Jason KingThe Boy in the Striped Pajamas ($10-) Reposted as finally released TODAY
April 22nd 2009 20:55
Category: No Category
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas ($10-)
Firstly, I say pyjamas but the book and movie say pajamas so if my spelling bounces back it's because I get confused - why can't Americans spell
. Kidding, I know us Oz ppl are nuts.
Based on the novel by John Boyne, THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS is a wrenching Holocaust story about a young German boy and his forbidden friendship with a Jewish child. Bruno (Asa Butterfield) is living a charmed life in Berlin as the son of a high-ranking Nazi soldier, when his father (David Thewlis) is suddenly transferred to a job out in the country. Bruno, as well as his sister Gretel (Amber Beattie) and mother (Vera Farmiga) must all join him at his new post. Bruno is lonely and confused by his new surroundings, and he doesn't understand why he can't wander the grounds or play at a nearby farm. The "farm," of course, is a concentration camp, though Bruno doesn't know this. He soon sneaks away to explore, and meets Shmuel (Jack Scanlon) a prisoner of the camp. Shmuel is eight, the same age as Bruno, and the two form a timid, careful friendship, playing checkers and catch through the barbed wire fence. Bruno knows that his friendship with Shmuel is dangerous, but after witnessing brutal violence perpetrated against some very kind people, he has begun to question the Nazi doctrine of hate. He is no longer sure what to make of his soldier father, whom he once believed to be a hero. When he learns that Shmuel is in trouble, he vows to help him, and together the boys form an outrageous plan that culminates in the film's devastating climax.
As a film this movie can stand on its own - as long as you have not read the book. It comes across as powerful, well told, well cast, great visually but comparing it to the book just ruined it all for me. OK - not all. The casting is nearly amazing, Asa Butterfield is perfect as Bruno, as is Jack Scanlon as Shmuel. Just looking at Shmuel will cause you grief and your sense of protection to go into override. And Asa exhibits the perfect mix of naiivety and adventureness all through his eyes, they eat the screen and both their talents are beyond that of normal child actors. Vera Farmiga is sensational as the mother and has a beautiful elegance onscreen, as the film progresses her sinking into misery is flawless. But David Thewlis, for what I consider the first time in his life, is horrible. I can't seriously blame him though as the screenplay turns him from a scary father into a boring old man that would be better selling groceries than the Nazi responsible for running Auschwitz. And while Karl (Henry Kingsmill) is at times threatening - I never was as scared of him as when I read the book. And the sister, played well by Amber Beattie, is just a boring film representation of what she was in the book - there was no nastiness and she came across more as a Stepford daughter who gets sucked in for love to Nazism, as opposed to the mean older sister.
The driector Mark Herman who also wrote the screenplay made a big mess of things in pre-production. Firstly, the screenplay is a milky version of the story - this book is really small - they could have frame by framed the film to the book but instead, I think due to budgetry limitations, they presented a weak version of what could have been a clean sweep of the Oscars and Baftas if done correct. Some of the strongest elements of the book were completely missing, using the names that Bruno gives to the Fuhrer (Fury) and Auschwitz (Out-With) were mandatory for relaying this story properly and they weren't even used.
Also, the representation of the camp is bad - it look more like a soccerfield with a change room at the end and not nearly as daunting as it should (regardless of book). Towards the very end we get a glimpse of the entire camp and while bad, I wanted it worse. I know this is a child's story that is loved by adults and children alike (even on the study list for schools this year in NSW) and maybe this is why things were milked down to something more digestable and not quite as sickening as the reality but come on people - they see worse on TV now and aren't as stupid as a lot of us might think - they can handle the truth. And told correctly.
I don't mean to keep bitching but even the moment that Jew and German connect did not hold the amount of emotion and impact I was expecting. With music by James Horner, he lifted it up but to me this was as important as the final sinking of Titanic scorewise and it wasn't as powerful. The end scene, which is the climax of the story, is one of the most powerful moments in any book I have ever read and the film shows it and it is powerful but it needed more, I know it's horrible, but people needed to see their faces look at each other to show the moment of realisation and acceptance to them both. Not a door.
