Tag: films

From Page to Screen: The Sense of an Ending

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About the Book: The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

The book is both a reminiscence on adolescent friendships, early romantic relationships and their aftermath and an exploration of the unintended consequences that can flow from actions. In this case, it is the events set in train by the main character’s reaction to a romantic disappointment. The reader becomes aware early on that the narrator, Tony, is being selective in the events he recounts, either consciously or subconsciously. At one point, he admits, ‘I told her the story of my life. The version I tell myself, the account that stands up.’ So key themes explored in the book are truth, memory and storytelling.

Read my review of the book here.

About the Film: The Sense of an Ending (2017)

The Sense of an Ending is directed by Ritesh Batra from a screenplay by Nick Payne based on Julian Barnes’ novel. The film stars Jim Broadbent as Tony, Charlotte Rampling as Veronica, Harriet Walter as Margaret and Emily Mortimer as Sarah Ford.

More information about the film can be found here.

Book v Film

The film largely follows the plot of the book but chooses to put more focus on some characters, for instance, Tony’s daughter, who does not appear in person in the book at all. In the film, Susie (played by Michelle Dockery) gets quite a bit of screen time and we see Tony supporting her in the latter stages of her pregnancy. I can only assume this was done to give his character more humanity but to my mind the whole point is that Tony finds it difficult to read and respond to other people. Young Tony’s visit to his girlfriend Veronica’s parents is close to the book and I liked the way the director emphasised the allure Veronica’s mother, Sarah, might hold for a young man, as this helps to make sense of later events.

Presented with an actress of the stature of Charlotte Rampling, it’s not surprising that the film expands the meetings between Tony and Veronica in later life. I felt the characterisation of Veronica downplayed the anger she displays in the book.  I thought Harriet Walter’s performance really captured the essence of Tony’s ex-wife, Margaret, as portrayed in the book and she communicated Margaret’s affectionate exasperation with Tony perfectly.

I enjoyed the flashback scenes to Tony’s schooldays and adolescence and I thought they had a really credible period feel. The director uses an imaginative technique at several points that allows us to see Tony reassessing events in his past and seeing them from a new perspective.

The Verdict

In the book, Tony muses: ‘How often do we tell our own life story? How often do we adjust, embellish, make sly cuts?’ Adjusting, embellishing and making cuts are clearly all part of adapting a book into a film. Some of the changes I could understand, others less so.  The film is well-crafted with good performances but I don’t believe it is completely successful in communicating the essence of the book.

What do you think? Have you read the book or seen the film?

From Page to Screen: A Monster Calls

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About the Book: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

The book opens with the great opening line: ‘The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.’ But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare. The reader quickly becomes aware that Conor’s nightmare is related to his mother’s illness and represent his deepest, darkest fears about the future – fears he can’t express openly. The monster tells Conor a number of tales which each have a message. For example, that people’s intentions and feelings may be hidden and contrary to their public face.  Perhaps he’s got it wrong about his dreadful Grandma after all? In the end, the monster helps Conor to confront the guilt and anger he’s been hiding deep within himself. This wonderful, but very sad, book seeks to communicate what it’s like to experience the loss of a loved one in an accessible way to readers of all ages.

Read my review of the book here.

About the Film: A Monster Calls (2016)

A Monster Calls is directed by J. A. Bayona from a screenplay by Patrick Ness based on his own novel. The film stars Lewis MacDougall as Conor, Felicity Jones as his mother and Sigourney Weaver as his grandmother. The monster is voiced by Liam Neeson.

More information about the film can be found here.

Book v Film

What a tough task the filmmakers set themselves. To film a much-loved book with an extremely sad ending and to bring to life on the screen a monster who emerges from an ancient yew tree.  In the main they succeed, particularly with the monster which I thought was a fantastic representation of the creature seen in the illustrated edition of the book. By turns frightening, wrathful and wise, it is unrelenting in its insistence that Conor must face his fears. The scene in which the monster first comes to life is terrifically done.

In the main the film follows the narrative of the book although the nature of Conor’s mother’s illness is made more explicit. More screen time is given to the relationship between Conor and his father but to my mind this is largely superfluous.   My one disappointment was the way the tales told by the monster were dramatized which I felt lacked imagination, although judging by other reviews I seem to be in the minority in this. In the closing scenes, in an addenda to the book, the director also chooses to suggest that Conor is not the only person who has seen or summoned the monster.

I thought Lewis MacDougall’s performance as Conor was tremendous and Liam Neeson was a great choice for the voice of the monster. Felicity Jones gets relatively little screen time but all her scenes have impact.

The Verdict

I enjoyed the film and admired much of it, particularly the way in which the monster was brought to life. It is well-crafted with great special effects and fine performances. However, for me the book wins hands down because I think the story works because it evokes a deeply personal response from each reader.   No surprise there.  I gave the book 5/5 and it would take a magnificent film to beat that.

What do you think? Have you read the book or seen the film?