Misery (1990)

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

One of the best adaptations of a Stephen King's novel, Misery is a tense, taut & thrilling example of its genre that puts up a terrifying portrait of fandom gone a tad too extreme. Persistently looming with a sense of dread and uplifted by terrific performances, it's a manifestation of every celeb's worst nightmare.The story of Misery concerns the author of a best-selling novel series who crashes his car during a blizzard and is rescued by a former nurse who considers herself to be his number one fan. But things soon take a turn for the worse when she reads his latest novel and discovers the ultimate fate of her favourite character.Directed by Rob Reiner (best known for Stand By Me, When Harry Met Sally... & A Few Good Men), Misery is a filmmaking lesson in gradually escalating terror as Reiner slowly & steadily ratchets up the tension and unfolds the plot with such effectiveness that neither its disquieting chill nor the viewers' interest is ever lost.Reiner's direction exhibits both confidence & composure but William Goldman's screenplay is just as impressive, for every scene builds up on the one preceding it plus it's able to carve moments of pure horror without relying on jump scares or any other cheap tricks. Humour is sprinkled throughout but it doesn't lessen the film's foreboding tone.The minimal setting & isolated location provide just the right environment for its plot to unfurl. Camerawork is smooth throughout, capturing each & every event or expression in a clear-cut fashion while also making use of angles that deliver the maximum impact. Editing is expertly carried out and makes sure that every scene in the final print is relevant to the plot.Coming to the performances, both James Caan & Kathy Bates are outstanding in their given roles. Caan plays an author who, following his accident, finds himself at the mercy of his dangerously disturbed caretaker. It's a physically exhausting work but the veteran actor pulls it off with finesse. However, Bates is even better as the psychotic fan, and easily steals the show with her twisted & downright deranged showcase that's inarguably her career-best performance.On an overall scale, Misery turned out to be way better & far more involving than I initially expected it to be, and is undoubtedly one of Rob Reiner's best directorial efforts. What drives this movie is the protagonist's endless attempts to outwit his abuser, and it's riveting to watch how those events play out. Functioning on more than one level, Misery is an unnerving & unsettling delight that delivers the thrills in heavy doses and still hasn't aged a day. Highly recommended.

From the mind of Stephen King, it's not so much a Horror in the jumpy sense, but one of situational frustration, building on through what appears to be a strangers kindness.

Misery is either a case of a film being slightly outdated, or just built up too highly for me to thoroughly enjoy this Stephen King classic. Well-acted, tightly written and directed, but not nearly as memorable or terrifying as it was made out to be. Perhaps that's an unfair criticism, but expectations almost always factor into how enjoyable the film will be.Misery may very well be King's simplest film, taking place in mostly one setting, and only dealing with a few characters in total, but it sure seems like it's one of his more personal stories. James Caan plays a famous author, Paul Sheldon, who is "rescued" by his number one fan, Annie Wilkes, who turns out to be a little more devious and cruel than a typical fangirl. Not having read anything about King's original story, I don't know how much of this can be based (even in the slightest) on a true story. I know King was never captured by a fan and tortured in inexplicable ways, but there has to be some level of personal touch King is putting to this story. At the very least, this is a major fear of his.In that regard, Misery is brilliant, especially for a 21st century audience who are obsessed (and as connected with social media) with their celebrity crushes more than they ever have been before. The sheer obsession that is in Annie's mind (wonderfully played by Kathy Bates) is the crux of the story and is undeniably memorable. But I was honestly expecting the insanity to be even more over-the-top. Maybe that's just pop-culture's infatuation of Bates' creepy portrayal clouding my judgment, but it's true.In all, there's plenty to like in Rob Reiner's direction, the score, iconic performances, and various other tidbits of Misery, but I can't help but feel a little letdown by the overall intensity of the execution. I'm still waiting for that big moment to happen. It never came.7.0/10

MISERY - 1990Directed by Rob ReinerStarring James Caan, Kathy Bates and Richard FarnsworthPlot Overview: After his car crashes on an icy day, renowned author, Paul Sheldon(James Caan) is picked up by sweet seeming Nurse, Annie Wilkes(Kathy Bates), whom all happens to be his number 1 fan. All is going well until Wilkes reads the end of the latest instalment of her favourite series and discovers her favourite character has met her end. In a psychotic twist, Wilkes turns against Sheldon and forces him to rewrite the story with a different ending.THIS is a good thriller. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire run time of this movie. I didn't even know I could bite that far down on my nails! It is a masterfully written, sensationally acted, expertly shot and edited masterpiece. It is truly exceptional. I cannot recommend this movie any more. Please see this wonderful movie.The plot of this movie is horrifying. King is known for his horror but what is more scary than being at the mercy of some psychotic nurse who is your only chance of survival and can end your life at any moment. You can't escape; you can't fight back; it's you and her and there is nothing you can do about it. THAT is a scary. That is a trademark of great horror. Sometimes a great horror/thriller doesn't need ghosts or an overabundance of gore. It just needs a terrifying idea and it is instantly effective.To say one minor issue I have in regards to the story, it is a little plot hole to do with the end. It makes, no logical sense and I would have liked some more explanation; just a throwaway line or two, explaining what happened. I understand the jist of it but I can't say what I would like explaining without spoiling the film and I will not do that because you need to see this film.Kathy Bates is equally hilarious and terrifying in this Oscar worthy portrayal of Annie Wilkes. She commands this movie and enjoys every, single second it it. It is truly a remarkable performance and 100% deserved the Oscar.A performance that goes under-looked in this film due to Bates' focus that I think is unjust is James Caan's excellent performance as Paul Sheldon. Obviously, Bates is the star of this film and gives the best performance but Caan gives an incredible performance as well. He has to act while acting and that will be a genuinely hard thing to make convincing.Richard Farnsworth is excellent as Buster(the sheriff). The back and fourth humour between him and his wife is perfect and really helps give you time to breathe amidst the intensity going on around you.Both the cinematography and editing in this movie are superb. They help give the film a tight focus and an eerie claustrophobic feel. It makes the film all the more terrifying. Both the costume and set design are excellent, also and give a sense of authenticity to the film.Overall, I absolutely adore this movie. It is a masterfully crafted thriller and I cannot recommend it any more. You have to see this movie without spoilers because it truly is terrifying. This movie is a masterpiece and thus I shall rate it 10 Sledgehammers out of 10.