ViewGuide

Created Aug 17, 2008 12:40PM PST • Edited Aug 17, 2008 12:40PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Perfect 5.0

   A pure heart-stopping psychological thriller…that is in essence the perfect summary for this Rob Reiner classic. Taken from the Stephen King novel, this film truly produces for its’ audience the mind of a maniacal fan and the lengths that will be gone to when the ‘number one’ fan finally gets a chance to show it.

4. Acting

   Perfect 5.0

   Overall, the acting is superb. The entire plot of the movie rests on the ability of the actors to portray insanity and fear. The scales between these two emotions is truly tipped throughout the movie, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the next move.

5. Male Stars Perfect 5.0

   James Caan is our main male for this movie. He plays dwindling writer Paul Sheldon of the ‘Misery’ novels, who finally decides to throw in the towel with his female character otherwise he’ll be “writing her for the rest of his life”. His ability to convince us of his unbelievable pain and suffering really highlights his performance throughout the feature. We believe that he won’t ever get out from Kathy Bates’ claws when he does, and believe his cleverness will lead to his escape, when he does.

6. Female Stars Perfect 5.0

   Standing ovation for the leading female of Misery. Kathy Bates steals the show without a shadow of a doubt as ‘number one’ fan Annie Wilkes. Her kind and good natured personality is heart warming in the beginning and her almost child like excitement at meeting her favorite author is something we identify with, as we all act silly around our idols. However, the downward spiral into insanity that overcomes Wilkes produces an unexpected and jaw-dropping performance from Bates. She scares the living daylights out of everyone while retaining innocence in her refusal to cuss “Cock-a-doodie” and “dirty birdie” being her alternatives!

7. Female Costars Perfect 5.0

8. Male Costars Perfect 5.0

10. Film

    Really Great 4.5

    Very good production quality for 1990. Of course everything is being retouched and re-released as newer and better these days, however the older feel to Misery adds to the chilling atmosphere of the plot.

11. Direction Perfect 5.0

    Amazing. Rob Reiner certainly knows how to evoke emotion within this film. The small nuances of Annie Wilkes add to her intimidating scariness. The changing expressions and emotions of Paul Sheldon truly retain suspense on whether or not he will ever escape from the house alive. Bravo.

12. Play Really Great 4.5

    Very back-and-forth. Conversational to the point that one would expect to say some of the same things in each situation. Of course, one would hope to not be threatening someones life!

13. Music Really Great 4.5

    Very atmospherice and in keeping with the films aesthetic.

14. Visuals Really Great 4.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.6

    Rudeness is kept to a minimum due to character Annie Wilkes avoidance of cuss words etc. however she does spiral out of control on one or two occassions throwing all manner of words to the wind. Sex isn’t an issue within this film and violence definitely calls for some hands to the face action, peering behind fingers at the infamous sledgehammer scene!

17. Sex Titillating 1.6

18. Violence Fierce 1.6

19. Rudeness Salty 1.6

21. Reality

    Natural 1.0

    Definitely something that could happen in real life. we hear all manner of stories in the papers about stalkers and wannabes that it would be hard to figure out who has a few screws loose and who would actually take it to the next level. Annie Wilkes is the most natural of the film because it does seem to always be the quiet ones!

22. Circumstantial Natural 1.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0