VOA标准英语2010年-De Niro, Norton Team Up in Cat and Mou

Actors Robert De Niro and Edward Norton unite in John Curran's new psychological drama Stone. The story revolves¹ around flawed people who have to face their weaknesses as their lives spin out of control.

The early release of Gerald Greeson, also known as Stone (Edward Norton), a convicted arsonist², rests in the hands of Jack³ Mabry (Robert De Niro), a parole review officer.

For 30 years, Marby has served the law. He has an air of self righteousness. But Jack, a regular churchgoer, is unkind to his wife and a cynic.

Jack's dysfunctional marriage crumbles⁴ further as he starts an affair with Lucetta, a beautiful young woman and Stone's wife.

"This temptation, this siren in front of him and the guilt⁵ and all these kind of classic almost biblical temptation, to me it was kind like a morality tale," said De Niro.

What Jack does not know is that Stone had asked his wife to influence Jack in writing a favorable parole review for him. And Lucetta goes above and beyond the call of duty.

Actress Milla Jovovich offers a stellar performance as the sensual Lucetta.

"On one hand, she's like a child. She's this innocent. But on the other hand she's very sexual and very animalistic," Jovovich explained.

And while Lucetta lives life to the fullest, Stone is undergoing a spiritual transformation⁶ after reading some religious pamphlets in jail.

Edward Norton offers a nuanced performance as the mercurial⁷ convict gradually turning introspective. Norton told VOA that none of the characters he plays reflect his personality.

"Most of the things I've done are not specific to anything in my experience. But I relate in the sense that I feel it's easy for me to imagine myself in other people's circumstances," explained Norton.

There are no redeeming⁸ characters in this story. In the end, the tables are turned in the power struggle between Jack and Stone. Jack loses his grip while Stone finds inner balance and peace.

John Curran's Stone is an existential drama with powerful actors, great cinematography and staying power.
 

1 revolves   

v.（使）旋转( revolve的第三人称单数 )；细想

参考例句：

• The earth revolves both round the sun and on its own axis. 地球既公转又自转。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Thus a wheel revolves on its axle. 于是，轮子在轴上旋转。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 arsonist   

n.纵火犯

参考例句：

• You're pretty sure you can identify a single arsonist?你确信你能鉴别出一个特定的纵火者？
• The arsonist confessed that he set fire to six businesses.那纵火犯承认他给6家商场纵过火。

3 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

4 crumbles   

酥皮水果甜点( crumble的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This cake crumbles too easily. 这种蛋糕太容易碎了。
• This bread crumbles ever so easily. 这种面包非常容易碎。

5 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

6 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

7 mercurial   

adj.善变的，活泼的

参考例句：

• He was of a mercurial temperament and therefore unpredictable.他是个反复无常的人，因此对他的行为无法预言。
• Our desires and aversions are mercurial rulers.我们的欲望与嫌恶是变化无常的统治者。

8 redeeming   

补偿的，弥补的

参考例句：

• I found him thoroughly unpleasant, with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. 我觉得他一点也不讨人喜欢，没有任何可取之处。
• The sole redeeming feature of this job is the salary. 这份工作唯其薪水尚可弥补一切之不足。