I just got around to seeing it last evening. It was an impressive movie and I can see why Kate won the Best Actress Oscar. I had no idea her areola were so large! :redface: I had not read the threads here or elsewhere nor had I read reviews so I was also not expecting Kross' nude scenes. The movie is highly controversial even without the highly charged sex scenes although I must admit that had the ratings board used the same standards when Brokeback Mountain was rated, because it does not even come close to the nudity shown here, it would/should not have been rated R.
Kross' first major motion picture (I know he has done other work) reveals an extremely talented actor. I had no idea this was his first and he provided an excellent performance. Fiennes' performance was just okay.
I think the main issue here is not the eroticism but whether or not this film was about German guilt over the holocaust or self guilt or self shame. Although some critics think all were handled badly in both the film and book I thought the movie touched enough on all to make it worth watching.
I have to admit though that I certainly was not expecting the extent of not only the nudity but of Kate's Orgasmic bliss. I kept thinking to myself that she should be in porn! When she suduced young Michael Berg, and made the comment about his arousal I really wondered where this movie was going. Was this another movie of an older woman falling for a younger man due to his was young, hung, and full of cum (and able to go all night)? Despite the many, almost confusing, flashbacks in the beginning, it seemed like the first half of the film was about just that. In that sense, I think the erotocism could have been toned down a bit.
Although I think Kross did a fine job I think the script left his character lacking, especially during the courtroom scenes where he seemed to spend more time outside of the rooom. I don't think we needed this much to realize his guilt and I would have liked to seen more vocalized inner struggle. He had the chance with the professor but those scenes never went any where, except when it seemed to get off course with another student who got into the German guilt issue.
All in all I would rate this high but mostly for the acting.
