The Human Stain (2003)

Anthony Hopkins is a literature professor accused of racism for uttering these words in reference to two students who've never, in five weeks, set foot in his class: "do they exist? Or are they spooks?" Well, hell -- the unseen kids turn out to be black and lodge a complaint. What an idiotic premise. "Do they exist? Or are they negroes?" would be nonsensical...so it's pretty plain that's not what he was attempting to say.

That's just the first five minutes or so of what becomes a mumbly message movie about fleeing the past and being true to yourself. It's pretty bleak and, unfortunately, rather pretentious & boring.

C-