I would have loved to see this film directed by Kenneth Brannagh or Danny Boyle - not for his Slumdog brilliance but more for his amazing film Millions which captures a story from a child's perespective perfectly. Brannagh could bring to this story an eye for detail and impeccable direction.
The film does hold its own if I have been slightly harsh, if you are interested in the story I suggest you watch this but read the book - it is powerful and written so well. I am so passionate about this book. I got it for Xmas last year and then after a huge Xmas lunch I sat down in the afternoon and read it cover to cover while wiping tears from my face. I could not put it down. If you are a parent - don't let your child cop out this year, it's worth the viewing but if for school, make sure they read the book - it only took me about 5hrs and it will hit home and educate. Out on limited release in the next few weeks. Worth $10-
Firstly, I say pyjamas but the book and movie say pajamas so if my spelling bounces back it's because I get confused - why can't Americans spell
. Kidding, I know us Oz ppl are nuts.
Based on the novel by John Boyne, THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS is a wrenching Holocaust story about a young German boy and his forbidden friendship with a Jewish child. Bruno (Asa Butterfield) is living a charmed life in Berlin as the son of a high-ranking Nazi soldier, when his father (David Thewlis) is suddenly transferred to a job out in the country. Bruno, as well as his sister Gretel (Amber Beattie) and mother (Vera Farmiga) must all join him at his new post. Bruno is lonely and confused by his new surroundings, and he doesn't understand why he can't wander the grounds or play at a nearby farm. The "farm," of course, is a concentration camp, though Bruno doesn't know this. He soon sneaks away to explore, and meets Shmuel (Jack Scanlon) a prisoner of the camp. Shmuel is eight, the same age as Bruno, and the two form a timid, careful friendship, playing checkers and catch through the barbed wire fence. Bruno knows that his friendship with Shmuel is dangerous, but after witnessing brutal violence perpetrated against some very kind people, he has begun to question the Nazi doctrine of hate. He is no longer sure what to make of his soldier father, whom he once believed to be a hero. When he learns that Shmuel is in trouble, he vows to help him, and together the boys form an outrageous plan that culminates in the film's devastating climax.
As a film this movie can stand on its own - as long as you have not read the book. It comes across as powerful, well told, well cast, great visually but comparing it to the book just ruined it all for me. OK - not all. The casting is nearly amazing, Asa Butterfield is perfect as Bruno, as is Jack Scanlon as Shmuel. Just looking at Shmuel will cause you grief and your sense of protection to go into override. And Asa exhibits the perfect mix of naiivety and adventureness all through his eyes, they eat the screen and both their talents are beyond that of normal child actors. Vera Farmiga is sensational as the mother and has a beautiful elegance onscreen, as the film progresses her sinking into misery is flawless. But David Thewlis, for what I consider the first time in his life, is horrible. I can't seriously blame him though as the screenplay turns him from a scary father into a boring old man that would be better selling groceries than the Nazi responsible for running Auschwitz. And while Karl (Henry Kingsmill) is at times threatening - I never was as scared of him as when I read the book. And the sister, played well by Amber Beattie, is just a boring film representation of what she was in the book - there was no nastiness and she came across more as a Stepford daughter who gets sucked in for love to Nazism, as opposed to the mean older sister.
The driector Mark Herman who also wrote the screenplay made a big mess of things in pre-production. Firstly, the screenplay is a milky version of the story - this book is really small - they could have frame by framed the film to the book but instead, I think due to budgetry limitations, they presented a weak version of what could have been a clean sweep of the Oscars and Baftas if done correct. Some of the strongest elements of the book were completely missing, using the names that Bruno gives to the Fuhrer (Fury) and Auschwitz (Out-With) were mandatory for relaying this story properly and they weren't even used.
