You found this scene authentic? Interesting. I instantly saw it as Kevin, perhaps only for a perverse thrill, briefly reversing his game (tormenting and denying the mother, shining for the father) to see how the two would react.

That might very well be a part of it, but I do believe that he also needed help. I think the two are not mutually exclusive.

Wanted to see this for a while after watching the preview on a redbox DVD.

This is the type of movie like Elephant but this is more coherent even though I was a bit confused with the back and forth time periods in the beginning. I thought Tilda and the various actors no played Kevin did a good job. I was frustrated with this story but only because it's one of those depressing realities that you know occur but really don't want to watch. I was confused as to why she'd stay in that town just to be around him after everything that happened. I also thought she was a terriblly weak mother. She never disciplined him much if at all and even as a tee he was a deviant to her. Why she never left with the girl was also annoying. Who wants to stay in that type of living situation. Overall, it did keep my attention from start to end.

B

Finally saw this. Best movie I've seen in a while, loved it.

Sad Tilda didn't get nominated for this and yet she won for Michael Clayton. wtf

We Need to Talk About Kevin

So this was pretty good. Quite unexpected (from the cover and the title I thought it was going to be one of those comedy-lite dramas like This Is Where I Leave You) but it doesn't take long to cotton-on to what's going on, and it still manages to shock as it drip feeds elements that eventually lead to an expected climax. It perfectly captures that fuzzy, fragmented, non-linear memory-vision really well. That's the film's highlight. Tilda Swinton wasn't the best choice for this role, but she does have a naturally depressed and gaunt appearance. However, I couldn't muster much empathy for her. But she is the right parent to focus on. John C. Reilly is thankfully not used much, but shows signs that he can do more than comedy. I also felt the film was trying a bit too hard to be artsy with its never-ending shots of red paint or red jam. I thought the first-time mother elements were interesting, but underdeveloped. I'd have liked more focus on those parts of her psyche rather than bolstering the film with unneeded emphasis on Kevin as a psycho antagonist (unless there were clear signs as to why their parenting style reared a maniac).

B

I also viewed it through that lens.

I saw this a few months ago and it's haunted me ever since.