Authors: Hans-Ake Lilja
If you get a chance to catch this one in a festival or online you should definitely take it. King’s feeling is here, the acting is good and the movie is good. See it if you can.
****
Umney’s Last Case
Posted: March 11, 2006
About the same time I heard that
Umney’s Last Case
was going to be included in TNT’s TV series based on
Nightmares & Dreamscapes
, I got the “Dollar Baby” version of the same story sent to me.
These “Dollar Babies” are made on a small budget and should be seen in that light, but even if this version didn’t have the same budget as TNT’s it’s still very good.
This version of
Umney’s Last Case
is a nice little movie that runs just about eighteen minutes. It’s very well done and Rodney Altman has done a good job in translating King’s story to the screen. It would have benefited from being a bit longer though. It feels a bit rushed, but still, it’s very good.
The casting is well done and the actors do what can be expected from them, though I do like Joel Nagle a little more than the rest. He does a good job portraying Clyde Umney and is really believable as a pre-World War I detective who wakes up one day to find that he is about to meet his maker—Samuel Landry, the author of his life.
As you know, Umney is just a fictional character in Landry’s books about Umney, the private detective. Landry hasn’t had an easy life, has found a way to write himself into his books and once there, he has no intention of leaving....
Lilja’s final words about
Umney’s Last Case
As I said, it should have been a bit longer, but it’s still a very good version of King’s story. See it if you can!
****
Home Delivery
Posted: March 14, 2006
Wow,
Home Delivery
is one of the coolest “Dollar Babies” I have ever seen (and I have seen quite a few of them). It’s animated in the same style as Disney’s
The Incredibles
and it looks very good.
I first saw pictures from this one online and thought to myself, “I have to see this one!” Now that I have I’m stunned. It’s so very well done!
If I hadn’t known it I would have never guessed that this one is a “Dollar Baby.” It’s so well done it could be a pre-movie to any blockbuster or included as an extra on a DVD.
The story is told by a narrator and illustrated as if she (the narrator) is reading a book with the story. It’s also as if it were shot with wide camera angles and swooping movements. I’m not sure if I make myself understandable here, but it looks very good and grand.
Most of you probably already know the story. The story is about how mankind turns into zombies and rules the world. Maddy, the main character, lives on an island where most of its inhabitants (including her husband) have lost their lives to the sea. So, even though the cemetery is pretty empty, the sea is fuller, and one night her husband returns…
King even has a cameo in it, sort of. He isn’t in it himself, but if you take a look at the president you’ll understand what I mean…
Lilja’s final words about
Home Delivery
If you can you should really take the chance to see this one. As I have said, it’s one of the coolest and best “Dollar Babies” I have seen. Hopefully it’ll be participating in the third “Dollar Baby” Festival.
****
Popsy
Posted: March 26, 2007
When I get a “Dollar Baby” to review it varies quite a lot as to how it’s packed and presented. Some I get as a file in an email, some I get on a burnt CD or on a videocassette. Sometimes though (and these are the nice ones) I get a “Dollar Baby” that is on a nice-looking DVD disc, which has a nice cover, menus and even trailers. Those, needless to say, are the times it’s extra fun to review a “Dollar Baby....”
Popsy
was sent to me on a disc in a DVD case with a nice cover. The cover was done as an old EC comic and the overall feeling was very promising.
I popped it in my DVD player and it looked quite professional. It had a trailer for another Brian Haynes movie, a trailer for
Popsy
and a scene selection menu where the scenes were illustrated by comic versions of the actual scenes. Quite impressive for a “Dollar Baby”.
But, having seen a lot of “Dollar Babies” I know better than to just fall for a nice cover (if you know what I mean). So, I calmed down and pressed play…
After seeing the movie, I’m happy to say, I was still impressed.
Popsy
is a very good-looking “Dollar Baby”. Sure, you can tell that the acting is done by amateurs: good amateurs, but still amateurs. It’s a nice-looking movie though. The weak link in the movie is the kid…he is good in some scenes and not so good in others. It gives an impression that he is OK, but could do better. I’m also a bit skeptical of the biting scene. It looks a bit too fake....
