Affliction

 

Affliction- 1998, Directed by Paul Schrader, starring Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek, James Coburn, Willem Dafoe, and Mary Beth Hurt

He says- Portrait of a man whose screwed-up life--and mental imbalance-- can be laid at the feet of his abusive father; the son (Nolte) tries to stay afloat, as traffic cop/jack-of-all-trades (and miserable part-time dad) in a small, wintry New Hampshire town.  Bleak in the extreme, with no light or hope for any of its principal characters, but extremely well acted; Coburn won a Best Supporting Oscar.  Schrader adapted Russell Banks' novel.  2 stars

I say- God, this movie is DARK.  I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.  Great acting, and obvious why there were Oscars thrown their way, but still....1 star