adaptation – Page 4 – cinemescope

100 Word Review – One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest (1975)

July 21, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., DramaTagged 1960s, adaptation, Bo Goldman, Christopher Lloyd, Danny DeVito, Drama, IMDb, Jack Nicholson, Ken Kesey, Lawrence Hauben, Louise Fletcher, Milos Foreman, OscarsLeave a comment

Jack Nicholson at his finest in this superb adaptation of Ken Kesey’s novel about the inner workings of 1960s mental institutes.

McMurphy (Nicholson) pleads insanity rather than face his prison sentence thinking it will be the easier option. He is mistaken.

Louise Fletcher won an Oscar for her portrayal of the terrifying Nurse Ratchet; Nicholson nabbed one for Best Actor; Milos Foreman won Best Director: Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman were awarded Best Screenplay for their adaptation; and with the help of the marvellous cast (Danny Devito, Christopher Lloyd) ensured the Best Picture win.

Little wonder it’s #15 on IMDb’s Top 250.

100 Word Review – The Innocents (1961)

July 5, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., FantasyTagged adaptation, Deborah Kerr, Fantasy, Gothic, Henry James, Horror, Jack Clayton, supernatural, Thriller, Truman CapoteLeave a comment

A truly chilling adaptation of Henry James’ classic gothic novel The Turn of the Screw.

Miss Giddens (Deborah Kerr) is a young governess hired by an absent uncle to look after two young children in a large house with a mysterious past.

The trailer for this film is extraordinary (see below) but to my mind it fails to accurately capture how terrifying parts of this film are. I am a wuss, but it is full of suspense and dread.

Directed by Jack Clayton (The Great Gatsby, Room at the Top) and adapted by Truman Capote, this is skilled cinematic genius.

100 Word Review – We are The Best! (2013)

July 3, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, Drama, F-RatedTagged 1980s, adaptation, Coco Moodysson, Comedy, comic book, Drama, Lukas Moodysson, Netflix, punk, Sweden, SwedishLeave a comment

Currently available on Netflix, this is a must-watch film that everyone can enjoy.

Three young girls in 1980s Stockholm join forces against their school, their parents and The Man to create their own punk band. Who cares if they can play their instruments or not? It’s about more than the music.

This film, as the trailer (below) says, is “for anyone who’s ever been 13”, full of anarchy, chaos and humour. It’s written and directed by Lukas Moodysson, based on his wife Coco’s comic book.

It is a guaranteed feel-good film that will leave you feeling empowered and wishing for youth.

100 Word Review – Shutter Island (2010)

June 26, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Drama, ThrillerTagged 1950s, adaptation, Ben Kingsley, crime, Dennis Lehane, Drama, Emily Mortimer, Goodfellas, IMDb, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Martin Scorsese, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson, Psychological, The Departed, Thriller1 Comment

Another wonderful example of Martin Scorsese’s (The Departed, Goodfellas) attention to detail.

Set in 1954, Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) is partnered up with Chuck (Mark Ruffalo) and sent to Shutter Island, a hospital for the criminally insane, to investigate a patient’s escape.

Based on a novel by Dennis Lehane (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone), this crime thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Emily Mortimer, Michelle Williams, Ben Kingsley and Patricia Clarkson all co-star, each contributing brilliantly to the sense of dread and suspense present throughout. It currently sits at 194 in IMDb’s Top 250 list.

100 Word Review – Memento (2000)

June 24, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., DramaTagged adaptation, Carrie-Anne Moss, Christopher Nolan, Drama, IMDb, Joe Pantoliano, murder, Psychological, Thriller, violence1 Comment

Based on a short story by his brother Jonathan, this is the earliest Christopher Nolan film to make it on to the IMDb Top 250 list. It currently places at number 45.

Guy Pearce stars as Leonard, a man with short term memory loss on the hunt for his wife’s murderer. To cope with his disability he creates a strange system to help him remember and piece the clues together.

Full of violence, heartache and confusion, the story is told through two timelines running in opposite directions making this is more of a brain teaser than Inception could ever dream to be.

