Seeing the Story – Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

Poster for film: Killers of the Flower Moon | Movie Poster Source: IMDb.com

Seeing the Story/ Review of Book to Screen Adaptation

Released in 2023.

All screen adaptations will be referred to in the following format “Title (Date).”

4.75/5 When I read Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI in 2021 as my Oklahoma entry in the Across the U.S.A. Stellar Reading Challenge (SRC), it thrilled me to anticipate the screen adaptation in the capable hands of Martin Scorsese. By the way, I highly recommend both the book and film to Gnomies taking on the Regional U.S.A. (RUSA) Tour SRC and seeking a book set in Oklahoma. So, when Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) hit theaters, I soon set aside the time to view it on the large screen.

Click here to read my SBR of David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon.

Click here to learn more about the SRC Regional U.S.A. (RUSA) Tour.

“When oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one – until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.” – IMDb.com

After Scorsese introduced the film, I fell under the spell of Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). The scene where the Osage discovered oil at the beginning almost left me teary-eyed. It pleased me that Scorsese ultimately chose to focus on the plight and tragedy of Mollie Burkhart and her relatives rather than FBI’s perspective. Lily Gladstone portrayed Mollie much the way I imagined her while reading Grann’s book. Both DiCaprio and De Niro became Ernest Burkhart and his uncle, William “King” Hale, respectively.

I must say that Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) isn’t for the faint of heart. The atrocities suffered by the Osage are shown in this film. Click here for the MPAA info page regarding Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).

Just a caveat, though, this film lasts nearly 3 ½ hours. Also, bear in mind that De Niro portrays a character who was 45 years old.

I will probably watch this again… and perhaps post additional thoughts.

Quotes come from description on IMDb and are featured on color blocks. Click here to access this webpage.

Seeing the Story – Callie Khouri’s Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)

Poster for film: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood | Movie Poster Source: Wikipedia

Seeing the Story/ Review of Book to Screen Adaptation

Released in 2002.

All screen adaptations will be referred to in the following format “Title (Date).”

4/5 Just a week ago, I posted my Starlight Book Review (SBR) of Rebecca Wells’ Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, a book I read twenty years after I saw the screen adaptation which it inspired. While the film factored into my opinions while reading the book, I felt my memory of the Callie Khouri’s Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002) movie somewhat faded enough to separate the two. Of course, I recently re-watched the film in planning for this post <smile>.

Click here to read my SBR of Rebecca Wells’ Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.

Click here to learn more about the Back in the Day SRC.

“Siddalee Walker (Sandra Bullock), a famous New York City playwright, is quoted in Time Magazine and infuriates her dramatic, Southern mother. A long-distant fight wages until her mother’s friends (and members of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood) kidnap Siddalee and take her “home” to the South, where they hope to explain her mother’s history and to patch up the rift between mother and daughter.”—kzmckeown

I enjoyed watching Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002). I felt Sandra Bullock, Ellen Burstyn, and the rest of the cast made their respective characters and roles their own. Both the book and the film possessed the same flavor, somewhat of a neighbor to my own experience with the chief setting of Louisiana. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002) stands quite well on its own but reading Wells’ book enriched my second viewing of the film. With that being said, my brain accepts that changes in adaptations must happen but my heart ached at these plot alterations. As to not spoil too much here, I only mention the one where Vivi’s Ya-Yas come up to New York City to “bring” Siddalee down to her hometown at the beginning of the film. So, for this and other switches in the plot, I knocked off a star in my rating.

Quotes come from description on IMDb and are featured on color blocks. Click here to access this webpage.

Seeing the Story – Errol Morris’ A Brief History of Time (1991)

Poster for film: A Brief History of Time | Movie Poster Source: Wikipedia

Seeing the Story/ Review of Book to Screen Adaptation

Released in 1991.

All screen adaptations will be referred to in the following format “Title (Date).”

3.7/5 Last week, I shared my Starlight Book Review (SBR) of Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time. As I strategized my reading for the Back in the Day Stellar Reading Challenge (SRC), I noticed a screen adaptation of sorts of A Brief History of Time existed. Then, I read that Errol Morris’ A Brief History of Time (1991) not only talked of Hawking’s book but focused on Hawking himself. I also seized the chance to watch and review a documentary on my blog.

Click here to read my SBR of Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time.

Click here to learn more about the Back in the Day SRC.

