Great Film The Academy Failed To Notice
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scottsteaux63-735-780576 — 13 years ago(December 07, 2012 12:27 PM)
That could be; I remember thinking the promos made it look and feel like a horror story when it was nothing of the kind.
Never mess with a middle-aged, Bipolar queen with AIDS and an attitude problem!
roflol >< -
scottsteaux63-735-780576 — 13 years ago(December 08, 2012 09:24 AM)
I have read it, and reading it gave me an even greater appreciation for the film because I would never have thought they could have told that story successfully. But Tony Gilroy was very clever; in some ways his screenplay begins where the novel ends: the adult Selena never appears in the book.
Never mess with a middle-aged, Bipolar queen with AIDS and an attitude problem!
roflol >< -
dcabigail — 13 years ago(December 26, 2012 10:49 PM)
Excellent write up Scott. I too thought this was overlooked by the academy. Misery was good but it was over the top and pretty much a one note film. For all you said in your review and more Dolores Claiborne was my number one film that year and stands up as one of my favorites. I agree with you about the past being incredibly colorful and brilliant in contrast to the gray grimy present. I loved the transitions from present to past as well. It was done better than any movie transitions from one period to another.
Whats interesting to me most is not that it was overlooked by the academy. They are always overlooking great films in favor of average films. What interests me is that some people, myself included, consider this a minor masterpiece while the overwhelming majority look at it as an average at best movie. How is this possible? They are not watching the same movie that I am if they consider this average! A friend of mine and I disagree vehemently on this movie. He thinks its ok. Ok? I think id prefer he hated it. At least a strong opinion on a film I consider great would be better than calling it average! -
ToastedCheese — 3 years ago(July 27, 2022 12:39 PM)
In 1990 Kathy Bates delivered a memorable, Oscar-winning performance as the crazed fan Annie Wilkes in MISERY, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. Five years later, once again in a King adaptation, she gave arguably an even better and more multi-faceted performance in the title role of DOLORES CLAIBORNE, a non-horror story about a woman's past and the daughter she will do anything to protect.
1995 was a strong year for film and female performances. I do love that Susan Sarandon finally won an Oscar, which was also well earned. The un-nominated Bates gave her a run for her money though. Nominating Streep and Thompson was more for show. The un-nominated Nicole Kidman would have also been a better choice for nominating, for her wickedly black comic performance in
To Die For
.
Bates though in
Misery
, I find memorable for all the wrong reasons. What she did in
Dolores Claiborne
, I find she failed to deliver in
Misery
. It was over-praised and lacked depth and nuance. Her superficiality just doesn't cut it for me with her portrayal of Annie Wilkes.
The adult Serena is better termed a "survivor;" she may overdo the booze and the pills, but she's still standing. Leigh is virtually flawless here.
Leigh as always, is outstanding. The dark qualities in Leigh's talent and the disturbing past that Selena held within her, was a perfect showcase for JJL. She was believable throughout and both her and Bates made for a terrific pairing as estranged mother and daughter.
Norman! What did you put in my tea? -
ToastedCheese — 3 years ago(July 27, 2022 12:48 PM)
It sounds like both these films trigger those that are anti-intelligent as well.
Men like Joe exist and in David Strathairn's capable hands, he did a great job at getting you to really despise Joe and making him believable as well. He made him pathetic, with an inkling of sympathy for him, and only at how pathetic he really was.
Norman! What did you put in my tea? -
Richard Burton's Chin — 3 years ago(July 27, 2022 12:54 PM)
Bates though in Misery, I find memorable for all the wrong reasons. What she did in Dolores Claiborne, I find she failed to deliver in Misery. It was over-praised and lacked depth and nuance. Her superficiality just doesn't cut it for me with her portrayal of Annie Wilkes.
^This so much. I don't understand the praise that movie gets or Bates as Annie. Terrible.
This is a very good movie with very strong actors doing excellent work. It is an underappreciated film. -
ToastedCheese — 3 years ago(July 27, 2022 01:35 PM)
I re-watched
Misery
again the other night and Bates was worse than I recalled. Not saying she gave a rotten performance, but the truth be told, it just wasn't on the money and neither was the film as a whole.
I don't get why viewers who praise the film can't see this. The film lacked the edge of the novel and it took too many missteps in its representation of the material. Bates did not deserve an Oscar for her performance in
Misery
.
Norman! What did you put in my tea? -
LorqVonRay1999 — 3 years ago(July 27, 2022 02:41 PM)
Never a fan of Misery (the novel or movie) but I picked up this movie a few years ago and this is my favorite Kathy Bates movie. She is exceptional. So much so I was sure she had to have been nominated for an Oscar. Nope. The film? Nope, not a single one. The rest of the cast are excellent. And the look of the film is beautiful. 10/10 for me.