Affliction

J. O.

A powerful film that plays with the existence of hatred and revenge as it exists in a man's memory and delusion (or, in fact or story, as Dafoe's character puts it). Schrader does an incredible job crafting the story about generations of abuse and Nolte really sells his character's descent into paranoia and aggression. The beautiful camera work and snowy landscapes captured the quiet violence of the story.

Ethan

This is one intense and bleak film and perhaps Scharder's most powerful. The film has the look and feel of a film noir in the snow. Nick Nolte gives the performance of his career and James Coburn is at his most sinister and disgusting here. A film without hope that will stay with you long after you experience it. The epitome of feel bad cinema.

Loz Loory

As the Patriarchy Crumbles... Loved the daughter. She speaks her mind, and doesn't wear princess clothes. Excellent performances from Nick Nolte and Sissy Spacek. Not such a great story in the end, as I never sympathized with Nolte's character enough that his downfall felt terrible. He was yet another lumbering giant, wildly grasping for a way to survive the pain of life. I prefer Schrader's "Blue Collar."

Cinematic

Good, but not that good. It could have been an outstanding drama or a gripping thriller, but it goes lurching from one to another without giving the best of both.

FISCHER

Discrètement, Paul Schrader parvient à capter l'univers de Russell Banks et à construire le portrait émouvant d'un personnage finement interprété par Nick Nolte... www.cinefiches.com

Øyvind Rype

Spoiler. Initially I expected the "weary detective"" trope, slowly solving the murder, and I did anxiously wait for that part of the story to evolve. It doesn't. The movie almost plays a prank on the audience believing the case's gonna be solved - a wink and a nod to the clichés of the crime genre. Instead we're treated with a claustrophobic portrait of small town where there's no escaping.

David R Williams

Strong performances all around with a special nod to James Coburn unfortunately hampered by a mostly paint by numbers story further hampered by a voice over that tries to be film noir but fails miserably. For all that glad I finally got around to watching this but came away feeling a bit disappointed.

Brian

Affliction, is a interesting film that really makes viewers think. Nick Nolte is a class A actor that plays the role of a washed-up cop, has a hard time working on his case due to his troubled past. James Coburn is another fantastic actor, plays the father who is rather abusive to his son Nolte's character. The film follows this trouble past cop who detaches himself from the people around him. it's well developed.