2008: THE READER, a Thought Experiment

Kate Winslet starred in two Oscar contenders in 2008 (the other opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Sam Mendes's "Revolutionary Road"), but she won Best Actress for her portrayal of an illiterate Nazi in the Best Picture-nominated "The Reader," which grapples with guilt, our relationship to the past and the nature of evil. Yes, it is, as critic Amy Nicholson called it, a "Serious Film" (capital S, capital F). 

In this episode, Mike and Brian discuss the tradition of "Hollocaust movies," talk intellectual vs. emotional engagement and decide whether or not director Stephen Daldry's film will earn a spot in their top fives of the year.

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