What a mean-spirited, sneery post. I saw the film the other day and it is brilliant and powerful. One could quibble with odd bits of it -- my companion did not like the Dunkrirk scenes (I did), and I did't like the typewriter theme in the music (too obvious). But it is a brilliant and moving film of a superb novel. How easy, and how facile, to rubbish someone's achievement. I hope he returns to more suitable targets for his undoubtedly talented attacks in future, there is plenty of rubbish out there to be pinpricked that would be a more worthy target.
Since writing the above I have come across this review of the film: http://www.stephenlang.co.uk/article/336/?commented=1#c000659 I urge your readers to visit this proper review instead of reading BA's cheap shot.
Hey, Maxine -- I can't wait to see this film. I've read a lot of advance buzz about it and it sounds very, very good. As I said on Appleyard's thread, the fact that a good film can be made of McEwan's stories is a triumph in itself. I see his tales as depending so much on interior thoughts and monologues, which are hard to capture on film (absent a voiceover, which I hate), and his prose itself is likewise so beautiful and incandescent that to translate it into another medium is well-nigh impossible.
But I loved "Atonement," the novel, and I am expecting to love the film.
What a mean-spirited, sneery post.
ReplyDeleteI saw the film the other day and it is brilliant and powerful.
One could quibble with odd bits of it -- my companion did not like the Dunkrirk scenes (I did), and I did't like the typewriter theme in the music (too obvious). But it is a brilliant and moving film of a superb novel.
How easy, and how facile, to rubbish someone's achievement. I hope he returns to more suitable targets for his undoubtedly talented attacks in future, there is plenty of rubbish out there to be pinpricked that would be a more worthy target.
Since writing the above I have come across this review of the film:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.stephenlang.co.uk/article/336/?commented=1#c000659
I urge your readers to visit this proper review instead of reading BA's cheap shot.
Hey, Maxine -- I can't wait to see this film. I've read a lot of advance buzz about it and it sounds very, very good. As I said on Appleyard's thread, the fact that a good film can be made of McEwan's stories is a triumph in itself. I see his tales as depending so much on interior thoughts and monologues, which are hard to capture on film (absent a voiceover, which I hate), and his prose itself is likewise so beautiful and incandescent that to translate it into another medium is well-nigh impossible.
ReplyDeleteBut I loved "Atonement," the novel, and I am expecting to love the film.