After looking at an Academy Award winning picture in Casablanca and a best actor in a leading role in Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote, it is time to look at a female lead that has taken home the big prize. This will also be the first movie that I have looked at that is an adaptation of one of horror maestro Stephen King’s novels. As those of you who watch a lot of movies will know, Stephen King’s creations usually turn out one of two ways on film – an absolute train wreck or an entertaining and very strong effort; this movie falls into the latter category. By this point, some of you may have already figured out that I am reviewing the 1990 dramatic thriller Misery.
Adapted for the screen by two time Oscar winner William Goldman (All the President’s Men, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) and directed by Academy Award nominee Rob Reiner (A Few Good Men), the story follows famed novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan – The Godfather) who has just wrapped up his latest novel at a Colorado hideaway. Returning home, he gets caught in a vicious snowstorm and loses control of his car, getting seriously injured in the process.
Luckily, he is found by nurse Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates – who took home best actress in a leading role for this movie) and is brought back to her remote mountain home.
When he awakes, he finds himself with two broken legs and a separated shoulder, though Annie has mended the wounds. She quickly lets him know that she is his “number one fan”. He allows her to read his latest manuscript, which she rescued from the car, and she likes it, despite the excessive profanity.
Things take a turn for the worse when she buys Sheldon’s latest Misery series novel and discovers that the beloved character has been killed off by the scribe. Annie snaps, making Paul burn his latest work and then forces him to write a new book on the return of Misery. Things continue to escalate, creating an intense and claustrophobic thriller with an excellent climax.
The strength of this movie lies in its characters and the actors who portray them. Caan is excellent as the injured, trapped and frightened man. His performance, mixed with the confined setting of the cabin and claustrophobic cinematography, makes for a powerful ride that draws us, the audience, into the room with him. Bates is superb as the psychopathic woman, who at times exudes an ironic sweetness, while at other times, brings forth an intense insanity that scares both Paul Sheldon and the audience alike. As well, actors Richard Farnsworth (the Sheriff – Buster), Lauren Bacall (Sheldon’s publishing agent Marcia) and Frances Sternhagen (Virginia) all make the most of their time on screen.
For most of the time we are left in the small house with Paul and Annie to what amounts to something like a two-man stage-show. It is intense, tight, compact and confining. Much like our main character, we are stuck – forced to watch in horror as the man is slowly shattered by the unbalanced lady. Though I will not reveal the end of the picture, I will say that it has an excellent ending that captures the trauma of the situation and ties into an earlier spoken quote in the movie.
Misery is a very strong adaptation of Stephen King’s tale of the same name – one of the best along with The Shining, Stand By Me and a few others. It features vivid performances from James Caan and Kathy Bates (who took home the Oscar) and solid directing from Rob Reiner. So, don’t write off this effective thriller, for it will surely leave you spellbound.