Affliction - 1988

Affliction (1998)

Paul Schrader has written such famed films as Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, and he has directed a dozen others, including American Gigolo and his latest, Affliction, now available in an impressive 1.85:1 widescreen DVD transfer.

A Psychological Study of a Man on the Edge

The director once maintained that his tortured heroes are "crushed, bruised romantics." Nick Nolte's haunting portrayal of Wade Whitehouse in Affliction certainly fits that description. The film, based on Russell Banks' 1989 novel, is a powerfully economical psychological study of a man on the edge.

Wade, a divorced, small-town New Hampshire "one man police force" — as Banks described him — is a sympathetic guy struggling to do the right thing with his daughter, but he's pursued by the furies of family violence. Glenn (James Coburn), his gloomily alcoholic and belligerent father, has crippled Wade's ability to return love as an adult. Though girlfriend Marge tries to connect with Wade, he just can't seem to outrun his demons. After Wade's called to the scene of a hunting accident, he starts to suspect murder. But is the mystery all in Wade's confused mind?

We don't meet Coburn's Glenn until nearly a half-hour into the film. Pop's presence, however, uncannily lives in Nolte's performance. "You! I know you," Glenn growls at Wade late in the picture. "You're my blood." It's a chilling moment. No wonder Coburn won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar®. He seems to loom and tower over his burly adult boy. This is a father-son relationship made in hell.

The other supporting roles are also memorable. Sissy Spacek's heartbreakingly tender and understanding Marge is matched by Mary Beth Hurt's wary and protective portrayal of Wade's ex-wife, Lillian. As Rolfe, Wade's sensitive younger brother, Willem Dafoe has few scenes, but proves to be an effective narrator.

Yet Affliction is Nolte's movie from start to finish. He gradually reveals Wade's buried emotional world of powerlessness and paranoia. It's a devastating multi-layered performance that yields more upon repeat viewing.

No Extras, but a Skillful Transfer

It's too bad that the DVD doesn't include an audio commentary from Nolte, Coburn, and Schrader. On the other hand, the transfer has been managed skillfully. Paul Sarossy's chilly, atmospheric cinematography lends another dimension to the inner landscape of Affliction's characters. The crisp Dolby Digital soundtrack is also crucial to the film's impact, as Schrader uses it to seamlessly move in and out of Wade's troubled past.