Rabbit Hole

The King's Speech

In the 2011 Oscar winner, Colin Firth gives a tour de force performance as Prince Albert, Duke of York / King George VI. Throughout the film, he overcomes both his personal fears of being king and a debilitating stutter that prevents him from speaking in public. He finds his confidence in a friendship with Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), a tutor that uses unorthodox methods to change Albert's temperament and impediment. Helena Bonham Carter also turns in an excellent performance as Albert's wife, Queen Elizabeth. DVD extras include a commentary with director Tom Hooper, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and a Q&A with the cast and crew.

95%

Rabbit Hole

Aaron Eckhart and Nicole Kidman play a couple grappling with the grief of losing their 4-year-old son eight months after his death. As they mourn their loss in different ways, the film focuses on how the tragedy affects their every day lives and interactions with friends and family. The film received rave reviews and an Oscar nomination for Kidman. DVD extras include deleted scenes.

87%

One more release when you read more

The premise of Rabbit Hole can be summed up in one sentence: a married couple grapples with their grief eight months after their young son, Danny, is killed in a car accident. John Cameron Mitchell's drama is heavy to say the least, but versatile performances from Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart as the couple in question make the film heartbreaking in an engaging way, rather than overwrought and emotionally manipulative.

On the surface, Becca (Kidman) and Howie (Eckhart) seem like a picture-perfect couple. When the movie opens, housewife Becca is making dinner in their gorgeous kitchen as good-natured Howie arrives home wearing a suit and a smile. Within a few minutes, we realize that Becca and Howie are just putting on an act, and though the spouses are doing their best to get back into an old routine, the film's message is clear: when you've lost a loved one, you can't ever go back. But how do you move forward?

To find out why this film is worth watching, just keep reading.

Nicole Kidman had husband Keith Urban by her side last night for the NYC premiere of Rabbit Hole. In the intense drama, Nicole plays a parent dealing with the loss of a child, and the role is already getting her lots of Oscar buzz. Nicole was asked about the potential for another Academy Award win yesterday, and she said, "You never know and you just hope for the best. I suppose the biggest thing for me is that the film connects with people, because I feel very strongly that the film is special." She has received other accolades so far, starting with a Best Female Lead nod at the Independent Spirit Awards. Nicole was joined on the red carpet by costars Sandra Oh and Aaron Eckhart, who both moved on to the afterparty to pose for funny photos. Jon Hamm also showed his pretty face, and interesting new haircut, with girlfriend Jennifer Westfeldt. Nicole and Aaron apparently struck up quite a friendship while working on the movie, and now she's excited to find him a nice lady so he can finally put his bachelor days behind him.

To see more from the red carpet, just read more

Eva Mendes and Jeremy Renner did the honors of announcing the nominees for the Independent Spirit Awards this morning. Winter's Bone, which also won big at the Goatham Awards last night, led the pack with seven nominations. Nipping at its heels are Black Swan (including a nod for Natalie Portman), Rabbit Hole, and The Kids Are All Right. Don't count out 127 Hours either: future Oscar host James Franco got a nomination for best male lead, and the film also earned nods for best feature and best director.

The show will air in February, but check out the full list of nominees when you read more

Get your hankies and Oscar predictions ready: Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart play parents who have suffered the loss of a child in Rabbit Hole, and the trailer is as bleak as you'd expect it to be. Kidman and Eckhart are Becca and Howie Corbett, a picture-perfect couple whose lives are shattered after their son dies in an accident. The film, an adaptation of a Broadway play, traces the aftermath of their grief and their forever-changed relationship, with Sandra Oh and Dianne Wiest providing support.

Rabbit Hole generated buzz for Kidman's acting and the film on the whole when it opened at the Toronto Film Festival, and though it looks like an emotionally traumatic experience, I'm eager to see it. Both stars are capable of exquisite performances, and I'm curious to see how director John Cameron Mitchell (best known for Hedwig and the Angry Inch) handles it all. Watch it when you read more