disgrace

John Malkovich has made a career of out being creepy. I’m sure he’s capable of much more but when you can give someone goosebumps by crossing your eyes, you play to your strengths. Bouncing between artistic independents and bit parts in potential blockbusters, Malkovich seems to have an uncanny awareness of his own screen persona (how else do you explain Being John Malkovich?) and how to use it to best effect.

Which makes him a perfect choice to play the intellectually superior but morally repugnant character of Professor David Lurie, a South African instructor who manipulates attractive students into questionable sexual relations and feels not the slightest bit of regret. Based on the novel by Nobel Prize winning author J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace is a difficult film to enjoy but an easy one to admire, much like another recent adaptation, Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Professor Lurie’s forced resignation is only the beginning of his ethical reeducation. A violent attack on his own daughter forces him to face his past discretions and come to terms with the reality outside of his insular world of classic poetry. When tragedy strikes off the page, it’s not nearly so romantic.

Director Steve Jacobs’ film creates a world every bit as dangerous as the barren apocalyptic landscape of The Road. But this South Africa is an all too-real place, and its dangers don’t hide behind sci-fi metaphors. Disgrace made numerous top ten lists and won the International Critic’s Award at the Toronto Film Festival. It’s the sort of cringe-worthy performance that only an actor of Malkovich’s ability and reputation could pull off. Yet ironically it’s own cruel effectiveness will prevent it from every being truly embraced. The Image blu-ray also contains interviews with cast and crew, a short “Making Of” and trailer.