MovieChat Forums > Always Outnumbered (1998) Discussion > Differences between book and movie

Differences between book and movie

posted 19 years ago by emisn0
5 replies | jump to latest

I was just wondering if anyone could comment on the differences between the book and the movie. For example, the hat he wears in the movie is different (though i forgot what type of hat they said he wears), and i could have sworn in the beginning of the movie they say that he grades himself everyday (is that in the second book or another difference created by the director. Also, (spoiler ahead)... the job is much more prominent in the book, and I like the way they kept coming back to it in the movie, and i can't remember if they mentioned the Riots in the movie or not, since it's been a while since i last saw it. Though i thought Lawerence Fishburne did a great job portraying Socco.

[–] senseibond 18 years ago

Socco was about 60 in the book.

[–] m-stoked 18 years ago

In the book Always Outnumbered Always Outgunned, Socco was 50 when he got out of prison. It was 8 years later in the main portion of the book, with flashbacks to age 50. I haven't seen the movie, and hope to find it on cable. I just finished the book, and can imagine Fishburne in the role.

[–] RobSac 15 years ago

I hope you've seen the film since. It's really worth it. As you've pointed out, the film makes Socrates a big younger, but the feel of the story is still there. Fishburn is excellent. HBO, which premiered the film in '98, will still run it on occasion, but it's been a while. The DVD is available and it's quite cheap.

[–] LTUM 14 years ago

stoked, did you see the film yet?

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"Where.... can I put my ash?"

[–] LTUM 14 years ago

yes there were some differences but i don't think these hurt the film at all.

i saw the film many times, then read the book ten years later. that order didn't affect my enjoyment of either.

one thing i noticed which i guess they couldn't help; in the book soco was huge and very dark black. fishburne is of course, lighter. but as i said, it played well. he still gave off the tough with his fists vibe, though in the book it was near super human in force.

and as soomeone said, the age and time span was different, but so what. personally i like the story structure of the film better. leaner, concise, and played to a timely and very satisfying conclusion.

i think all the roles in the movie were well cast.

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"Where.... can I put my ash?"