"What froze me was the fact that I had absolutely no reason to move in any direction..." (3.5 stars)
Added 11/21/2009
I am happy to report that "Mother Night" is a far more superior adaptation than the embarrassment that was the film version of "Breakfast of Champions." Here is a movie that really does its best to stay true to the original source. Things are left out at times, sure, but the overall message is left in tack. Still, it is with regret that I say the movie doesn't completely work for me. It came close, but I have to say that this adaptation is a helluva lot better than most.
The story concerns one Howard W. Campbell Jr., who awaits for his trial in Israel for war crimes. Born in America, Howard ended up being a powerful and forceful tool of the Nazis, as he has a knack for writing and was well respected by the Nazis when he and his wife moved to Berlin where he wrote a number of plays. Howard spreads propaganda during the war where his voice is heard by many through his infamous radio broadcasts. Only thing is, Howard really isn't a Nazi. No, he is an American Spy posing as one. He had been hired by a man who works for the U.S. Government, although he cannot seem to prove he really exists. The problem is that Howard does a little too good of a job pretending he is a Nazi, and his speeches end up being a lot more horribly effective than he could have ever dreamed of. As Howard writes from his jail cell about all of the events that have occurred to land him there, he is forced to define himself as a human being, and wonder what exactly has he accomplished. Was it for good? Did he do the right thing? Did he do the right thing for the right reason? These are questions that tend to haunt him as he tells his story.
The movie is well directed and acted. Nick Nolte does a fine job with his role. I couldn't have asked for anybody better to play "Howard W. Campbell Jr." Alan Arkin and John Goodman are also terrific in the film. There are some genuine funny moments, along with some heartbreaking ones as well. The movie, as I've said in the beginning, does a really good job of not betraying the book. The DVD has a few neat extras, like an on-the-set interview with Kurt Vonnegut and Nick Nolte, and some deleted scenes.
So why only 3 and a half stars? The main problem I had with the movie was that I found it to be a little too artsy and somber. Vonnegut is very hard to present on film, as most of the humor and insight comes from the writing itself. I felt that the transition to film ended up leaving out a lot of the dark humor that is in the book. Not on purpose, mind you. And while the book wasn't meant to be a laugh-riot, the film feels a little overly sad. If I had seen the movie without reading the book, I probably would have enjoyed it more. Still, this is a far better adaptation than most. I admire the fact that the movie does not try to go for a clean Hollywood ending and lets it end the way it was meant to be concluded, just as it happened in the novel.
If I never read the book when I saw this film, I'd probably give it 4 stars. I know you should always consider the book and movie to be two separate things, but that's not always easy. Especially if you really love the book.
"Mother Night" is by no means flawless, but it does a good job with Vonnegut's words. It's a fascinating story with a lot of twists. If you haven't read the book, there's more of a chance that you'll end up liking it. If you loved the book, I think there's still a chance that you will also enjoy it, even if you don't end up loving it. It's definitely worth a rental. And if you haven't read the book, I highly encourage that you do so! - Michael Crane
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Be Careful
Added 6/13/2007
An interesting DVD. The movie was good but the extras were even better. The interview with Vonnegut and Nolte was quite interesting, as was an idea for trailer that was eventually modified before being used. It occurred to me that the original trailer (still admired by the producers) violated the warning of the movie by being something that should not even be pretended at.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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In the end, we are what we pretend to be....
Added 10/5/2006
As an avid fan of Kurt Vonnegutt, I have been somewhat disappointed in some of the movie adaptations of his work. This, however, is an exceptional film and very true to the novel. It may be Mr. Nolte's best performance in any role. He is believable, frightening, and pitiable at the same time. A moving and enlightening work that reminds us all that we are what we pretend to be in the end.
2 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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Better with each watching.
Added 4/5/2006
The first time I watched this film I liked it. The second time I loved it. The third time I worshipped it. The characters grow on me more each time - I could spend two hours just watching Alan Arkin and Nick Nolte talking about nothing over a bottle of wine.
I'm a Vonneut fan, and this is the only film to capture not just his wit and plot but the wonderful, wonderful characters he creates.
4 out of 5 people found this helpful.
