8, and she runs into the half-brother she hasn't seen in years -- and he hasn't aged a day! (For that matter, neither did Rider as the decades passed.) Did the director forget to order Make-Up to spray a little gray into this fellow's head? I know we're asked to suspend disbelief, but give us some help!

Other than that, a satisfying film, although at times it was difficult to watch, particular during the torture scenes.

I'd like to hear from other people on the board about whether I'm being too harsh about the telekinesis scenes and the age-defying ones. Had the director assigned some attention to these, this already fine movie would have elevated itself a few points further up -- or at least that's my opinion.