Adoration

Though rife with many of the same problems that have plagued Atom Egoyan’s recent efforts, Adoration ultimately overcomes an almost disastrously plodding opening half hour to become a slight yet somewhat engaging piece of work. The distinctly fractured narrative, coupled with an exceedingly deliberate pace, does ensure that one’s initial impression of the film is that of an art-house mess, yet there reaches a point at which Egoyan’s muddled modus operandi comes into focus and one is subsequently drawn into the proceedings. The story followers high schooler Simon (Devon Bostick) as he confronts the mysterious past of his dead mother (Rachel Blanchard’s Rachel) and father (Noam Jenkins’ Sami) while working on an assignment from his teacher (Arsinee Khanjian’s Sabine), which certainly doesn’t sit well with his working-class uncle (Scott Speedman’s Tom). Egoyan, as expected, has peppered Adoration with relentlessly morose figures whose behavior and motivations often stretch the very limits of credibility, though the superb work of the various actors (Speedman, especially) inevitably proves effective in infusing the broadly-drawn characters with a small degree of authenticity. And while the egregiously lugubrious first reel seems destined to turn off most viewers, the film’s late-in-the-game surprises do ensure that one’s patience is eventually rewarded (albeit in an awfully mild manner).

**1/2 out of ****