Not every film must conclude with a happy ending. For some works, permitting the protagonists to achieve some progress is more satisfying than any Hollywood ending. Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart star in Rabbit Hole, playing Becca and Howie, two parents grieving over the loss of their young child. Both parents navigate their grief in different ways, encountering other characters who have also lost a child like Becca’s mother and Gaby from their support group, in addition to Jason, the teenaged driver involved in the car accident which killed their son.
In one sense, Rabbit Hole is another one of those films where the audience watches the characters develop over a period of two hours and later looks back thinking that not much happened. While there is some truth to that, Becca and Howie are in a constant state of change; taking two steps forward and one step back. Gaby’s marriage collapsed as a result of her tragedy and the audience wonders if the same with happen to the two main characters.
There are only a handful of prominent roles in the film and the acting is uniformly solid. Like The King’s Speech – which was reviewed last week – spending money and time on professional actors adds immense credibility to any film. Diane Wiest is the lynchpin of the film, playing Becca’s mother Nat. Becca’s brother died of a drug overdose a decade previously and her mother is still suffering. Wiest adds tremendous drama to the film and gives several key monologues explaining the long-term effects of grief. Also, when Nat compares her own suffering to what Becca has experienced, it adds tension and conflict to the film.
Overall, Rabbit Hole moves swiftly, combining reality with moments of absurdity. The characters not only show that their emotions can boil over at any time but acknowledge that they are still susceptible to humour like anyone else. The plot engenders sympathy for Becca and Howie but the audience still wants to push them forwards so they can begin their lives again. ***