Anthony hopkins, nicole kidman, ed harris, gary sinise, anna deavere smith, wentworth miller, jacinda barrett, harry j. Jeanyves escoffier established himself as one of europes leading cinematographers, collaborating with the french director leos carax on several films, including les amants du pontneuf, before. Between the labors of simplifying the story for the screen and accommodating the stardust of worldclass actors, an essentially, uniquely american tragic hero and heroine are bleached of real american tragedy. The cinematography of the late jeanyves escoffier captures the feel of the roth novel while enhancing the romance between silk and faunia. The final part of roths trilogy about postwar america which began with american pastoral and i married a communist, the human stain is the story of coleman silk anthony hopkins, an eminent jewish professor whose supposed. Lennix, kerry washington, jeanyves escoffier, robert benton, anthony hopkins, nicole kidman, gary lucchesi. The human stain is the last in a trilogy that deals with the political insanity of three distinct american eras, 60s radicalism in american. Its screenplay, by nicholas meyer, is based on the novel of the same name by philip roth. Creating seductive imagery from both of those genres, as well as virtually everything in between, escoffiers solid international reputation found him in high demand worldwide.
The film stars anthony hopkins, nicole kidman, gary sinise and ed harris. Creating seductive imagery from both of those genres, as well as virtually everything in between, escoffier s solid international reputation found him in high demand worldwide. Oct 31, 2003 the human stain directed by robert benton. Coleman silk is a classics professor, a man who was once well respected in his small community before an accusation took from him the identity he spent fifty years creating. Coleman silk is a classics professor, a man who was once well respected in his small community before an accusation took. The cinematography of the late jean yves escoffier captures the feel of the roth novel while enhancing the romance between silk and faunia. California during production of the human stain, a film since dedicated to his. The point is not that the cinematic human stain is not much of a replica of roths book, which in itself is hardly a crime, and not the right basis on which to judge a movie. The story, known as a drama, romance, and thriller can be difficult to buy into when we can glean from the movie poster alone that anthony hopkins and. The human stain 2003 r anthony hopkins is a professor in the middle of a racial controversy whos passing as a white jew and nicole kidman is the sorrowful, downonherluck janitor with whom he becomes involved in bentons watereddown adaptation of philip roths 2000 novel. Apr 01, 2003 oscarwinning director robert benton was devastated at the death of cinematographer jean yves escoffier earlier this year from heart failure shortly after the two had completed working together on bentons new film, the human stain. Kramer directs from a screenplay by nicholas meyer sommersby, the sevenpercent solution.
A tribute to jean yves escoffier this great cameraman lensed some wonderful films, including good will hunting, but the butchered frames of the films presented in this two minute montage are disrespectful to the work of an artist of the late escoffier s talent. Oscarwinning director robert benton was devastated at the death of cinematographer jeanyves escoffier earlier this year from heart failure shortly after the two had completed working together on bentons new film, the human stain. Tragically, the book s second subject, jeanyves escoffier, died during the latter stages of the compiling the information, but is represented in two of his last films, possession 2002 and the. The film was dedicated to cinematographer jean yves escoffier, who died shortly after its completion. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Jeanyves escoffier established himself as one of europes leading cinematographers, collaborating with the french director leos carax on several. Screenplay, nicholas meyer, based on the novel by philip roth. The extended documentary sequence that opens leos caraxs 1991 film les amants du pontneuf. The human stain is based on philip roths novel of the same title published in 2000. Story of a man who has lived a lie all his life and seeks one last chance of happiness.
Everyone knows that animals mark their territory via a number of sensorybased means for others of their species to know who they are and where theyve been. Jeanyves escoffier news newspapers books scholar jstor june 2019 learn how and when to remove this template message. The human stain watching this drama film directed by robert benton i inevitably thought to that great genius who was boris vian and to what i actually consider as one of the best novel ive ever read, jirai cracher sur vos tombes 1946, a revolutionary one that fused together with a great effect us pulp and french sadoeroticism. The human stain makes me think of skid marks in underwear. But the main problem with stain is that what may have worked over 361 pages in roths book becomes one nonstop depressorama when condensed into less than two hours on screen. The drama begins as an indictment of political correctness and a slam on how one word could trash the career of a dedicated professor. His work is discussed in the book new cinematographers by alexander. As the scandal heats up, nathan zuckerman, a writer researching a biography of silk, begins to dig deeply into silks life. Jeanyves escoffier was born on july 12, 1950 in lyon, france. His work helps give a bit more credence to the casting choices. Oct 31, 2003 the human stain is the last in a trilogy that deals with the political insanity of three distinct american eras, 60s radicalism in american pastoral, 50s mccarthyist hysteria in i married a. Anthony hopkins, nicole kidman, ed harris, gary sinise, wentworth miller, jacinda barrett, harry j. Jean yves escoffier was born on july 12, 1950 in lyon, france. Coleman silk anthony hopkins is a lightskinned africanamerican college professor who has kept his true racial identity secret for the majority of his life.
On the other hand, it featured some of my favorite actors anthony hopkins, nicole kidman, gary sinese, and ed harris. New cinematographers by alexander ballinger popmatters. This is a central question alluded to in the title of philip roths novel, the human stain, and adapted in director robert bentons 2003 film starring anthony hopkins and nicole kidman. The human stain was selected by afi as one of the top ten films of 2003. The human stain, directed by robert benton from a screenplay by. The book is an angry expose of americas struggles with.
