For today’s next review of Misery (1990), here’s a review by Darren of MovieReviews 101.
Thanks Darren!
Director: Rob Reiner
Writer: William Goldman (Screenplay) Stephen King (Novel)
Starring: James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen, Lauren Bacall
Plot: Paul Sheldon, a successful novelist, is rescued after a snow storm by his “Number One Fan” and must rewrite his latest novel to her liking in order to stay alive.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: One of the Best
Story: Misery starts with Paul Sheldon (Caan) finishing off his latest novel and enjoying a glass on Dom Perignon before returning from his distant cabin through snow filled mountains. The conditions get worse leading to Paul to crash his car and have visions of how he has been struggling with his latest work. Paul is saved from the car wreck by Annie Wilkes (Bates) his number one fan and nurse who takes him back to her house to fix him up.
Paul publicist Marcia Sindell (Bacall) concerned that she hasn’t heard from Paul phones the local Sheriff Buster (Farnsworth) who has to decides to investigate the potential missing persons. Paul gives Annie permission to read his latest novel which leads to him learning about the mental state when it becomes clear she is easily pushed to an extreme. We continue to see how Annie has become obsessed with the Misery character Paul has created.
When Annie finishes the book she finds out that Paul has killed off her beloved character causing her to have a break down. Annie forces Paul to burn the copy of the final book and then makes Paul write a new conclusion where Misery doesn’t die at the end. With the search continuing for Paul, we watch how Paul has to try and figure out a way to survive and potentially escape the Wilkes house. As time goes by Paul works on the book only to Annie’s approval and Sheriff Buster tries to discover whether Paul could still be alive after his car is discovered. Paul learns the truth about Annie leading to him fearing for his life but can he make it out of the predicament before it is too late.
Misery takes what is a simple idea and makes it into one of the most thrilling films ever made. The only bad thing I saw in the film was the fact that with today’s technology we would have seen Paul get free quicker but that is only how certain people will see the film if they are watching think why did he use his cell phone etc. the idea of being saved by a stalker works really well for the film as it drives it to the next level because it gives our character the feeling of safety before being put into a world of horror. The film also keeps you guessing of the mind set of Annie because we see how easily she can turn from pleasant to psycho with a click of fingers. This really is one of the best stories of film time and a King classic. (9/10)
Actor Review
James Caan: Paul Sheldon successful author who while completing his latest work ends up crashing car before being rescued by Annie. After being nursed back to health he finds that he is trapped in the house forced to bring his much loved character back to life. James gives a great performance as the slightly washed up writer. (9/10)
Kathy Bates: Annie Wilkes is Paul’s number one fan and after finding him after the crash takes him back to her house to nurse him back to health. After finding out that Paul has killed off her favourite character and heroine of the book series, she makes him rewrite the story. We also see how she has been keeping secrets that will show her real nature. Kathy gives a stunning performance that rightly won her the Oscar. (10/10)
Support Cast: Misery has a supporting cast of the Sheriff and his wife who are searching for Paul as well as a publicist who is concerned, we really don’t see any other characters.
Director Review: Rob Reiner – Rob does a great job directing this film making us wonder which direction every scene will go. (9/10)
Thriller: Misery keeps you guessing through every scene between Annie and Paul. (9/10)
Settings: Misery keeps the location isolated for the two characters making it impossible for Paul to escape. (10/10)
Suggestion: Misery is one to be watch by all, it is one of those films that manages to pull you in and sympathise with both sides because of their issues. (Watch)
Best Part: Bates performance.
Worst Part: Sadly it has dated, because if it happened today we would see a lot different in the film.
Oh My God Moment: Ankle scene.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: Kathy Bates Won a Oscar for her performance.
Box Office: $61 Million
Budget: $20 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 47 Minutes
Tagline: This Christmas there will be… Misery.
Trivia: Stephen King was initially reluctant to sell the film rights to “Misery” because he was skeptical that a Hollywood studio would make a movie faithful to his vision. However, King was impressed with one adaptation of his works, Rob Reiner’s Stand by Me (1986), and agreed to sell “Misery” under the proviso that Reiner would either produce or direct the film.
Overall: Misery is one of the classics in the thriller world and shows how Stephen King can write almost anything into being thrilling.
Rating 90
Nice review Dazza!!!! 🙂 🙂
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Nice trivia! I never knew he was against the idea at first.
I do understand what you mean about the modern tech. You have made me think today. Whenever before I called a film ‘dated’ it was because of the colours, the quality, the HAIR! Haha, but you have made me think outside the box today with modern gadgets. I grew up in the early 90s so it doesn’t seem that long ago to me, but of course, pesky kids today – I forget how they don’t remember things like I do. You know the programme Gogglebox? One of the kids on there the other day couldn’t’ fathom that his parents grew up without a computer. You do forget that teenagers – 15,16 years old do think things ‘were always like this’ 🙂
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Thanks, that kid is the generation that will be growing up to watch this and wonder why they don’t use phones, computers etc. i work with someone in their 20s who doesn’t understand having a normal phone without the internet.
as a huge fan of nearly all the king adaptations this climbs my previous top 10 but can’t decide which place it will take lol
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Yeah it’s true! I grew up just before technology went mad so I can remember the ‘dark side’ still lol
I mean we never even had texting!!! It was just house phone calls haha. THAT WAS IT!
