Sophie's Choice

Whereas the novel is maddeningly tedious in its incomprehensible penchant for detailing the interior of every room, the past of every minor character, and the main character's thought processes that do little to move the story in the right direction, the film runs extremely smoothly despite its scary runtime, sensitively choosing only the most important elements from the book and succeeding in evoking exactly the emotions and impressions that Styron, the author of the novel, was no doubt trying to evoke. The precise direction is not the only thing that plays a crucial role, there’s also the central trio of actors, who showcase their talents to the fullest, and Kevin Kline in particular deserved an Oscar for his portrayal of the contradictions and the hidden tricky nature of Nathan. Moreover, the scenes from Auschwitz are truly excellent both in content and form, and although they are secondary motifs, they leave by far the strongest impression. The only major weakness remains the slightly stilted theatrical dialogue – is it really necessary for the actors to look terribly enigmatic for five seconds first, and then slowly struggle to respond? But otherwise, this film (and the book too, no doubt) was the right choice. 85% (31/07/2014)

Pakula should kiss Streep's feet, as she is the only, but proper, asset of this otherwise slavish and too unimaginative adaptation. (30/07/2004)

A phenomenal performance by Meryl Streep. The film has two storylines, one taking place after the war, the other in the memories of the main character. While in the first case the film is not very convincing, Sophie's memories of her time in the extermination camp are absolutely horrifying and haunting. I'll never forget the shot of an emaciated Streep walking through the mud alongside the low pens crowded with Jews, with a massive, ominously smoking chimney in the background. (08/05/2003)