“A film about the life and work of the cosmologist, Stephen Hawking, who despite his near total paralysis, was one of the great minds of all time.” (IMDb) … “Unlike the book, this film is really an anecdotal biography of Stephen Hawking. Clips of his lectures, interviews with friends and family and a little physics are thrown together.”—Jim Sadur <jsadur@keyflux.com>

I nearly considered bestowing A Brief History of Time (1991) with more than one rating. Approaching this as a biographical documentary about Hawking, I felt Morris deserved more stars. I appreciated learning about Hawking’s stellar life (please forgive the pun) and how Hawking and others viewed him. As an adaptation, though, A Brief History of Time (1991) seemed lacking. I enjoyed the visuals but felt this worked better as a short film rather than a ninety minute or so back and forth between Hawking’s life and this particular book.

Quotes come from description on IMDb and are featured on color blocks. Click here to access this webpage.

Seeing the Story – Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980)

The Shining Behind the Scenes Movie Poster is a mixed media by Martin Rois which was uploaded on March 31st, 2021 centered on a light turquoise background | Movie Poster Source: FineArtAmerica

Seeing the Story/ Review of Book to Screen Adaptation

Released by Warner Brothers in 1980

All screen adaptations will be referred to in the following format “Title (Date).”

4.2/5 I recently posted my Starlight Book Review (SBR0 Stephen King’s The Shining as my “Back in the 1970s” Book for the Back in the Day Stellar Reading Challenge (SRC) in anticipation of watching a screen adaptation. Mostly due to availability and recommendations from others, I chose Stanley Kubrick’s movie The Shining (1980) featuring unforgettable performances by Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers, and the young Danny Lloyd.

Click here to read my SBR of Stephen King’s The Shining.

Click here to learn more about the Back in the Day SRC.

“Haunted by a persistent writer’s block, the aspiring author and recovering alcoholic, Jack Torrance, drags his wife, Wendy, and his gifted son, Danny, up snow-capped Colorado’s secluded Overlook Hotel after taking up a job as an off-season caretaker. As the cavernous hotel shuts down for the season, the manager gives Jack a grand tour, and the facility’s chef, the ageing Mr Hallorann, has a fascinating chat with Danny about a rare psychic gift called “The Shining”, making sure to warn him about the hotel’s abandoned rooms, and, in particular, the off-limits Room 237. However, instead of overcoming the dismal creative rut, little by little, Jack starts losing his mind, trapped in an unforgiving environment of seemingly endless snowstorms, and a gargantuan silent prison riddled with strange occurrences and eerie visions. Now, the incessant voices inside Jack’s head demand sacrifice. Is Jack capable of murder?—Nick Riganas“

As with King’s book, I also prepared for The Shining (1980) to scare me silly. Yet, I felt the mental pictures I formed while reading The Shining more frightening than the film. Yes, I was on edge and a bit anxious as I watched the movie but I didn’t flinch as much as I expected. Nicholson easily dominated his scenes in this film with his electrifying performance. I still liked Hallorann as portrayed by the charming and seemingly affable Crothers. I found some of the changes necessary — Danny showing the audience that he and the invisible Tony were talking by moving his finger being one — I wished for a little more adherence in other spots. A few things, such as more about the horrific topiary and more of Hallorann’s struggle and outcome, deserved more air time. I do realize that the former might be due to the limitations of special effects in 1980 but The Shining (1980) could have somehow nodded more to this. On its own, The Shining (1980) excels as a film but… I ultimately preferred the book I read for the SRC.

Quotes come from description on IMDb and are featured on color blocks. Click here to access this webpage.

Seeing the Story – Marcus Cole’s From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (1995)

Cover of the 2000 DVD release the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler in the center of a brown background | Cover Image Source: Wikipedia

Seeing the Story/ Review of Book to Screen Adaptation

Released by ABC Network in 1995

All screen adaptations will be referred to in the following format “Title (Date).”

3/5 I continued to read children’s literature with the “Back in the 1960s” Book for the Back in the Day Stellar Reading Challenge (SRC). As with One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961), I watched From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (1995) when ABC ran in the 1990s. In fact, I remember thinking Jean Marie Barnwell looked much like a friend and classmate of mine. Yet, I held off on reading the source material until this year. I sought out The Hideaways (1973) but From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (1995) was what was available to me.

Click here for check out my Starlight Book Review (SBR) of E.L. Konigsburg’s From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

Click here to learn more about the Back in the Day SRC.

“Two runaway kids hide in a museum. Once they are locked inside overnight, they try to solve a mystery about a statue supposedly carved by Michelangelo, known as “The Angel”. Will they solve the mystery in time?” – IMDb.com

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (1995) achieved a close adherence to Konigsburg’s original work. Lauren Bacall charmed in the titular role and I enjoyed most of her parts. I found Mrs. Kincaid a bit thoughtless in this screen adaptation which I didn’t like at all. I also wished From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (1995) kept the movie in the 1960s rather than the 1990s; this pre-World Trade Center tale lost some of its whimsy in this adaptation. All things considered, this film made for a light ninety minute or so diversion.

