Affliction 1997, Rated R Universal

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Starring Nick Nolte, James Coburn, et al. Released to DVD on July 6, 1999.

Set in cold, snowy New Hampshire, Affliction is the tale of a small town police officer, Wade Whitehouse (Nick Nolte), who, while investigating the accidental death of a hunter, begins to slip over the edge, suspecting his friends and former friends of conspiring with corrupt politicians and accepting money for their participation in a cold-blooded murder. The acting performances in Affliction are startlingly raw and unfiltered, with James Coburn and Nolte both garnering Oscar nominations, and Coburn an Oscar, for their respective work. Throughout his career, Coburn has always attracted rather light, charming roles in action films, however here, Coburn strikes off on a completely different path. The production design, reminiscent of Andrew Wyethís watercolor works is a perfectly chilling backdrop to this story. The snow and winter scenes that persist throughout the film are perfect companions to Coburnís anger and bitterness and Nolteís emotional coldness. Affliction is one of the most thought-provoking and well-produced films to be released to video this year.