Nell Reviews

A lot of suspending of disbelief is needed for the plot, circumstances and the overly idyllic ending.

Yet embedded in this is the best and possibly most moving performance that Jodie Foster has ever given in her life (so far, I fervently hope). The rest of the cast support well because they're also solid but they're almost incidental to the story in some ways, like the gilded frame around an old master painting.

She manages to send the message with crushingly sweet tenderness and beauty: that Nell Kellty is the real thing, it's the rest of us that need to wake up. It's hard not to envy her, it's far, far easier just to fall in love.

There are some incredible scenes and vignettes in this film. The scene of Nell remembering her dead twin, out by the lake, through the mirror pull me apart every time I see them. There's a great deal of Jodie's real self in this; the tenderness and the loneliness. I think that's why her performance feels so superb.

Look for the daisies she places in the eyes of the skull of her dead twin sister, that'll have you swaying like a "ta-ay in-tha win'".

I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie but since I have a weak spot for Jodie Foster (if I remember correctly, she was even nominated for an academy award), I definitely wanted to check i out. Basically, it is one of those typical movies dealing with a disabled person like for example, 'I am Sam' or 'Rain man'. What those movies are in common is that, on one hand, you have one actor who portrays an handicapped person in a heartbreaking perfomance but, on the other hand, there is this worthless plot which and goes for the cheap emotional thrills. I mean, Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson are both fine actors and they try their best but their characters didn't have much depth and their actions were really plot-driven. Above all, they never really go in depth into the psychological side of this tale and the whole thing was way too romanticized for my taste. Still, it remains an interesting drama, above all thanks to Jodie Foster and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre.