I saw and reviewed Karyn Kusama's "Destroyer" this past September at TIFF. It's essentially a dirty cop movie delivered via a female perspective. If the screenplay has weak spots, contrivances, if you will, since this should be considered a B-movie, Kusama does break through due to her brilliant strengths as a director of atmosphere. She's a fantastic filmmaker, I highly recommend you check out, if you haven't already, the work she did in 2015's "The Invitation." However, "Destroyer" is, by all means, the Nicole Kidman show. At 51-years-of-age, and completely de-glammed, God I hate that term, she delivers her best performance in more than two decades, she's devastating.
Read more'Destroyer' features Nicole Kidman at the peak of her powers [TIFF]
De-glamming has all but becomes a cliche for well-known actors and actresses to nab that ever elusive acting Oscar. We saw it with Charlize Theron in "Monster" and Halle Berry in "Monster's Ball," among many others. Nicole Kidman also donned that infamous nose prosthetic for her 2003 Oscar-winning performance in "The Hours," but now she's back at it again, de-glammed and uglified, in "Destroyer," which is the best work she's done in years, maybe ever.
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