What I do like, though, is the overall vibe of
Popsy
and, of course, the scene at the end when Popsy slit Sheridan’s throat and let his grandson drink. Very well done for a “Dollar Baby”.
Lilja’s final words about
Popsy
So, for a “Dollar Baby”,
Popsy
is definitely above average. Brian has done a good job with it and I sure hope it will reach more people in the future. With the number of “Dollar Babies” out there it’s definitely time for a DVD with the best of them collected…and if that happens, I bet you will find
Popsy
included.
****
I Know What You Need
Posted: August 15, 2007
A couple of days ago a DVD appeared in my mailbox. It was a copy of the “Dollar Baby”
I Know What You Need
by Shawn Lealos. When I opened it I was happy to see that it was one of those “Dollar Babies” that had been packed properly. By that I mean that it came in a DVD box with a decent cover, menus, bonus material and so on. It’s so much nicer than the ones that are just a file that you have to watch on your computer.
Both the way the film is presented and the script show that Shawn really loves to make movies. It’s also very clear after listening to the commentary tracks to the film that he worked very hard to make this “Dollar Baby”. The script seems promising, but unfortunately the acting isn’t very good. You can tell fairly easily that all the actors are amateurs as well as that
I Know What You Need
is a low-budget movie, especially judging from the interior. I guessed (and also got it confirmed in the commentary tracks) that it’s shot in a private home and not a studio.
Low budget is normal for these “Dollar Babies” though, so I won’t be too hard on Shawn about that, but most of the actors and actresses are really bad. I’m sorry to say that, but no matter how much I want to say they are believable in their roles I can’t. I know from listening to the commentary tracks that Shawn is happy with them, but I’m sorry…they aren’t doing their jobs.
As mentioned earlier, the DVD has a rather interesting commentary track. The only thing I don’t like with it is that Shawn had a cold when he recorded it and from time to time you can realize that all too well…
Besides having a commentary track, the DVD also has deleted scenes (with commentaries) and an introduction to the movie that was probably made for a “Dollar Baby” festival.
Lilja’s final words about
I Know What You Need
Take the chance to see
I Know What You Need
if you get it. Even though it’s not the best “Dollar Baby” I have seen, it’s done with love and you can tell that a lot of work has gone into making it.
****
El Sueño de Harvey
Posted: September 25, 2007
I have just seen
El Sueño de Harvey
, or
Harvey’s Dream
, as the original title is. Unfortunately, this one is in Spanish and the first time I saw it I didn’t know it had English subtitles. I didn’t understand a thing, and with a non-action based movie like this filmmakers are bound to lose everyone who doesn’t speak Spanish…
I did find the subtitles option, but unfortunately it’s still very slow and not much really happens during the approximately fifteen-minute runtime.
Still, I really don’t think this movie would have been better if it were done in English. I really doubt if this is the right story to turn into a movie. I have no doubt that Rodolfo Weisskirch is a talented filmmaker, or will be through more practice, but if a story is rather slow anyway maybe it’s better if it stays on paper and not wander off to the movies. I think
Harvey’s Dream
is that kind of story.
For those of you who don’t know, I can tell you that
Harvey’s Dream
is the story of Harvey, who has a very bad dream in which his daughter calls him to tell him that his sister has died. A very dramatic, but not cinematic story, I’m afraid.
Lilja’s final words about
El Sueño de Harvey
Even if this movie is quite nicely shot, it has everything else going against it. It’s based on a story that might not be the best/easiest one to turn into a movie, it’s in Spanish and it’s really slow. All that is very evident when you watch it, and it also makes it very clear how important it is to choose the right story to adapt…
****
Suffer the Little Children
Posted: September 25, 2007
Many “Dollar Babies” aren’t that good, but from time to time there is one that really stands out and grabs you.
Suffer the Little Children
is one of those grabbers. The story is easy to translate to a movie and it doesn’t really demand much.
There are some special effects in it and they are handled surprisingly well. We get to see a kid with black eyes and also how he transforms into some kind of monster. That transformation is one of the best special effect scenes I have seen in a “Dollar Baby”.
