for my money the best adaptation is welles’s the trial. not in terms of literal plot/story events (or ending!) but in terms of acutely kafkerian atmos (particularly evident when compared to the other version or the castle say). not reconciled gets pretty close too, by S&H’s indelible (even more so than welles’) auteur imprint trumps kafka.
zazie dans le métro and the saragossa manscript rate highly for me too, again in terms of capturing the tone (and actually being fairly faithful story-wise) but mostly for inspiring something of a similar feeling to reading the respective novels.
i suppose short stories are a different kettle of fish but the dead is perfect as adaptation, and in every other way as well.
re: the comments a little further up, haneke doesn’t just hate homosexuals and children; he hates everyone. who isn’t him. white ribbon is of course a masterful piece of film-making (apart from a couple of instances of surprising obviousness) but really invidious in its professed aim to ask questions rather than give answers whilst distinctly prodding. basically, it falls apart on close inspection. there’s a passably diverting review of it (by me, i admit) at: http://screencrave.com/2009-11-03/afi-festival-the-white-ribbon/ i was sincerely hoping it would change my attitude toward haneke, but it simply reinforced it.
Successful Books -> Film over 2 years ago
for my money the best adaptation is welles’s the trial. not in terms of literal plot/story events (or ending!) but in terms of acutely kafkerian atmos (particularly evident when compared to the other version or the castle say). not reconciled gets pretty close too, by S&H’s indelible (even more so than welles’) auteur imprint trumps kafka.
zazie dans le métro and the saragossa manscript rate highly for me too, again in terms of capturing the tone (and actually being fairly faithful story-wise) but mostly for inspiring something of a similar feeling to reading the respective novels.
i suppose short stories are a different kettle of fish but the dead is perfect as adaptation, and in every other way as well.
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The White Ribbon could be Michael Haneke's best feature yet? over 2 years ago
re: the comments a little further up, haneke doesn’t just hate homosexuals and children; he hates everyone. who isn’t him. white ribbon is of course a masterful piece of film-making (apart from a couple of instances of surprising obviousness) but really invidious in its professed aim to ask questions rather than give answers whilst distinctly prodding. basically, it falls apart on close inspection. there’s a passably diverting review of it (by me, i admit) at: http://screencrave.com/2009-11-03/afi-festival-the-white-ribbon/ i was sincerely hoping it would change my attitude toward haneke, but it simply reinforced it.
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What is the greatest film title ever? over 2 years ago
the sequel that never was: seriously dude, where’s my car?
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