LOLITA  (1998)  ***

Reviewed 9/27/98

The first half of Lolita is an amazing achievement in depicting a pedophile's fantasies coming true. Jeremy Irons turns in one of his best performances, which is saying a lot, and Dominique Swain perfectly embodies Lolita physically. Unfortunately, the tone of the second half changes so drastically, it almost seems like a different movie. It becomes overly dramatic and the style turns almost haphazard.  It is far more faithful to Nabokov's source than the Kubrick version, though this Lolita cannot capture Nabokov's great whimsy.  Whoever greenlit Lolita to the tune of $60 million was insane, and such a budget is really unnecessary for a story like this. It does look like its cost though. Cinematographer Howard Atherton lights every shot stunningly, too stunningly. Humbert and Lolita's trip across America should look more seedy and squalid. Instead it is postcard gothic.  "Nine 1/2 Weeks" Lyne reins in his Zalman King predilections for the most part and makes his best film. Irons' performance alone makes it worth seeing.