I was really surprised to see that it was done so well and that they showed so much of what was happening.
I also really liked the teacher, played by Angela Pietropinto. She really looks crazy and works very well in the movie.
Suffer the Little Children
is the story of a teacher who starts to see changes in one of her students. His eyes are turning black and he is acting creepy. After a while he also shows her that he can transform. That’s where the special effects happen.
Since she knows nobody will believe her, she decides to take matters into her own hands. One by one she leads the children to a private room. Here she plans to shoot them all to death…one after the other. The only problem is that she doesn’t really know if she’s right or if she’s crazy…
Lilja’s final words about
Suffer the Little Children
Suffer the Little Children
is a “Dollar Baby” you should definitely see if you get the chance. It’s a good story that has good acting and superb special effects.
Section 5—The Scripts
Insane Clown Poppy
Posted: August 7, 2000
This isn’t really a King work, but rather, this is a work with King in it. In this episode of
The Simpsons
, King appears as himself for a short while.
First, I would like to say that this is like any other episode of
The Simpsons
: either you like it or you don’t. It’s not a Stephen King special.
The episode is about how Krusty the Clown finds out he has a daughter (Sophie) who is now ten years old. Since he has absolutely no idea about how to raise a child, he turns to the one man who would know. Yes, you guessed it, Homer Simpson.
The episode then tells the story of how Krusty loses his daughter’s violin and has to get it back from a mob with Homer’s help.
Where does Stephen King fit into all of this, then? Well, the episode starts with a trip to a “Springfield Festival of Books” where King sits and signs books. This is where Krusty finds out he has a daughter. How did author Stephen King find his cartoon way into an episode of
The Simpsons?
Well, there could be many reasons…1) King is a famous person, 2) You can’t do a book festival and not include King and 3) King and the creator of
The Simpsons
, Matt Groening, both play in the same rock band, The Rock Bottom Remainders. Unfortunately, King only has three lines and then he’s gone from the cartoon.
The episode will air on FOX on November 12.
Lilja’s final words about
Insane Clown Poppy
If you like
The Simpsons
, you will probably like this episode, but if you don’t care for this cartoon series, you probably won’t like this one either, King or no King. If you don’t think you’d like it, but you enjoy Stephen King, I think you should check it out anyway. If for no other reason than to see how King looks as a cartoon—as drawn by a fellow band member!
****
Hearts in Atlanti
s
Posted: August 29, 2000
So,
Hearts in Atlantis
is being turned into a movie? Well, part of it is. The movie is only based on “Low Men in Yellow Coats” and “Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling,” so I guess the title should be
Low Men in Yellow Coats
instead of
Hearts in Atlantis
. But then, that title isn’t as well known as
Hearts In Atlantis
, the book’s title…
How is the script, then? Well, William Goldman has a wonderful way of writing scripts, very detailed and descriptive. You wonder how much of that writing magic will be lost to the movie audience who can’t read the script though. It’s really important that his ideas and visions translate into film and end up on the screen.
Very much of the script follows King’s book as well as can be expected. Some lines are directly from the book. There are some changes though. All of the references to
The Dark Tower
and The Crimson King are gone. This is sad, but I guess necessary. Let’s face it—the world of
The Dark Tower
and The Crimson King isn’t something the average reader and moviegoer are familiar with. It would be too complicated to explain it in the movie and it would be too weird (for those who don’t know about it) if it was just put into the movie the way it was put into the book.
Unfortunately, there are some changes that aren’t so good. Goldman has also removed all of the references to the book
Lord of the Flies
, which in Mr. King’s book plays a big part in the relationship between Bobby and Ted. [Note: This may have been done for copyright reasons.]
