MovieChat Forums > Last Exit to Brooklyn (1990) Discussion > Very Disappointed

Very Disappointed

posted 11 years ago by elrando
7 replies | jump to latest

I had just finished the book and I eagerly got my hands on the film. I was very disappointed by it though. I feel that it really killed a lot of what made the book so amazing. The inclusion of the "relationship" between Tralala and Donna's Brother was terribly unnecessary, and him showing up at the end of the gangbang scene and dramatically crying was just horrible, anyone whose read the novel knew how that scene should have ended. Its portrayll of Harry was very bland, you had know idea what was going on with him and he seemed dull.The novel made it clear how much of a lazy bastard he was and how truly unimportant he was in the union, and during the truck scene it shows Harry heroically punching through a window trying to stop them. This contrasts the novel, where Harry sat out the fight and tried to make it look like he got roughed up.

"Panic.It crept up my spine like first rising vibes of an acid frenzy."-raoul duke

[–] elrando 11 years ago

They totally ruined the whole Georgette story, there was no reason to even include the party scene because it was totally neutered, and they made Georgettes death totally corny and somewhat comical where as in the novel it was so much darker. I don't think Georgette was even hit by a car in the book, im pretty sure that its implied that She went down into the subway and then overdosed.The last chapter of the book "Coda" was basically non existent in the movie, cept for a few scene which they incorporated into the "And baby makes Three" storyline. It seems that they tried to make the factory going back to work as an optimistic ending for the movie, which felt extremely out of place and stupid. They just totally messed this up on so many levels and I hope that one day a more talented director gets their hands on the rights to it.

"Panic.It crept up my spine like first rising vibes of an acid frenzy."-raoul duke

[–] Yinky 11 years ago

I agree, esp about Harry. He's just not a big enough a$$hole. When I read the book I felt like he deserved everything he got. The movie wants you to feel sorry for him.

The gangbang scene was horrific, though. I though JJL was really brave to go thru all that. She is such a great actress...but she doesn't play the game, so she'll probably never win an Oscar. Too bad, she deserves one.

[–] elrando 11 years ago

Her performance in it was very good. What bothered me though is that in the book, by the time the gangbang happened, Tralala was getting extremely run down and gross. It implies that shes having more and more trouble finding suitors because shes getting disgusting and shes covered in pimples. In the movie shes still sexy as hell by the end. They should've used make up and prosthetics to make her rancid.

"Panic.It crept up my spine like first rising vibes of an acid frenzy."-raoul duke

[–] Yinky 11 years ago

You're right. I remember thinking, "she's been wasted for days on end and her make-up is perfect." And her clothes still looked clean and brand new. It would be pretty hard to portray the hopelessness in the book, though, I think--nobody would want to see it. I was really disappointed with the scenes with "the girls"--to me it seemed they didn't put much thought into the costuming, make-up or even casting of the boy-girls. I thought Alexis Arquette was great when she walked into the bar and sat on Vinnie's lap, but her performance fell flat after that. And the actor that played Regina didn't even look like a girl to me.

[–] Edward_de_Vere 11 years ago

I thought that this was overall a very good adaptation of Selby's novel, except for a few key points:

1) As you mention, Harry is portrayed far too sympathetically. In the novel, he talks tough but is a coward when push comes to shove, as was the case during the strike. On the other hand, I think that Lang did a good job portraying Harry's inner torment of being a closeted homosexual.

2) It's easier to overlook the few good qualities this film gives to Harry. What I really found hard to stomach was how the film fell into the trap of portraying Tralala as the cliched "hooker with a heart of gold." In the novel, Tralala was as coarse, brutal, and without humanity as the thugs who pimp her out or the drunks who have their way with her at the end. There was no redemption for her any more than there was for Harry.

3) The film ends on a positive note, with most of the key characters going back to work and bonding with their families in spite of poverty and strife. The novel ends in a slum where one of the main characters has his wife and children starve in squalor as he spends what money he has on cool accessories for his car.

In other words, although this was a very dark film, it was a happy fairy tale compared to the bleak novel that it was based on.

[–] elrando 11 years ago

Yeah, I would love to see Darren Aronofsky do an adaptation of it, he did such a wonderful job with Requiem, I would love to see his take on this.

"Panic.It crept up my spine like first rising vibes of an acid frenzy."-raoul duke

[–] huwdj 8 years ago

I was disappointed as well. Long time since I read the book but I remember the small details and distinct stories that got lost in this film. Often the way when I first watch an adaptation of a well enjoyed book but I don't think I'll be giving the film a second viewing. It's just miserable in so many ways.