Search - Affliction on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Language, Substance Abuse Movie Release: 1997 DVD Release: 07/06/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 55 mins Studio: Universal Studios Members Wishing: 2 Genres: Drama, Psychological Drama, Crime Drama, Family Drama, Addiction Drama See Also: Affliction

Nick Nolte and James Coburn deliver some of the finest work of their respective careers in this powerful but troubling adaptation of Russell Banks's novel. Wade Whitehouse (Nick Nolte) is the sheriff in a small New England town; it's a part-time job with few taxing responsibilities, and Wade fills his many free hours by swilling booze, smoking pot, and thinking back on his nightmarish childhood. Wade's father Glen (James Coburn) was by turns callous, distant, and abusive, and Wade has inherited his addiction to alcohol and inability to deal with others. Consequently, Wade's ex-wife (Mary Beth Hurt) despises him, his daughter is uncomfortable and frightened in his presence, and the only person who can reach him is his loving but long-suffering girlfriend Margie (Sissy Spacek). When a wealthy businessman is killed in a hunting accident, Wade suspects foul play and pursues the case with an obsession that puzzles all around him; meanwhile, Wade's mother dies and his brother Rolfe (Willem Dafoe), the only one in the family to escape Glen's abuse without crippling emotional scars, returns to pay his respects and is caught up once again in the damaged lives of his father and brother. James Coburn) won an Academy award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Affliction, while Nick Nolte was nominated for Best Actor (he lost to Roberto Benigni). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Nick Nolte - Wade Whitehouse
James Coburn - Glen Whitehouse
Sissy Spacek - Margie Fogg
Willem Dafoe - Rolfe Whitehouse
Mary Beth Hurt - Lillian

Affliction, the harrowing human relationship drama that won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for James Coburn and a Best Actor nomination for Nick Nolte, comes to DVD from Universal in a single disc somewhat light on special features. There is nothing the matter with how the film is presented, which is in a widescreen format with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and a Dolby Digital soundtrack. It all adds up to the film's winter landscape and repeated sound of crunching snow jumping off the screen with such impact that a home viewer is tempted to grab his or her own snowshovel. Where the disc falls short, however, is in its lack of special features beyond a few production notes and some cast and filmmaker biographies. A film like this would have greatly benefited from an insightful commentary track from Coburn, Nolte, co-star Sissy Spacek, or director Paul Schrader, especially considering the acting kudos the film garnered. How did the actors make these characters come to life? What message was the director trying to send with his choice of actors and settings? How did he view these characters? Unfortunately, these are questions that go unanswered on this disc. ~ Russell Roberts, All Movie Guide