There are also some scenes that have been changed, but are still in the script. Unfortunately, they are not changed for the better. [SPOILER ALERT!—Jump ahead to ‘Lilja’s final words’ if you haven’t read the book yet!] One scene is when Bobby and Carol are attacked by the St. Gabe’s boys. In the book there is a woman who saves them, but instead of using that, Goldman has Ted doing it. This I can live with though, but…
…What’s harder to live with is the finale. The scene where Ted (followed by Bobby) goes to get the money he won on the boxing match has been changed, big-time. The result is the same, but it happens in a different way, a way that goes too fast and loses the feeling King’s version has. It’s just wrong…
Lilja’s final words about
Hearts in Atlantis
This is a pretty good script, though it seems a bit short. There are some changes that have been made from the book—some I can live with, but others…oh, well, you know how I feel if you’ve read this far. This is only a second draft and I hope there will be some rewriting before it’s filmed.
Oh, and I also have a hard time picturing Anthony Hopkins as Ted. Hopkins is a fantastic actor but, in my opinion, no Ted. Hope Davis will be perfect as Liz Garfield though!
****
Stud City
Posted: May 24, 2001
For most of us,
Stud City
is the short story King added to the story “The Body” (from
Different Seasons
), but that is not all it is.
Stud City
is actually much older than “The Body.” It first appeared in the magazine Ubris in 1969, thirteen years before it was published in
Different Seasons
.
What is
Stud City
about, then? Well, it tells the story of Chico and his life—how he struggles to live a normal life, which isn’t easy. His brother is dead and his stepmother molests him. The story itself is only about five pages long, and in my opinion is not one of King’s best.
Because of this, I was a bit skeptical about the fact that it was going to be turned into a movie. I remember thinking that it couldn’t be done. Later I learned that it was meant to be turned into the pilot of a TV series called
Night Moves
. This, I thought, might work, even though it would be hard.
A bit after this I came in contact with Sean Parlaman, the fellow who was going to write the script for it. He agreed to send me a copy and that is what I read last night.
So, how did he do, then? Well, not bad. Not bad at all. The story is told in two different years: in 1959 when Chico’s brother Johnny is still alive and everything seems to be fine, and in 1963 when Johnny is dead and Chico’s world is falling apart.
At the beginning of the movie (script) there are some passages between the two timeframes that are done very nicely. When it’s 1959 (the bright and happy time) it’s summer, daytime and the sun is shining like crazy. When it’s 1963 (the sad time) it’s winter, night and really bad weather. This is really setting the mood of the movie right from the start.
Sean is telling the story almost identically to King, with the exception of two big differences. One of the changes that he has done is that in the movie Johnny isn’t killed after joining the Marines, like in King’s story. Here he is killed in a car accident. The other thing is that he gives Johnny more room in the story. Here we get to know him in a way that we don’t in King’s version. I guess that part of the reason for this is that King’s version is far too short for a movie, even if it is a pilot on TV.
Another thing that Sean has done is that he has used the connection King used between
Stud City
and “The Body.” Chico’s girlfriend is named Jane Tessio and is thereby sister to Vern Tessio, one of the boys in “The Body.”
On one occasion we get to hear a voice from the radio talking about the missing Ray Brower, the same boy who is lost and later hit by a train in “The Body.” And, there is more. In one scene we see four silhouettes walking on a railroad track. This can’t be any other boys than the ones from “The Body.”
Combined with that, Sean also tries to create the same atmosphere as that in the movie version of “The Body,”
Stand By Me
.
Lilja’s final words about
Stud City
Personally, I think Sean did a good job turning this really short story into a script. If I were to try something like that, I wouldn’t choose
Stud City
though, but that’s just me.
The fact that he has changed Johnny’s death from happening in the Marines to happening in a car accident feels a bit wrong. I can understand that it might have been easier to extend his background that way, but still…I think it could have been done without changing that.
I like the fact that he linked
Stud City
to “The Body.” I’m one of those people who really enjoys it when King is linking his stories together, so this was a bonus for me.
To conclude, I would like to say that I hope this movie gets done. Not as a motion picture though, but as a TV pilot. The script deserves that!
Note: Before I read the script for
Stud City
I read the older version of King’s story. This is the version that was published in Ubris back in 1969. Because of that and because this version is a bit different from the one that is in
Different Seasons
, all of my points aren’t correct if you compare it to the
Different Seasons
version of the story. Please keep that in mind when you read the review.