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It Doesn't Suck!
Added 3/10/2006
I was skeptical about this movie. Movies based on novels are almost always severely lacking or they mess up the whole theme making it suitable for hollywood. Mother Night is not one of those movies. It follows the book pretty closely and uses the medium of film to take it a step further. I'd still recommend reading the book by Kurt Vonnegut, but this movie won't disappoint.
4 out of 6 people found this helpful.
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"What froze me was the fact that I had absolutely no reason to move in any direction..." (3.5 stars)
Added 11/21/2009
I am happy to report that "Mother Night" is a far more superior adaptation than the embarrassment that was the film version of "Breakfast of Champions." Here is a movie that really does its best to stay true to the original source. Things are left out at times, sure, but the overall message is left in tack. Still, it is with regret that I say the movie doesn't completely work for me. It came close, but I have to say that this adaptation is a helluva lot better than most.
The story concerns one Howard W. Campbell Jr., who awaits for his trial in Israel for war crimes. Born in America, Howard ended up being a powerful and forceful tool of the Nazis, as he has a knack for writing and was well respected by the Nazis when he and his wife moved to Berlin where he wrote a number of plays. Howard spreads propaganda during the war where his voice is heard by many through his infamous radio broadcasts. Only thing is, Howard really isn't a Nazi. No, he is an American Spy posing as one. He had been hired by a man who works for the U.S. Government, although he cannot seem to prove he really exists. The problem is that Howard does a little too good of a job pretending he is a Nazi, and his speeches end up being a lot more horribly effective than he could have ever dreamed of. As Howard writes from his jail cell about all of the events that have occurred to land him there, he is forced to define himself as a human being, and wonder what exactly has he accomplished. Was it for good? Did he do the right thing? Did he do the right thing for the right reason? These are questions that tend to haunt him as he tells his story.
The movie is well directed and acted. Nick Nolte does a fine job with his role. I couldn't have asked for anybody better to play "Howard W. Campbell Jr." Alan Arkin and John Goodman are also terrific in the film. There are some genuine funny moments, along with some heartbreaking ones as well. The movie, as I've said in the beginning, does a really good job of not betraying the book. The DVD has a few neat extras, like an on-the-set interview with Kurt Vonnegut and Nick Nolte, and some deleted scenes.
So why only 3 and a half stars? The main problem I had with the movie was that I found it to be a little too artsy and somber. Vonnegut is very hard to present on film, as most of the humor and insight comes from the writing itself. I felt that the transition to film ended up leaving out a lot of the dark humor that is in the book. Not on purpose, mind you. And while the book wasn't meant to be a laugh-riot, the film feels a little overly sad. If I had seen the movie without reading the book, I probably would have enjoyed it more. Still, this is a far better adaptation than most. I admire the fact that the movie does not try to go for a clean Hollywood ending and lets it end the way it was meant to be concluded, just as it happened in the novel.
If I never read the book when I saw this film, I'd probably give it 4 stars. I know you should always consider the book and movie to be two separate things, but that's not always easy. Especially if you really love the book.
"Mother Night" is by no means flawless, but it does a good job with Vonnegut's words. It's a fascinating story with a lot of twists. If you haven't read the book, there's more of a chance that you'll end up liking it. If you loved the book, I think there's still a chance that you will also enjoy it, even if you don't end up loving it. It's definitely worth a rental. And if you haven't read the book, I highly encourage that you do so! - Michael Crane
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Be Careful
Added 6/13/2007
An interesting DVD. The movie was good but the extras were even better. The interview with Vonnegut and Nolte was quite interesting, as was an idea for trailer that was eventually modified before being used. It occurred to me that the original trailer (still admired by the producers) violated the warning of the movie by being something that should not even be pretended at.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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In the end, we are what we pretend to be....
Added 10/5/2006
As an avid fan of Kurt Vonnegutt, I have been somewhat disappointed in some of the movie adaptations of his work. This, however, is an exceptional film and very true to the novel. It may be Mr. Nolte's best performance in any role. He is believable, frightening, and pitiable at the same time. A moving and enlightening work that reminds us all that we are what we pretend to be in the end.
2 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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