Affliction is a very bleak and depressing movie from legendary writer Paul Schrader (Raging Bull, Taxi Driver). Schrader also directed this mesmerizing character study. Nick Nolte (The Tin Red Line, Prince of Tides) stars as Wade Whitehouse, the local sheriff of a small town. He's not a very good man, he smokes pot, drinks booze, has a poor relationship with his ex-wife and daughter, and doesn't care much for life. He is still haunted by memories of his abusive father who still lives near by. James Coburn (Eraser, Payback) plays the father making him a chilling character in a wonderful Oscar winning performance. The one saving grace in Nolte's life is his girlfriend, well-played by Sissy Spacek (JFK, Blast from the Past). Another person in Nolte's life is his brother who lives miles away, Nolte talks to his brother over the phone and gets along with him when he comes over. Willem Dafoe (Platoon, The Last Temptation of Christ) is great in a very under-written role as the brother. At the start of movie a man has died in the woods because he accidently shot himself, Nolte thinks its a conspiracy and tries to solve it. The murder mystery is not the main story of the movie, the main story is the gradual breakdown of Nolte's character. Nolte is fantastic in a wonderful performance that in my mind (from what I've seen) is the second best performance of the year (behind Edward Norton for American History X). Nolte is always convincing in a subtle performance of a man who is losing his grip on life. Highly recommended for superb performances and a well-written script, though a downer movie.