This was a wonderful book, but a mediocre movie. The book is among my favourite 10 of all times!
http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/sunday-post-famous-movies/
In the book but not in the movie is the delightful and hilarious story of wrought iron gates in Savannah.
Here are a few photos (taken with a first generation digital camera in 1999) of the charming town of Savannah. But do read the book!
Review of the movie taken from Amazon.
Readers of John Berendt’s bestselling novel were bound to be at least somewhat disappointed by this big-screen adaptation, but despite mixed reaction from critics and audiences, there’s still plenty to admire about director Clint Eastwood’s take on the material. Readers will surely miss the rich atmosphere and societal detail that Berendt brought to his “Savannah story,” and the movie can only scratch the surface of Georgian history, tradition, and wealthy decadence underlying Berendt’s fact-based murder mystery. Still, Eastwood maintains an assured focus on the wonderful eccentrics of Savannah, most notably a gay Savannah antiques dealer (superbly played by Kevin Spacey), who may or may not have killed his friend and alleged lover (Jude Law). John Cusack plays the Town & Country journalist who arrives in Savannah to find much more than he bargained for–including the city’s legendary drag queen Lady Chablis (playing “herself”)–and John Lee Hancock’s smoothly adapted screenplay succeeds in bringing Berendt’s characters vividly to life with plenty of flavorful dialogue. In similar fashion to Warner’s acclaimed DVD of L.A. Confidential, this classy DVD includes a behind-the-scenes documentary titled The Real People in the Garden and an interactive map tour of Savannah and its most celebrated (or notorious) citizens. The original theatrical trailer is also included. –Jeff Shannon
Rosa
Jun 18, 2012 @ 09:37:43
My 1e digitale kameratjie (Canon) het sy beperkinge ( oa VREET hy battery krag) maar sy kleur is vir my oor die algemeen baie beter as die ene wat ek nou gebruik.
hou sommer baie van hierdie foto’s van jou
melouisef
Jun 18, 2012 @ 09:46:15
Baie dankie. Die eerste kamera was ‘n klein fortuintjie en ons moes ‘n notaboek saamneem om fotos af te laai. Deesdae kan ons nie eens meer flashcards vir hom kry nie, maar hy was eintlik goed. Dit was ‘n Fujifilm kamera. Ek het ‘n voorliefde vir hulle omdat hulle kleur so goed is.
TBM
Jun 18, 2012 @ 10:16:12
I was just talking with another blogger that I need to read this book.
melouisef
Jun 18, 2012 @ 10:54:48
Highly recommended – the book, you can skip the movie
🙂
I am still laughing at some of the characters!
murphy
Jun 18, 2012 @ 10:25:11
Ek was jare gelede in Savannah. Dit was ‘n betowerende plek en die gevoel daarvan bly my nou nog by.
melouisef
Jun 18, 2012 @ 10:55:32
Ek sou maklik daar gaan woon, behalwe vir die WARM somers. Jy moet tog die boek lees!
murphy
Jun 18, 2012 @ 11:12:43
Ek het die fliek gesien, sal die boek vir my kry. (Ek dink ek was in my laat 20’s toe ek die fliek gesien het, so die helfte daarvan sou sekerlik oor my kop gegaan het). Maar ek gaan beslis die boek lees.
sunnabelle37
Jun 18, 2012 @ 13:08:20
Loved the book, and yes, Kevin Spacey as always never disappoints me! The movie was so so.
melouisef
Jun 18, 2012 @ 13:26:38
Oh yes Spacey is as always excellent, in fact all the actors were good and I loved the Lady Chablis but the movie just lacked something.
sunnabelle37
Jun 18, 2012 @ 13:31:05
I agree.
sunnabelle37
Jun 18, 2012 @ 22:47:06
The only movie which ever seemed to be better than the book, in my opinion of course, was Milan Kundera’s “The Unbearable Lightness of Being”. I love Kundera, started reading him while in Prague, but, could not get through it well. It was a difficult read for me, this one story of his in particular. Perhaps it’s just because I have a penchant for Daniel Day Lewis…Perhaps, but I loved the movie.
melouisef
Jun 19, 2012 @ 05:28:59
Somebody asked me for the e-book version the other day and I realized I have never even read the book. But it seems a very thick book? I faintly but very faintly remember the movie because I saw that many years back.
sunnabelle37
Jun 19, 2012 @ 05:54:23
The movie is out of print, at least the DVD, and I paid top dollar for it. I recently ordered it for a friend, and it was not as much, but still, at least $30.00 american dollars. Quite steep, but worth every penny for one of my favorite movies of all times! The book should be easy to get, at least on Amazon.
melouisef
Jun 19, 2012 @ 06:03:19
I have the e-book for my kindle, but I suppose I could rent the video from a video shop.
jakesprinter
Jun 18, 2012 @ 13:45:49
Great post my friend thanks for sharing 🙂
melouisef
Jun 18, 2012 @ 15:11:43
Thank you, it wasn’t so hard after all
🙂
restlessjo
Jun 18, 2012 @ 20:32:32
The book looks spooky but your photos of Savannah look fabulous!
melouisef
Jun 18, 2012 @ 21:46:35
Thank you. The book is based on true events that took place in Savannah and real characters present and past. Wonderful read, not spooky, maybe just the video cover
🙂
rondomtaliedraai
Jun 19, 2012 @ 14:00:15
Pragtig… kyk net daai geute!
melouisef
Jun 19, 2012 @ 14:26:55
En dis hoe charming die plek is tot die geute is versier
🙂
adinparadise
Jun 19, 2012 @ 14:57:33
Lovely photos of Savannah. It’s such a beautiful and historical town. I’ve neither read the book, nor seen the movie. Sounds like I’m missing out on something good. 😉
melouisef
Jun 19, 2012 @ 21:13:18
definitely a must read!
🙂