Kinsey

Last year was the year of the biopic. Ray Charles (Ray), Howard Hughes (The Aviator) and J.M. Barrie (Finding Neverland) were brought to the silver screen to accolades and box office success. But although those lives made for wonderful storytelling, each of them were merely great entertainers and the impact their lives had on the world remains, well, entertainment. Alfred Kinsey, who is considerably less well-known than Charles, Hughes, or Barrie, is somebody whose story resonates even in today's political and social climates. Editor of The Kinsey Report and one of the first Americans to discuss the true science behind sexual behaviour, the lessons of Kinsey's life remain prevalent in an era in which sexual education remains an issue and homosexuals are still struggling to gain equality. Director Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters) gracefully brings Kinsey's story to the screen in a manner that combines imperative historical information, subtle humour and humanity in its finest form. He follows Kinsey's life through flashbacks and black-and-white shot interview sessions that ask the questions found within The Kinsey Report, questioning Americans about their sexual behaviour. Liam Neeson does excellent work as Alfred Kinsey, while the adorable Laura Linney perfects the "long-suffering wife" role and Peter Sarsgaard, one of this generation's finest young actors, continues to prove how underrated he is. The special edition of the DVD includes two wonderful documentaries. The best of the two, "The Kinsey Report: Sex on Film," documents the making of the film while asking people (including the film's stars) questions about their own sexual history. There is also an interactive sex quiz, which asks 45 questions then proceeds to give you the various "levels" of the state of your sexuality. The extras are all well-produced and quite entertaining, though they are certainly not the star. Kinsey, as a film, emotionally involves the viewer while raising important questions about the society that he/she lives in, specifically how little it's progressed since The Kinsey Report was published in 1951. (Fox)