# Misery (1990)

### reviewed by
bdglchst@ac.dal.ca

                                        MISERY
                                   [Minor Spoilers]
                           A film review by Bruce D. Gilchrist
                            Copyright 1990 Bruce D. Gilchrist

    Misery Review
    By: Bruce D. Gilchrist

    Score 6.5/10

    On the plus side:
         Kathy Bates acting is superb.
         Direction is smooth.
         James Caan is pretty good.
         When the horror comes, it comes good.
         There is lots of humour, some good 'n' black
         Had a great book to work from (not really a fan, but MISERY is
              SK's best)
         What disturbing visual effects there are, look good.
         The Liberace bits are the best bits of the movie.

On the negative side: William Goldman's script is rather dull and uninspired. Stephen King should have written the screenplay. The editing is only adequate. Some rather cheapo scenes were used. The movie definitely wasn't dark and evil enough. Sometimes the humour is not in the right place. The movie has an overall rushed appearance. This does not appear as a Rob Reiner film. If you didn't know you certainly wouldn't equate it with his previous works.

    MINOR SPOILERS

It AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH isn't true to the book. There is a lot of rewriting of the interactions between Paul and Annie (no good). There is a lot of rewriting in of new characters (quite well done). Annie just doesn't get to do as much of what she did (i.e., gross things) in the book. They changed the ending.

The one thing that I was really looking forward to was a good movie. Which it is. I heartily recommend this to fans. I was also looking for an unadulterated transference of the book. Which it is not. Why can't they leave good enough alone? Personally I saw no reason to change what they did (although I liked all of the new characters) but they didn't allow Annie to let go enough.

I have to admit I was going with really high expectations. Well, I figured it's SK's best book and Rob Reiner directing. What could be better? It came up to all standards for a good movie, which it was. But it didn't make it to a great movie. There are some great scenes (especially the hobbling WOW!) and some good shots (esp. Annie driving) but overall there wasn't enuff to bump it over to the really good or classic level. I wouldn't mind seeing someone else try to work this. Here goes... Kathy Bates - Annie (she is by far the best thing about the movie. I wouldn't be surprised by an Oscar nomination--yes, she's really that good!). Malcom McDowell - Paul Sheldon, Director - The Coen Brothers. Don't take this too seriously.

So overall, good, worth seeing, but not the best you're gonna see. If you're wondering how I saw this early, I got special passes to a preview showing.

    .

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