Adoration (2009)

Terror Error

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Adoration on DVD

Academy-Award nominated director Atom Egoyan returns to indie filmmaking after a pit stop in Hollywood (Where the Truth Lies), but the result is unfocused and heavy-handed. The main thrust is a desire to say something -- anything -- about terrorism and the 9/11 attacks, but Egoyan's idea makes no sense. For a class assignment, a high school teen, Simon (Devon Bostick -- who looks like a magazine model, with just as much depth), makes up a story about his parents being involved in an attempt to blow up a commercial airline. His teacher (Arsinée Khanjian), also in charge of drama club, encourages him to dig deeper, and also to pretend that the story is real. She also disguises herself in a veil and drops by Simon's house to test his supposedly narrow-minded uncle, Tom (Scott Speedman). A good chunk of the movie involves characters sitting in front of computer screens and listening to people argue about Simon's story -- all of which sounds like rants and platitudes. Rachel Blanchard plays Simon's mom in flashbacks. Egoyan's tone is somber and chilly, as usual, but that approach only makes his scenario all the more puzzling. Also available on Blu-Ray.

With: Arsinée Khanjian, Scott Speedman, Rachel Blanchard, Noam Jenkins, Devon Bostick
Written by: Atom Egoyan
Directed by: Atom Egoyan
MPAA Rating: R for language
Language: English, French with English subtitles
Running Time: 101 minutes
Date: April 25, 2009