Rabbit Hole - 9 stars out of 10

Rabbit Hole - 9 stars out of 10

After seeing "Rabbit Hole" on stage and on the screen, I can see that it isn't necessarily the individual performances, but the emotionally-charged story, that makes this such a moving experience.  Granted, the story serves as a great medium for powerful performances, but it's the portrayal of how the loss of a child can turn a family's world upside down that will leave you breathless.  No scene is more poignant than the argument between Kidman (who certainly earned her Oscar nomination) and Eckhart (who easily could have been nominated) regarding Kidman's "erasing" of the memories of Danny from the house.  I could watch Eckhart scream that dialogue 7000 times and still get chills.  Each distraught detail of the couple's life is exposed, showing how two victims of the same tragedy cope in very different ways.  A further perspective comes from the main character's mother, played convincingly by Dianne Wiest, who is still dealing with the loss of her own child many years ago.  I have to think that the playwrite was involved in the casting because every role was perfectly portrayed and the chemistry between the characters makes a strong statement in a mere 90 minutes.  The adaptation for the screen enhances the story (and refreshingly eliminates most of the f-words to make for a more pleasant watch and a PG-13 rating).  "Rabbit Hole" is a figurative punch to the face composed of drama and emotions.  See it.