Big Little Lies - I Want to Know **

And it all came to the final day in court. Mary Louise just can’t help herself. After the damaging recording featuring her son beating on Celeste, and conversations about Perry telling Celeste that Mary Louise blamed him for the death of his brother/her son when he was five; Mary Louise on the stand is a wreck that must endure what is fact: her son was indeed an abuser and a monster. And perhaps the idea that she was responsible for the monster that he was to become left an impact. And yet the day when the decision would be made regarding the twins and their guardianship, Mary Louise couldn’t help standing one last time to try and persuade everyone, to great discomfort and awkwardness for all in the courtroom, which despite her son’s abuse Celeste’s “sickness” needed to be considered. The razzle-dazzle of Streep and Kidman when opposing each other is just exciting to watch, especially when Celeste challenges Mary Louise in the courtroom. And Celeste standing on her own once Mary Louise speaks one last time to counterattack her own flawed paternal history is quite a showcase. Streep’s lack of eye contact, the stuttery, sometimes under-her-breath, accusatory jabs that would seem less intimidating but still bite and unnerve is such a masterful piece of acting. But I was just taken aback by Kidman’s work when she steels herself, despite being on the stand practically a nervous wreck and her credibility attacked, and eventually holds strong despite the evidence of her beating to Perry, found while looking at family recordings. Celeste doesn’t ever wither despite every reason to, and the way Kidman has her bombarded (the head and eye movements and her teetering but not faltering is stellar) and shaken but not falling apart completely is a work of art. That she keeps the kids and yet has them hug Mary Louise is enough proof of the fact that she can take but still find a heart to let her boys show affection to the very one wanting to take them away from her. There is a lot of Celeste up against a character assassination despite Mary Louise’s mentions of “I love her, but…” And how she takes it and still recovers is quite astounding…Kidman is just a marvel to watch. Yes, she’s enchanting…something about her just grabs you and you can’t pull away, like a gravitational orbit. The other actresses are also so good, but there is just something special about Kidman. 5/5