Quotes come from description on IMDb and are featured on color blocks. Click here to access this webpage.

Starry Says — Episode #57/ Seeing the Story — Sam Wood’s For Whom the Bell Tolls

Theatrical Film Poster – For Whom the Bell Tolls on a Gray Background | Film Poster Source – Wikipedia

Seeing the Story/ Review of Book to Screen Adaptation

Released by Paramount Pictures in 1943.

All screen adaptations will be referred to in the following format “Title (Date).”

Note from Gnomie Hostess: I’m behind one blog post. Starry Says #57 morphs into Seeing the Story… I look forward to returning with a bona fide Starry Says Episode next week. – sne

3.4/5 I chose Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls to read for Back in the 1940s” entry for the Back in the Day Stellar Reading Challenge (SRC) partially in anticipation of watching the film featuring Ingrid Bergman, a favorite actress of mine. When I picked up the DVD I checked out from library of Sam Wood’s For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943), I noticed I underestimated the amount of time I needed to view the film.

Click here for check out my Starlight Book Review of Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Click here to learn more about the Back in the Day SRC.

Spain in the 1930s is the place to be for a man of action like Robert Jordan. There is a civil war going on and Jordan who has joined up on the side that appeals most to idealists of that era — like Ernest Hemingway and his friends — has been given a high-risk assignment up in the mountains. He awaits the right time to blow up a bridge in a cave. Pilar, who is in charge there, has an ability to foretell the future. And so that night she encourages Maria, a young girl ravaged by enemy soldiers, to join Jordan who has decided to spend the night under the stars.—Dale O’Connor <daleoc@interaccess.com> [IMDb]

This film lasted 2 hours, 46 minutes. I struggled to pay attention throughout the film but I appreciated the performances by Bergman, Gary Cooper, and Katina Paxinou. I liked that For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943) closely adhered to the book despite the length of both book and film. Cooper’s Robert Jordan expressed his thoughts in Shakespearean soliloquy style which I found striking.

I believe if someone adapted this story today, they might opt instead for a limited series/miniseries format rather than film. Still and all, I feel fortunate to access and see For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943) in such a simple way; popping in a DVD rather than waiting for it to show up in a cinema.

Seeing the Story – Rebecca Hall’s Passing

A poster divided in black and white with a woman on each side. Under them is the tagline, “Nothing is black and white.” Also included is an image of film and the Starry Night Elf avatar on a light blue background | Poster Image Source: Ace Show Biz

Seeing the Story/ Review of Book to Screen Adaptation

Released on Netflix in 2021

3.9/5 Some Gnomies might recall that I like studying genealogy. Of course, I watch shows such as “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates” (FYR). Fortunately, I caught the episode featuring Rebecca Hall. Much of Hall’s time on FYR focused on her mother’s African heritage. After I saw Hall on FYR, I noticed her adaptation of Nella Larsen’s Passing in my Netflix queue. Upon further reading, I discovered that Hall started writing the screenplay about ten years before the film premiered as she reflected upon her own family’s history. You can access my Starlight Book Review of Larsen’s work by clicking here. It thrilled me to see this film after I read the book and, thus, review it in my first “Seeing the Story” on the Starry Night Elf (SNE) Blog.

For the rest of this review, I’ll refer to the book as Passing and the film as Passing (2021).

“Based on Nella Larsen’s novel that first published in 1929, “Passing” follows the unexpected reunion of two high school friends, Clare Kendry (Ruth Negga) and Irene Redfield (Tessa Thompson), whose renewed acquaintance ignites a mutual obsession that threatens both of their carefully constructed realities.”

I felt Passing (2021) adhered well to Passing by Larsen. It still astonishes me that this book remained “un-adapted” for ninety-two years! I found cinematographer Eduard Grau’s deep black and white photography especially striking. Hall made an amazing directorial debut; lead actresses Negga and Thompson delivered superb performances. Still, as Passing left various things to the imagination, a facet of the film medium it “shows’ viewer events. Nevertheless, I knocked off a sliver of a star in my rating for an interpretation for the screen toward the end of the film. Setting that aside, though, I look forward to seeing more from Hall as a director as well as Negga and Thompson’s work.

Quotes come from description on Ace Show Biz and are featured on color blocks. Click here to access this webpage.