Can Sam Raimi Actually Adapt a Dennis Lehane Novel?
The master of goofy is going to take a stab at it
Clint Eastwood did it with Mystic River. Ben Affleck did it with Gone Baby Gone. Martin Scorsese is doing it with Shutter Island. However, the idea of Sam "Spider-Man" Raimi doing it with "The Given Day," Dennis Lehane's upcoming novel, doesn't have me excited.
I am not a big fan of Raimi's films, they are too goofy and he can't seem to avoid it. I haven't seen all of his films, but I think I can tell from the ones that I have that he is not a director I would ever consider for anything carrying the weight of a Lehane novel. Raimi doesn't seem to have the ability to be serious for an entire film, Darkman came close, but for the most part that film isn't all that great. The Quick and the Dead tried, but casting Sharon Stone was goofy enough to hurt that one, along with several other complaints. The Gift wasn't any good and neither was A Simple Plan.
Raimi's more successful films, however, have been filled with goofy behavior and after reading the description of Lehane's new novel I just don't see Raimi pulling it off.
As described by Variety "The Given Day" is set in 1919 Boston, with the city in turmoil as soldiers are returning home from WWI, having brought back an epidemic of Spanish influenza. Attempts to unionize the police department have set the stage for a historic strike and two cops take center stage.
Raimi is quoted saying, "While it deals with many of the same themes as (Lehane's) earlier work, it is also his most ambitious book, tying events of a century ago to the subjects we struggle with today."
One thing is for certain, I never thought Affleck would have been able to pull off what he did with Gone Baby Gone, and Raimi is obviously a smart man. So this may work. I just won't hold out much hope. Just as I am not to excited to know Raimi may also direct the next installment in the Jack Ryan franchise based on the character created by Tom Clancy.
For those interested in the book, it will be published by HarperCollins on Sept. 23.
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Wow. Dude. You didn't like A Simple Plan. Wow. I'm sort of flabbergasted. You may be the one person I know who disliked it. Nay, you may be the one person I know who doesn't consider it a masterpiece.
Dude, watch A Simple Plan again. Excellent flick and Billy Bob is truly great in it.
Are there any films out there that don't require repeat viewings to like? In the last two days I have been asked to give Mean Streets, Third Man and now A Simple Plan a second watch. I do understand some films take repeat viewings to like (Unbreakable is the first one that comes to mind), but sheesh, I only have so much time in the day.
I rewatched Fool's Gold the other day so I could review the Blu-ray, I can tell you right now that one sucks no matter how many times you watch it. I wonder if there is a list of films to rewatch so you will like them and then others you just shouldn't watch again. The unfortunate thing is that I have to watch them all. Such as Love Guru tonight. I would gladly watch anything other than Love Guru tonight, but…
Sorry, Brad, but while I agree with you on THE LOVE GURU (can someone hit me with a rock and knock me unconscious so I don't have to go – pretty please?) I'm with Dre and David on this one. A SIMPLE PLAN is the finest movie of Raimi's career and has arguably the best work Thornton has ever done as an actor. It's magnificent.
Okay you rabble-rousers, I just added the damned thing to my NetFlix queue and it should be mailed to me tomorrow and I will have it by Thursday at which time I will watch it again.
However, to say it is the finest movie of Raimi's career does nothing for me considering I would prefer to never watch any of his movies again. Also, great performance by Billy Bob or not, if I don't like the movie the performances won't do anything for me.
I mentioned in this article Mystic River, a movie of which I definitely do not like. Yet, I will say there are some great performances in it. For me, the story and the way it is told is #1. The rest just enhances the experience. I'll admit I haven't seen A Simple Plan in quite some time, but I remember being bored and uninterested. Maybe that will change, we'll have to wait and see. :)
I definitely agree with Brad. I personally found A Simple Plan boring. It was one of those movies that had some great PARTS in it, but it just didnt seem very cohesive, as a whole.
Simple Plan felt authentic to me. One of those situations you could see yourself in. You can even see yourself getting greedy and events spiraling out of control like they do in that flick (also nicely shot btw). I agree with Michelle, best work by Billy Bob. It's basically Of Mice and Men meets … I don't know … Trespass? lol
As for seeing movies twice, I will admit while I like The Third Man, I do not love it (and I've seen it at least four or five times). Nor do I love Mean Streets. Maybes it is because I've seen all the Mean Street knockoffs beforehand like everybody tells me. But I just didn't love that movie. I prefer the copies I guess.
There's some movies I can see maybe working for me a second time that I didn't like the first. Fool's Gold, however, is not one of them. :)