Lance acord, jeanyves escoffier, darius khondji, john mathieson, seamus mcgarvey, harris savides. As a result, whatever humor carries over from the book is either betrayed or sure to be lost to anyone unfamiliar with the story. Born in lyon, france, jeanyves escoffier july 12, 1950 april 1, 2003, not verified in body was a french cinematographer who worked as director of photography on a number of films of leos carax including boy meets girl 1984, mauvais sang 1986, and les amants du pontneuf 1991, on a number of european and american feature films. The human stain dvd tulsa citycounty library bibliocommons. Coleman silk is a respected professor at a new england college who suddenly finds his life unraveling after a comment he makes about some africanamerican students is misinterpreted as a racial slur. Lennix, kerry washington, jean yves escoffier, robert benton, anthony hopkins, nicole kidman, gary lucchesi. Lennix, kerry washington, jean yves escoffier, robert benton, gary lucchesi. Join facebook to connect with jeanyves escoffier and others you may know. Over the course of his 30year career, cinematographer jean yves escoffier photographed everything from lowkey french dramas to highprofile hollywood action films.
The human stain is a novel of identity that revolves around the love affair of two people who could not be more opposite. Born in lyon, france, jeanyves escoffier july 12, 1950 april 1, 2003, not verified in body was a french cinematographer who worked as director of photography on a number of films of leos carax including boy meets girl 1984, mauvais sang 1986, and les amants du pontneuf 1991, on a number of european and american feature films including the human stain 2002, possession 2002. Alexander ballinger based on extensive interviews and research, this book looks at the work of six of the most important cinematographers of recent years from around the world. Escoffier was noted for his collaborations with the director leon carax. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
The human stain dvd san mateo public library bibliocommons. Impaired, none, bonus material behind the scenes, jean yves escoffier tribute and play. Because human stain is so stylistically inert, the filmmakers keep the particulars of colemans genetic code hushhush for as long as they can. The fact that escoffier died earlier this year the film is dedicated to. The death of french cinematographer jean yves escoffier was finally confirmed late last night.
Camera deluxe color, panavision widescreen, jean yves escoffier. A wandering, unfocused story and a few plot areas that stretch the audiences suspension of disbelief make for a film that could have been much better than it turned out to be. Born in lyon, france, jeanyves escoffier, was a french cinematographer who worked as director of photography on a number of films of leos carax including boy meets girl, mauvais sang, and les amants du pontneuf, on a number of european and american feature films including the human stain, possession, nurse betty, the cradle will rock, rounders, and good will hunting, as well as harmony korines gummo. Born in lyon, france, jeanyves escoffier july 12, 1950 april 1, 2003, was a french. The human stain cast and crew cast photos and info fandango. This was the first time the pair had worked together, joining forces on shoots in quebec and massachusetts and. The human stain intelligent adaptation of philip roths unfilmable novel, destined to provoke controversy. The human stain is a 2003 drama film directed by robert benton. The human stain is a 2003 americangermanfrench drama film directed by robert benton. The human stain is an adaptation of the book of the same name by the great american novelist philip roth. He also worked with mehdi norowzian, jeanne moreau for air france, david lynch for nissan mot. Jean cardinal animal trainerwrangler jean decarie generator operator jean desroches scenic artist jean frenette stunts coordinator jean larose painter jean morin assistant art director jeandenis neveu production assistant jeanfrancois abran lighting jeanyves denis grip jeanyves escoffier cinematographer jennifer engel set dresser jennifer. Roths the human stain with nicole kidman and anthony hopkins. The human stain dvd greenwich library bibliocommons.
The human stain is, contradictorily, drained of color by the spotlight turned on its charismatic leads. Shot in dark, moody color by the late jean yves escoffier, that story turns out. And as has become the rule rather than the exception this year, the film is technically masterful. A tribute to jeanyves escoffier this great cameraman lensed some wonderful films, including good will hunting, but the butchered frames of the films presented in this two minute montage are disrespectful to the work of an artist of the late escoffiers talent. The human stain marked the feature film debut of wentworth miller. Born in lyon, france, jeanyves escoffier july 12, 1950 april 1, 2003, not verified in body was a french cinematographer who worked as director of photography on a number of films of leos carax including boy meets girl 1984, mauvais sang 1986, and les amants du pontneuf 1991, on a number of european and american feature films including the human. Although handsomely photographed by jeanyves escoffier, the human stain proves to be another misstep for benton, who began so promisingly with the deeply cynical, morally intricate 1972 civil war. The human stain 2003 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. A tribute to french cinematographer jeanyves escoffier 19502003.
Director robert benton brings philip roths 2000 novel the human stain to the screen in this lavish production, with expert cinematography from jeanyves escoffier. Secrets of the skin, and of the heart the new york. The human stain has a stellar cast, with anthony hopkins, nicole kidman, gary sinise, and ed harris, but it doesnt know what to do with them. Over the course of his 30year career, cinematographer jeanyves escoffier photographed everything from lowkey french dramas to highprofile hollywood action films. As a novel, the human stain attacks secrecy and sanctimony. Cast and crew credits for the human stain, 2003, directed by robert benton, with anthony hopkins, nicole kidman, ed harris, at turner classic movies. He is known for his work on the lovers on the bridge 1991, 15 minutes 2001 and good will hunting 1997.
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