Mind you I don’t envy the youngsters. We had such a laugh when we were teenagers, no-one was bothered about makeup or false eyelashes or fake tan. We just bombed around in sports clothes and had fun!
The pressure on kids nowadays is crazy.
That’s really exciting!! What is your current Stephen King top 10? 🙂
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i wrote this last year http://moviesreview101.com/2014/03/13/top-10-favourite-stephen-king/
so i have seen more of the classics in that time.
i think technology has put more pressure on everyone, we created jobs that don’t need people and then moan about unemployment. we cure more illness which is good but then moan that there isn’t enough space to live in. but enough about the technology pros and cons this is a film site lol
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Just read it, loved it 🙂 a really great top 10, which isn’t easy to do.
Yeah well you remember me telling you my dream don’t you? Living in a shepherd’s hut, living off the land 🙂
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yeah, it is easy to make a top 10 list when King has been the source for so many great horror ideas, the man really is a genius
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Definitely!!!! Off the top of my head I’d definitely choose –
The Mist
1408
Misery
IT
Carrie
I know I should have Shawshank Redemption, Stand By Me and The Green Mile but I don’t think any of them would actually make my top 10. Only one that would come close is Shawshank and I watched it soooooooo many times when I was younger, I’m all Shawshanked out!
I do really like Secret Window as well ooh and of course The Shining!
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Nice, have you seen both versions of the Shining as we know king didn’t like the original one. i see you have go more towards his horror ones too. 1408 has 2 very different endings and i can never pick my favourite either. even though it comes off rated badly i quite like Riding the Bullet and Thinner
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In fact there are THREE endings to 1408! I’ve seen all of them. I hate one of them, dislike one of them and prefer one of them haha. I do think 1408 is one of those movies where the first 45 minutes are EXCELLENT but it goes slightly downhill after that.
Thinner!!!!! OMG I haven’t seen that in years but I would watch it again in a heartbeat, I must get a copy 🙂
Never seen Riding the Bullet. Sorry Dazza!
Oh I can’t believe I forgot to mention Creepshow – that anthology film is in my top 10 all time!!!! Stephen King wrote the stories (and starred in one!) and George A Romero directed. It’s humorous and camp, not really scary.
Well he said he didn’t like it, but after everyone else loved it (The Shining) he kind of came round lol. I’ve never seen the other, have you? Any good??
Even though everyone loves Stand By Me, I don’t love it. It’s good and I’ve got it on DVD but I don’t “love” it, same with Green Mile. Shawshank I did really love but I’ve just over-watched it now.
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This is a dangerous topic emma. Ur making me wanna do a kingathon. But even I wont be able to watch them all…ideas ideas. .. 😉
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We need to do a Kingathon!!!!!!
It’s only a dangerous topic if we don’t do it!! If we get all the gang together, we’ll cover every movie 🙂 🙂 – Darren’s watched loads already!!
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So have I. But not in a span of a month 😉 ur discussion has made me get the urge to rewatch the stand and it
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Well MOVIERob if anyone can………you’re the man!
Watch The Stand and IT, we’ll get the bases covered soon 🙂
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Seen and read both
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And…….you just said you wanted to watch them again! So do it!! And then we can think about Kingathon 🙂
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Ill email u later
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Okay 🙂
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Sent u both an email
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fair enough, i have seen the other shining and have a copy too, its not as intense as the first one, i have only seen stand by me once so the ending moved me too much so its a winner for me. i have seen a creepshow i can never remeber which one is which anymore. i want to rewatch storm of the century too
1408 grew me me each time i watch it
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Are you seeing what Mr MovieRob is saying? Kingathon! Kingathon! I said you’d seen loads 🙂
Creepshow and Creepshow 2 are both on a par, both Stephen King / George A Romero.
The only ones you want to avoid are any made after those!! 3, 4 whatever – AVOID!
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i think i have some recorded and i have the won with Ted Danson
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Cool! So you’re in then? 🙂
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yeah, why not split the films up and do Sept on serious films and october on the horror films?
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Speak to MovieRob – he’s the man with a vision! I’m happy to watch and write 🙂 🙂
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could even just do a decade of king
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Ill email u both when im home and by my comp
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Misery is my FAVORITE King movie. When it came out in the theater I went to it at least three times. Near the end, when Caan is shoving his manuscript down Bates’ throat and screaming: “Eat it! Eat it till you Choke you SICK! TWISTED! *%&@!!!” The whole theater cheered. I love movies that actually get a response from the crowd like that.
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