I have been ravished

I watched Birth last night. And then I watched it again. For me, Kidman has occupied the top seat in filmdom since The Hours, but Birth must be the most impressive jewel in her crown. How grand it is to have a movie move you from one place to another. To dare. To reach. To be patient. What a completely engaging experience. Credit goes to Jonathan "Sexy Beast" Glazer, composer Alexandre Desplat and, of course, Kidman. She knows the camera, and Glazer creates a visual panacea around that knowledge. Desplat's score raises the film to high art. And why isn't Anne Heche a bigger presence in movies? She has about 12 minutes in Birth and every one of them resounds like a symphony. Love it or hate it, Birth will rattle you.