The Door in the Floor – Die Tür der Versuchung

From boredom to melancholy. From melancholy to sadness. The doors on the floor are not a movie for a miserable mood, because they won't pull you out of it, but on the contrary, they will thoroughly immerse you in traumas or anxieties. Sexual tension, a great soundtrack, or amazing performances by the fateful trio don't allow you to catch your breath in an atmosphere frozen in time for a moment. (02.03.2008)

The Door in the Floor - Die Tür der Versuchung ist eine fantastische und vor allem unverwechselbare Adaption von Irvings Roman "Witwe für ein Jahr" (1998). Der Roman ist als Dreiakter angelegt, und Tod Williams wählte für seinen Film nur den ersten Akt aus und verlegte ihn vom vorgeschriebenen Jahr 1958 in die Gegenwart. Davon war Irving begeistert. Das Ergebnis ist ein schönes Werk über das Leben, wie es ist und wie es sein kann. Das reifere Ehepaar wird gespielt von Jeff Bridges und Kim Basinger, die beide unheimlich gut sind, der Teenager, der in ihr Leben tritt, von Jon Foster und die kleine Tochter von der bezaubernden Elle Fanning. Jeder Film, der auf Irving basiert, ist ein Erlebnis, aber Williams' Projekt spielt am besten mit dem schmalen Grat zwischen Komödie und Drama. Es gibt Szenen, die wie aus einer Groteske geschnitten sind, ohne das anspruchsvolle Melodrama zu stören. Das sieht man in nicht vielen Filmen mit solcher Leichtigkeit. (13.03.2021)

Jeff Bridges is an incredible actor, as I have already witnessed several times. Even though he has done some commercial projects ("TRON: Legacy 3D"), he has made a mark in the history of cinematography with films like "Crazy Heart," "True Grit," and "The Big Lebowski." And those are just a few examples. Casting this actor is almost a guarantee of success. In this case, it turned out well, although it is a bit too long of a film, telling a rather small story that requires a lot of energy from the viewer. The performances are excellent, including those of other actors, such as Kim Basinger, but it is lacking that little something extra to truly capture attention. Jeff is a children's book writer who occasionally draws nude women, who willingly pose for him. However, he has problems with his wife. They moved because of an accident involving their two sons, both of whom died. It is a dark cloud that hangs over their lives, a cloud they tried to dispel by having a daughter, played by Elle Fanning, whom I find more likeable than her annoying sister, although Elle also demonstrates her strong acting abilities in this case. Although the daughter was supposed to be the remedy for the estranged couple's relationship, it turns out that their marriage cannot be saved. The writer is almost indifferent, as if he is drifting through life empty, only fulfilled by his daughter. The wife tries to find meaning in a young lover whom she takes the virginity of. Interesting and powerful moments work when they happen, but as a whole, the film is still somewhat of a question mark. Where did it go wrong? Personally, I think it's because the emphasis is placed on individual scenes, rather than the overall picture. The sum of great individual parts does not always create a great result. In this case, that was proven. The film flows nicely, but then suddenly ends, leaving things unresolved and simply moving on. It's like life, which is not always breathtaking, but never entirely simple. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/11/prada-tlumocnice-sveraci-kazajka.html (02.03.2013)