Based on a Philip Roth novel, the story centers around Coleman Silk (Anthony Hopkins), a professor of classics at a prestigeous New England college. One day, when two students fail to show up for class he asks sarcastically, "What are they, spooks?" As the two students are African American, some interpret this remark to be be racist and he is hauled before a faculty tribunal. Instead of defending himself, he resigns in a rage, ending his career. On the same day, his wife passes away which, in part, he blames on the school.

His rage is not just about righteous indignation at the follies of excessive political correctness; it also comes from a secret he has kept for his entire career--that he himself is black. He has been passing himself off as Jewish, and we are shown flashbacks of how he chose one of two paths--to be a black or white American--in his younger days. His choice is to join the Navy as a white man and distance himself emotionally from his family.

With his life now in shambles, he begins a Viagra-fueled affair with working-class Faunia Farley (Nicole Kidman), a semi-literate janitor half his age. This introduces us to the second great barrier theme of the story, that of class. She also comes with some baggage, a violent freak of an ex-husband brilliantly portrayed by Ed Harris. There is some question as to whether Nicole Kidman is convincing as a janitor, or if it is plausable that she would be attracted to the shorter and older professor. Their communication is simplistic and physical, and the relationship is no love story. The story narrator is writer Nathan Zuckerman (Gary Sinise), to whom the professor befriends and spills his life story to--but leaves out his "big secret".

This is an amazing cast, but not necessarily cast well for this movie. The characters themselves are complex and do evolve through the course of the movie, but some may dislike the pace. If you like character-driven movies with complex back stories, movies with socio-political significance, or simply have a Nicole Kidman fetish, then check this one out. Otherwise, spend this month's movie budget on "Kill Bill: Vol. 2".