100 Word Review – Full Metal Jacket (1987)

June 22, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., DramaTagged Adam Baldwin, adaptation, Drama, Firefly, Gustav Hasford, Matthew Modine, Stanley Kubrick, Vincent D'Onofrio, warLeave a comment

In my opinion this is an example of Stanley Kubrick at his finest.

Based on the novel The Short Timers by Gustav Hasford which he wrote while serving in Vietnam about his own experiences, this is a searing look at the U.S.-Vietnam war, through the eyes of the pragmatic Private Joker (Matthew Modine).

Vincent D’Onofrio gives a truly memorable performance as Pyle, and Firefly fans may spot Adam Baldwin among the leads.

Starting in the training camps, this film is nothing if not brutal from beginning to end. It is a story brilliantly told, but visceral and harrowing to see.

100 Word Review – The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

June 7, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged adaptation, Adrian Brody, art, Bill Murrey, Comedy, Edward Norton, Harvey Keitel, IMDb, Jason Schwartzman, Jeff Goldblum, Jude Law, Oscars, Ralph Fiennes, Saoirse Ronan, Stefan Zwing, Tilda Swinton, Tony Revolori, Wes Anderson, Willem Dafoe2 Comments

Based on the writings of Stefan Zwing, writer and director Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr. Fox) takes us on a journey into the fictional Republic of Zubrowka in this beautiful comedy.

Ralph Fiennes stars as Gustave, a concierge at The Grand Budapest Hotel, accompanied by his faithful friend Zero (Tony Revolori).

This film is full of all the wonderful actors you could hope for from an Anderson film, and a few more besides. The direction a weird and wonderful work of art, with all the precision of a master. Winner of 4 Oscars and nominated for 5 more, it’s #183 on IMDb’s Top 250 list.

100 Word Review- Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

June 5, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged adaptation, Brett Halliday, Comedy, Film Noir, Michelle Monaghan, Robert Downey Jr, Val Kilmer6 Comments

Based on the Brett Halliday novel, Bodies Are Where You Find Them, this is one of this films that will keep you thoroughly entertained.

Harry (Robert Downey Jr) is a small time criminal, stealing presents for his kid for Christmas, when he accidentally auditions for a Hollywood film while hiding from the cops.

Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan are superb co-stars with wonderful comic timing. Director Shane Black (The Last Boy Scout, The Long Kiss Goodnight) also wrote the screenplay.

What follows is a tangled web of misdirection, misinformation and murder that would rival some of the classic Film Noirs.

100 Word Review – Gone Girl (2014)

May 26, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Drama, ThrillerTagged adaptation, Ben Affleck, crime, David Fincher, Drama, Gillian Flynn, IMDb, Neil Patrick Harris, Rosamund Pike, suspense, Thriller1 Comment

Not as good as the book, in part because of Ben Affleck, this is still one of the best films I saw in 2014.

Adapted from the novel by its author, Gillian Flynn, this film about a missing wife (brilliantly portrayed by Rosamund Pike) has the suspense of the best crime thriller and the emotional gravitas of a personal drama.

Neil Patrick Harris is superb as the eerie ex, which makes it even more of a shame that Affleck couldn’t bring the depth his character needed.

Despite this it’s truly fantastic and chilling, and will leave you on edge for weeks.

100 Word Review – Election (1999)

May 7, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged About Schmidt, adaptation, Alexander Payne, Comedy, dark, election, high school, humour, manipulation, Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Sideways, The Descendants, vengenceLeave a comment

An Oscar-nominated comedy which felt somehow fitting for today.

Whatever you think of Reese Witherspoon, this film is brilliant and she shines as the obsessive high-achieving student determined to become student body president. Matthew Broderick stars as the teacher who gets in her way.

Directed by Alexander Payne (About Schmidt, Sideways, The Descendants), although it may be set in a high-school, this is not a teen comedy. It is certainly not Ferris Bueller!

Witherspoon is truly chilling and plays off Broderick’s frustrated civics teacher beautifully. The result is a dark, dark comedy with underlying themes of vengeance, fixation and manipulation.