The Reader review

 Number 708 on the top 1000 films of all time is the 2008 romantic drama 'The Reader.'

The film opens on an adult Michael Berg (Ralph Fiennes) is waking up with a younger woman. The film then flashes back to 1958 Berlin where we see the 15-year-old Michael (David Kross) embark on a steamy affair with the mysterious, far older Hanna Schmidt (Kate Winslet.) After a summer of romance, she vanishes only to resurface years later on trial for being an SS officer during WW2.

Many stories often fall victim of 'sagging middle-part syndrome - the beginning and the ending are exciting, but things fall apart in the middle. However, I would argue that the ending is where the Reader fell flat. Things were gripping and intriguing right until the final act. We are immediately introduced to the enigmatic Hanna Schmidt. We know that there is more to her than meets the eye, but her character is kept in the shadows. 

But this mystery is what kept me watching until the second act where we finally learn Hanna's mysterious past. Hanna was an SS guard standing trial for letting three hundred jews die in a burning church. Michael, now an aspiring law student, and present at the trial for his learning, is heartbroken by this. However, the tension remains high as Schmidt desperately tries to explain her actions, before eventually admitting her complicity in the crimes. She is sentenced to life.

This would be all well and good if the film ended there, but there's still whole other act and there is little reason to watch it. by this final act all of the narrative tension had dissolved and the stakes had fallen through the floor. We see Hanna in prison, but she seems to have a relatively easy time of it - she doesn't get into any fights with the other prisoners nor does she seem guilt-stricken about what she's done. We're also given to understand that Michael has become estranged from hisw ife and daughter, but we're not given much about this estrangement - except for some vague notion he is still hung-up on Hanna.

David Kross gave a great performance as the young Michael taking us through a wide range of emotions. Apparently he learned English especially for this role which is very commendable. Kate Winslet won the best Actress Oscar for her role. She was good, but I'm not sure her role was quite Oscar-worthy.

Although this film starts well and continues strongly, it was sorely let down by its disappointing and anti-climatic ending. Unfortunately it was sunk by its denouement.