From an early age, we are interested in sex. Therefore, Bill Condon's Kinsey has a built in audience. The only problem is that some do not wish to see sex spoken of in one of their key forms of entertainment. But still, somehow, the curiosity is overwhelming.
Alfred Kinsey, played by Liam Nesson, is the star of this particular biop. In a season where every other movie is based on the life of someone, it's no longer a sure-fire thing that yours wont get lost in the shuffle. But thanks to Nesson and the rest of the cast, Kinsey stands right there with the others at the front of the line. The movie starts by giving a quick background of Kinsey, including setting up a poor relationship with his father. We are quickly introduced to Kinsey's obsession with gall wasps; we are also introduced to Laura Linney's character, Clara, Kinsey's soon to be wife. The first third of the movie is without mention of sex save the questionnaire being asked of Kinsey, which serves as the guidelines for his life story telling.
The first attempt Kinsey and Clara make at consummating their marriage is a disastrous one. However, once they have spoken about it with a sex specialist, the act no longer draws the negative light. After this, the gall wasp begins to fade as Kinsey's interest in studying humans and their sexual nature begins to take priority. He is selected to teach a sex course at his university and he approaches that with no intent to be subtle about his subject.
Although many are shocked by the abruptness of this course, Peter Sarsgaard's character, Clyde is not. Eventually, he and Kinsey will engage in a homosexual act, which Kinsey will tell his wife about. Bill Condon directs his entire movie with this same honesty. Some say that Kinsey has kept its hands clean in this procedure, but there was never a need to for it to get them dirty. Kinsey is more than just a surface level biop. It digs deep enough to show the audience that there is not tidy answer for the life of Alfred Kinsey that can be wrapped up and presented to you in a two-hour film. Part of the brilliance here is that a story about a man who took the mystery out of sex, has a life of mystery to us.
Kinsey has a very juicy subject. If it weren't about sex, would it still be interesting? The actual storytelling relies heavily on its subject matter. Had this been a movie about gall wasps, the methods employed by Bill Condon would not have held up. As entertaining as Kinsey is, the mechanics are not what makes it that. Nonetheless, superior acting elevates Kinsey and it is, after all, about sex. It would be unfair to judge the movie without including this. ***1/2/*****
Alfred Kinsey, played by Liam Nesson, is the star of this particular biop. In a season where every other movie is based on the life of someone, it's no longer a sure-fire thing that yours wont get lost in the shuffle. But thanks to Nesson and the rest of the cast, Kinsey stands right there with the others at the front of the line. The movie starts by giving a quick background of Kinsey, including setting up a poor relationship with his father. We are quickly introduced to Kinsey's obsession with gall wasps; we are also introduced to Laura Linney's character, Clara, Kinsey's soon to be wife. The first third of the movie is without mention of sex save the questionnaire being asked of Kinsey, which serves as the guidelines for his life story telling.
The first attempt Kinsey and Clara make at consummating their marriage is a disastrous one. However, once they have spoken about it with a sex specialist, the act no longer draws the negative light. After this, the gall wasp begins to fade as Kinsey's interest in studying humans and their sexual nature begins to take priority. He is selected to teach a sex course at his university and he approaches that with no intent to be subtle about his subject.
Although many are shocked by the abruptness of this course, Peter Sarsgaard's character, Clyde is not. Eventually, he and Kinsey will engage in a homosexual act, which Kinsey will tell his wife about. Bill Condon directs his entire movie with this same honesty. Some say that Kinsey has kept its hands clean in this procedure, but there was never a need to for it to get them dirty. Kinsey is more than just a surface level biop. It digs deep enough to show the audience that there is not tidy answer for the life of Alfred Kinsey that can be wrapped up and presented to you in a two-hour film. Part of the brilliance here is that a story about a man who took the mystery out of sex, has a life of mystery to us.
Kinsey has a very juicy subject. If it weren't about sex, would it still be interesting? The actual storytelling relies heavily on its subject matter. Had this been a movie about gall wasps, the methods employed by Bill Condon would not have held up. As entertaining as Kinsey is, the mechanics are not what makes it that. Nonetheless, superior acting elevates Kinsey and it is, after all, about sex. It would be unfair to judge the movie without including this. ***1/2/*****