DVD Review: Kinsey
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::Movie review
Kinsey is a controversial film, and this will be a controversial review. I can apologize in advance if anyone reading this is offended by my words, I can't apologize for how I think, nor should I have to. So, fair warning, my friends.
The film, Kinsey, takes a look at Dr. Alfred Kinsey (Liam Neeson). Kinsey, during the course of his pioneering investigations into human sexual behavior, was astonished to discover that people were doing a heck of a lot more than they let on. He was raised, as most were, to believe that sexual activity was something to be repressed. Sensible people simply didn't give in to such desires.
Kinsey's revelation was that people are animals and studying them as such was the only way to truly measure sexual activity. His theory was that what we were told is natural and what really is natural were two different things entirely.
Throughout most of human history, society has been run based upon belief structures. Thousands of years ago, human beings regarded sexuality with a much more open and casual attitude. It was as natural an act as eating and sleeping. According to the suggestions of many archeological and historical findings, the taboos we take for granted now simply didn't exist. When this new thing called Christianity started to take shape, it represented a change in beliefs. Since religions are highly monogamous, any new religion requires the suppression of old ones and one of the ways to force a change in a belief structure is to change the rules of society. If sex is pleasurable, and therefore empowering, suppressing sexual desire and activity could be one means for "focusing" the mind toward other pursuits, namely a new religion.
This suppression of sex was something that Kinsey was becoming enlightened to. It was clear that many of the "rules" and "truths" he had been taught were little more than propaganda. Kids were being told that masturbation was a shameful act that would cause blindness, but there had never been any medical studies to support this, or any other ailment that was believed to be caused by sex. Venereal diseases were certainly real, but even the means for contracting them was highly exaggerated. The plain fact was that things were made up as a means of control. But what was more astonishing to Kinsey was that it wasn't controlling anything. People were told that sex was bad for them, but they did it anyway.
Kinsey tackles his study of sex with single-minded abandon. His own wife (Laura Linney) and even his kids, become part of the experiment as he relentlessly questions everyone about their sexual activities and preferences, all in his pursuit of data. He encourages sexual experimentation among his staff, while he observes with clinical detachment. So focused is he on this study that he fails to realize he's hurting the people around him. As their lives self-destruct, Kinsey observantly takes his notes.
Perhaps Kinsey's obsession about sex can be traced back to his father's (John Lithgow) obsession against it. Kinsey's father is fanatical and views every technological advancement as little more than subversive facilitators of sex. The automobile is just an excuse to "park." The zipper is little more than a means for easier access. Later in life, Kinsey gains insight into his father's beliefs and the revelation may be the first crack in his clinical detachment.
With the goal of remaining scientific, Kinsey devised an intricate system of personal interviews, so interviewees wouldn't have to write anything down, and all responses would be encrypted. His discover seemed to shatter established beliefs: namely, that sexual activity seemed to belong on a bell curve (even within the realm of activities otherwise thought to be abnormal, such as homosexuality and polygamy), and that most people fell somewhere in the middle.
Naturally, his research was met with not only skepticism, but open hostility. Finding funding for his research was a constant struggle and the Indiana University , which employed Kinsey, was under fire. Pressure was put on him to stop his work, even despite the fact that his mere presence on campus was boosting enrollment. The government also came after Kinsey and when he wouldn't use his research techniques to help "root out homosexuals,” he was attacked as a communist.
Kinsey didn't stop, however, and his findings brought about a more sensible approach to the subject of sex. Schools and doctors no longer try to misguide children into believing that natural bodily functions are unhealthy. Homosexuality is not only no longer illegal, but on the path toward social equality. Even other alternative lifestyles, such as those that challenge the societal construct of monogamy, are more widely accepted. (Although it's worth noting that for all of the advancements in acceptance, society is still nearly just as subverted as it was at the time of Kinsey's research.)
The pivotal moment in Kinsey's research comes late in the film, when he has lost his funding and support for his work seems to be crumbling around him. He appears on the verge of giving it all up and is even ready to believe that his research has done far more harm than good. And then he meets an extraordinary middle-aged woman who was able to find happiness as a direct result of Kinsey's findings.
Wisely, writer and director Bill Condon chose not to end his film with some trite social message. In fact, despite many welcome bits of satire and humor, the story is told with much the same clinical detachment as Kinsey's studies. Viewers are offered the tale of Kinsey's insights and struggles, and left to make up their own minds about the validity of his work. I think that's how Kinsey would have wanted it.
::Video
The video presentation on this disc is very strong. The color tone if the film seems a bit muted in a way that I'm tempted to call "vintage." I didn't see the film theatrically, but I would assume this look is intentional, as it lends a bit of a nostalgic feel to the imagery. The cinematography makes interesting use of shadows and light to create mood and that carries over to the DVD presentation very well.
I didn't notice any compression artifacts and only very minimal edge enhancement.
::Audio
The surround presentation is largely subdued, but that's understandable given the subject matter of the film. This is not car chases and gun battles. Still, the musical score and some ambient sound effects make effective use of the surround channels to provide a fuller atmosphere to the film. Dynamic range seems good and the dialog is almost always crisp and clear.
::Special Features
Kinsey contains a feature length audio commentary with writer and director Bill Condon.
Although you can't really tell by looking at it, Kinsey is practically a low budget art film and I almost always find those commentaries the most fascinating. This one is no different. The average Hollywood movie sometimes seems like a slick, well-oiled machine, but this little films are filled with troubles.
Condon is very forthcoming about the various problems he ran into while making this film. He suffered through everything from studios backing out and turning him down, to fanatic negative publicity that threatened to derail the project. Condon also does a nice job of explaining his choices in storytelling and properly attributing the talents of all those who helped him.
All in all, this was an engaging track. Unfortunately, it is the only extra available on the disc (however, a 2-disc special edition is also available).
::Bottom Line
In a parallel to Kinsey's own experiences, this film was met with quite a lot of harsh opposition. Fanatical loonies, like Dr. Laura Schlessinger attempted to derail the film without ever having seen it or read the screenplay. There are still many people out there with closed-minded views that are very much nearer in spirit to Kinsey's own father than to anything resembling sensibility. For some, it is simply easier to shut down any belief that is different from their own, rather than consider other possibilities. The one point that Kinsey the man, and Kinsey the film tries to hammer home is that no two people are exactly alike in what they think, feel and desire -- and that is not such a bad thing.
| Movie |  |
4.5 / 5 |
| Video | |
4 / 5 |
| Audio | |
3.5 / 5 |
| Extras | |
3 / 5 |
| Family Friendly | 0 / 5 | |
| This is most definitely an "adult" film and as such, it should not be viewed by children. | ||
| Overall | |
4 / 5 |
- Robert Wurth, ©2005
::Technical Specs
Studio:
Fox Home Entertainment
Year of Theatrical Release:
2004
Disc Format:
1 single-sided, Dual Layer
Image Format:
Anamorphic Widescreen
Aspect Ratio:
2.35:1
Region Encoding:
1 (North America)
Sound Format:
Dolby Digital 5.1
Running Time:
118 minutes
Director:
Bill Condon
Stars:
Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Timothy Hutton, Chris O'Donnell, John Lithgow
MPAA Rating:
R
Disc Supplements:
- Commentary with writer / director Bill Condon
