The Human Stain

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Joaquin U @Joaquin1 Apr 13 Entertaining. It’s a slow-burn drama loaded with clichés. Doesn’t really hit on an emotional level, but the story keeps you interested. The acting’s good, though Hopkins feels miscast, which makes it harder to buy into. Still, it’s watchable — and honestly, you could do worse. See more Melissa L @Agent99 08/22/2025 This was not any better than the indie movies I've seen with no stars. I was disappointed there were so many well-known actors and this movie wasn't better. I wouldn't recommend it. See more Elizabeth G @RT05340372 05/11/2025 A long, hard, slow slog that tries and fails to illicit any emotion. It's a great premise, but it's bogged down by slow pacing that makes this feel tedious. Could have been so much better. See more steve d @RT35616104 02/01/2023 Ridiculous and ineffective. See more 07/07/2021 It has problems to be sure (certain casting choices, the lack of any serious deep dive into the academic culture it is supposedly criticizing etc.) however, I'm pleasantly surprised that the movie isn't really the perverse fantasy I feared it would be as the characters often make choices that complicate them in ways that ensure they don't exists as mouthpieces for particular ideologies. Also, I am grateful that the central "twist" here is revealed rather casually rather than dropped as a bombshell. See more dave s @RT68722908 04/03/2021 Based on Philip Roth's novel, The Human Stain tells the story of Coleman Silk (Anthony Hopkins), a college professor living in a world of political correctness where racism runs rampant, whose life is forever altered by the moral stupidity of his colleagues. While it is always unfair to compare a movie adaptation to its source material, in this case it's impossible not to. The secondary characters who are integral to the story in the novel seem like extra baggage in the film. More importantly, the revelation about Silk's background that is so devastatingly impactful in the novel comes across a bit bizarre in the film, triggering the realization that the casting of Hopkins in the role of Silk may have been a questionable decision. By no stretch of the imagination is this a bad movie, but if you have read the book, there's probably not much to be gained by watching the film. See more Read all reviews

The Human Stain

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