Also, the representation of the camp is bad - it look more like a soccerfield with a change room at the end and not nearly as daunting as it should (regardless of book). Towards the very end we get a glimpse of the entire camp and while bad, I wanted it worse. I know this is a child's story that is loved by adults and children alike (even on the study list for schools this year in NSW) and maybe this is why things were milked down to something more digestable and not quite as sickening as the reality but come on people - they see worse on TV now and aren't as stupid as a lot of us might think - they can handle the truth. And told correctly.
I don't mean to keep bitching but even the moment that Jew and German connect did not hold the amount of emotion and impact I was expecting. With music by James Horner, he lifted it up but to me this was as important as the final sinking of Titanic scorewise and it wasn't as powerful. The end scene, which is the climax of the story, is one of the most powerful moments in any book I have ever read and the film shows it and it is powerful but it needed more, I know it's horrible, but people needed to see their faces look at each other to show the moment of realisation and acceptance to them both. Not a door.
I would have loved to see this film directed by Kenneth Brannagh or Danny Boyle - not for his Slumdog brilliance but more for his amazing film Millions which captures a story from a child's perespective perfectly. Brannagh could bring to this story an eye for detail and impeccable direction.
The film does hold its own if I have been slightly harsh, if you are interested in the story I suggest you watch this but read the book - it is powerful and written so well. I am so passionate about this book. I got it for Xmas last year and then after a huge Xmas lunch I sat down in the afternoon and read it cover to cover while wiping tears from my face. I could not put it down. If you are a parent - don't let your child cop out this year, it's worth the viewing but if for school, make sure they read the book - it only took me about 5hrs and it will hit home and educate. Out on limited release in the next few weeks. Worth $10-
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Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
We (the family) were only talking about the book the other day - after my youngest daughter - can you believe it - finished reading it (at the insistence of my eldest).
What rating does the film carry?
Comment by Michelle Sweeney
Competition Queen
The film is raged PG-13 in the States.
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Comment by Cheryl J
Rhythmatism
Budget Centsability
If the movie is half as good as the book, I'l be making an effort to see it.
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Michelle - good plan! I found it hard to not sit there comparing but this is always the case of a movie made from a brilliant book. I ponder why directors do not realise this.
Morgan - I never read Cheryl's review but will now. I also posted a review and highlight for the upcoming film in January just after I read it - it's still one of my spotlight posts - absolutely brilliant book. And not too big - you could probabaly get through it. I remember you said you weren't a big reader - this is one you should give a shot. Speaking of books - have you still got mine that I sent you? Bring to mainland with you - I can collect over a bevvy or 12.
Cheryl - will suss out your review now. Half my issue with the movie is the watering down of the childlike narrative - they do capture some key elements but Fury and Out With were just too important for me in the book to leave out of the film. I did accept the ending as it tied it up quicker for the film. But I wanted all the flashbacks to Granny and the meeting with Fury at the start. I honestly believe all people who read a book are directors calling all the shots intheir head and drawing storyboards on every page they read in their mind. Then I think - did that director even read the book. It is half as good as the book so when it's out - go and watch it.
Thanks heaps people for comments - have a great weekend - and WTF is with it starting to rain this morning. I am going to have to live toga style soon. I need a clothesline you naughty mother nature!
Comment by rix
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Thanks for commenting and hope Uni is going well.
Comment by Butterfly7
Anything and Everything!!!
Im not really much of a book person but after reading about your review on this, i must say i will be looking for that book and cant wait to read it.
I also will be going to see the movie.
Cheers BF7
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Comment by Linh
Celluloid Fun
Love the review.
I normally spell 'pyjamas' but I used 'pajamas' elsewhere on my blog when I mentioned this film.
I would love to see this film but I might wait till after seeing the film before reading the book.
Cheers!
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
The spelling thing messes with my thought process. I see spelling mistakes.
The movie is good but the book is sensationally brilliant. The read is worth the while and very special.
Hope you like both and thanks for commenting.