Category Archives: Play Adaptation

2010, Could Be Sad, Drama, Play Adaptation, Wonderful acting

Rabbit Hole (2010)

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From NetFlix:

In this raw drama based on David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name, Becca (Nicole Kidman) and Howie (Aaron Eckhart) grapple with the realities of life eight months after the death of their 4-year-old son, Danny. Even with Becca’s well-meaning mother (Dianne Wiest) offering comfort and weekly group therapy always available, the couple go about their own secret ways of coping. John Cameron Mitchell directs.

For a long time I resisted seeing this film because the underlying theme, the loss of a young child in an automobile mishap, is very difficult. Who knows how each of us would react in such a situation ? In fact, it took me a while to commiserate with Becca (Nicole Kidman) because she seemed to resist the healing process whereas her husband Howie (Aaron Eckhart) was desperate to work together for their life ahead without their son Danny.

All the acting was splendid. But hats off to all the wonderful supporting actors, each of whom did a great job:

  • Dianne Wiest (Becca’s mother) occupies a special place in my heart. We have seen her warm loving smile not only as a DA on “Law and Order” but also as the psychiatrist’s psychiatrist in “In Treatment”.
  • Sandra Oh (a mourning mother in the support group) we have seen as Patti in “Under the Tuscan Sun” and as Stephanie in “Sideways”.
  • Miles Teller is a young newcomer who delivers a pitch perfect performance as the teenager who accidentally killed Danny.
  • Jon Tenney is agent Rick Howard in “The Closer”. His part in this film is minimal but I was glad to see him as something besides the Closer’s FBI husband. He actually has a long list of credits beginning with 1986.

Congratulations to Eckhart (age 43) and Tenney (age 50) for staying in good physical shape while so many actors and actresses allow themselves to put on weight. But after all, folks, shouldn’t your acting profession require a lot of maintenance ?

If you have ever experienced such a dreadful loss, I can only believe that this marvelous film might be a very helpful view into the lives of a couple who have suffered similarly.

2008, Could be boring, Drama, Love Story, Mediocre, Melodrama, Play Adaptation, Sex Scenes

The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Based on an unproduced original screenplay by Tennessee Williams, this drama follows Fisher Willow (Bryce Dallas Howard), the headstrong daughter of a Southern plantation owner. Forced to fulfill her role as a debutante, she chooses farmhand Jimmy Dobyne (Chris Evans) as her escort. As if this weren’t scandalous enough, her announcement that she’s fallen in love with Jimmy threatens to destroy the family. Ann-Margret and Ellen Burstyn co-star.

Sitting through this dullard is almost agony, which proves that not every Tennessee Williams play is worthwhile. Possibly it was the acting, or the slow pace, but I kept waiting for something important. Probably I am used to difficult situations and films that don’t compromise on the difficulties. Things were just too easy, too goody good good. Jimmy’s character was so unbelievably upright that I almost gagged. Could it be that I have become too jaded by the current harshness of entertainment ? However, I did suffer through the entire film and it ended very sweetly.

2008, Drama, Not Feel Good, Play Adaptation, Religious Theme

Doubt (2008)

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From NetFlix:

In a Catholic elementary school in the Bronx, Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) begins to have doubts about one of the priests, Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who seems to have become overly involved in the life of a young African American pupil. But Flynn isn’t the only one she has doubts about. Is she overreacting to the situation or is there a truth that needs to be discovered? John Patrick Shanley’s drama was nominated for five Oscars and co-stars Amy Adams and Viola Davis.

I first saw “Doubt” as the original play with exactly 4 characters: the priest, the two nuns, and the mother of the black student. It was excellent. For this reason I was reluctant to see a remake. That is to say, this film script is the original play greatly amplified by the same author. Fortunately the film is so good that it is a pleasure from beginning to end. The facial expressions of Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman are perfect. The young nun and the black boy’s mother are also excellent. I was relieved to see Streep do so well because when I saw her in a part of “Momma Mia” (I was so embarrassed by her performance that I could only watch part of the musical) I assumed she had begun her senility. Hoffman takes chances with offbeat films and I was glad to see him in a more traditional role.

I would be interested in learning how those of you who are not Catholic reacted to or enjoyed this film. I was a Catholic of the 50s and these scenes are completely accurate. However, Streep plays an embittered old grouch and I can personally assure you that was not at all like the nuns I had teaching me in parochial school.

So … was he guilty or not ?