MovieChat Forums > The Rum Diary (2011) Discussion > why compare the book with the film

why compare the book with the film

posted 12 years ago by w-vds
2 replies | jump to latest

As we're all aware, filming a book isn't easy, they are two different formats with their own grammar.
I don't think this was a bad film, I think it's quite the contrary. I don't deny that it could have been greater, but then again, a lot of great films could have been greater.

The most important thing here is that the film held true to the original idea of the writer of the book. They didn't betray his 'voice' you see. Of course they had to scrap scenes, characters and whatnot, but remind yourself that it is virtually impossible to film a book exactly like it was written. Unless it was a book written with a clear goal of being filmed.

The whole idea of the film is to spread this message Thompson has about the American Dream. And I think the film succeeded in this. You can clearly feel Hunter's frustrations and impotence towards the powers of rich criminals.

So stop complaining, in stead you might consider to write a story or screenplay yourself if you think can do it better :)

[–] ellandroad_allstars 12 years ago

The film imagines tells the story in hindsight, knowing what Thompson would eventually become. In the RD book Paul is not as close to HST as other later personas and he doesn't have as clear an idea of what he'll do after he leaves Peurto Rico. For me the book was more about Paul coming to terms with what it is to be a phony and this is best told through his lust for Chenault and his friendship with Yeoman. These elements were missing I thought from the film.

[–] JaySherman7 11 years ago

Of course they had to scrap scenes, characters and whatnot, but remind yourself that it is virtually impossible to film a book exactly like it was written.

while I do agree that's true, it's not the best argument to make in this case as Fear and Loating in Las Vegas is perhaps the most faithful adaptation from book to screen that I have ever read/seen. scene for scene, almost line for line, right down to the green bath soaps

Bring me four fried chickens and a coke.