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Misery (1990) watch along

Hey everyone!

I am beyond excited to share my reaction to Misery (1990) with you! This one has been on my must-watch list for a while, so huge thanks to everyone who voted for it in the poll!

Let me just say, I was not disappointed in the slightest! Kathy Bates absolutely deserved that Oscar – her performance as Annie Wilkes was haunting. And James Caan (I forgot he was Sonny in The Godfather!) LOL. Yes, my brain is like a sieve sometimes! But the contrast between their performances was incredible. SO much more I said in the outro!!!

Enjoy this one!!! I don't want to spoil anything! So let me know your thoughts after the watch a long down below!!

xx

love ya!

ames

Misery (1990) watch along

Comments

Eeee! Glad u got to watch with me and love ur comment as per usual!!

Amalia Wolf

"The operation was called hobbling." Some of the most frightening words ever spoken on film! Great reaction, Ames! One of the things I love most about Stephen King's story-telling in the horror genre, is that it's not primarily the sudden unexpected thing that you couldn't have seen coming that's so frightening. Rather, it's the horrible thing you can see coming from 100 kilometers away... that can't be stopped. The anticipation is terrifying! Such a great film (and book), and what a performance by both Kathy Bates and James Caan! Looking forward to more Stephen King films!

John Courtright

Thanks for watching Eric!

Amalia Wolf

That was such a fantastic movie. I've seen it a few times. I agree, it was an incredible death scene. It was a lot of fun watching and I hope there will be more fun movies to watch along with. Thanks.

Eric Lucas

LOLOL right! i thought about the last name in my mind LOL

Amalia Wolf

thanks for this clay! i have always heard that pigs are super smart and make amazing pets! I also struggled to rent this (it was only avail in french in canada) lol, but was able to get it on YT.

Amalia Wolf

Great cocaine habit tidbit. Makes perfect sense. Also what a run of incredibly watchable movies by Reiner.

AJ

What a great reaction! What a run Rob Reiner started his career with: This is Spinal Tap (1984) The Sure Thing (1985) Stand By Me (1986) The Princess Bride (1987) When Harry Met Sally (1989) Misery (1990) A Few Good Men (1992) Then, of course, with the exception of The American President, he pretty much lost the magic touch overnight and never got it back. (Not that he needed it, as one of the partners in Castle Rock Entertainment, the Seinfeld residuals alone kept him quite comfortable, I'm sure.) But to have those as the first 7 out of the block is incredibly impressive. His recent doc about his childhood friend, the great Albert Brooks, is tremendous fun, too. Good for Rob! One note, as far as I know, Stephen King has always maintained that this was not a commentary on obsessive fans, but that Annie was a metaphor for his pernicious cocaine habit. Watching it with that in mind is pretty fascinating.

VivendoBem

You did seem engaged. "I have a feeling she's not a good Christian girl." Her carrying him on her back from the wrecked car made me think she may be an interesting character. I had a pig when I was age 14 -- raised him for 4H. I called him Igor and he would watch for me from the pig pen when I got off the bus after school. In the pig pen, he would roll over on his back with legs up for me to scratch his belly. Intelligent animal. He recognized when I called his name "Igor." We sold him to slaughter -- that's what you did in rural East Texas. You were prophetic . "She's so bizarre." Yep, and then realize she's a baby killer. Too real. "You sick, twisted fuck." The look on your face when she was depressed and first pulled that gun out of her pocket. Her death scene/face was chilling. I agree that Buster was awesome. You had good insights in your outro. I strongly agree that the Kathy Bates performance is stunning. The Oscar well deserved. Her communicative facial epressions -- some with not much blatantly there -- some with so much there -- sometimes ambiguous or uncertain initially -- she even acted a good facial expression of Annie laying there at death. James Caan as Paul Sheldon here is different compared to the younger Sonny in GF. The two characters are almost unrecognizeable as the same actor to me. GF is my No. 1 favorite movie all time. My top 3: 1. GF 2. GF2 3. The Shawshank Redemption I did notice that Misery is not as available to stream for rent in US as is other mainstream movies. I am glad I previously purchased Misery on US Amazon Prime Video (apparently not currently available for purchase on US Amazon Prime Video).

Clay F

Kathy Bates is awesome. I can totally see Annie Wilkes working the desk at the Bates Motel. Can we talk about Rob Reiner? The list of films he directed from 1984 to 1992 is amazing. I would argue that its as good a run as any of his contemporaries. RIP Buster. A couple of films starring Richard Farnsworth to check in to: The Grey Fox (1982) and The Straight Story (1999). Who would have thought that Kathy Bates would give James Caan wood?

James Rogers

I AGREE I am STILL not over busters death!

Amalia Wolf

I'm eternally bummed about Buster, but it's a thing that Stephen King does quite often in his books where the character that's about to solve everything or come to the rescue immediately gets killed. Out of all his stories, this is the time I hate it the most because Buster is just so great, and he and his wife are adorable. As far as King's books go, I'm particularly attached to the collection Different Seasons which contains the stories that became Stand by Me (the film also directed by Rob Reiner, and phenomenal), the Shawshank Redemption, and Apt Pupil, all beyond fantastic stories. There is a fourth one but I haven't read that one so I can't speak to it, though I know my sister loves it. Rob Reiner is one of my favorite directors because he can do so many genres. Back in the day, William Wyler, my favorite, was given slack for that very same quality. I think it's a sign of true talent, not having to stick to a genre.

China Andronicus

YAY !

Amalia Wolf

Second time watch for me... This was great!

Brando83

Her take as Jo Bennett in The Office is hysterical

Catchermag

There's a really good chapter on Misery in William Goldman's brilliant book Adventures in the Screen Trade. He talks about how they went to literally every leading man in Hollywood and were rejected, primarily because no star wanted to play a guy who was stuck in a bed and looked weak and terrified for most of the movie. Caan's career was in the toilet at this point after a series of personal problems and drug addiction, and so he was very low on the list of potential stars, but he turned out to be perfect. Goldman also says that Caan was a very active, physical guy who hated sitting still for too long, and a lot of that frustration fed into the performance. Also, Kathy Bates had originated the character of Frankie in Frankie & Johnny on stage to great acclaim and was deeply disappointed to be passed over for the film adaptation in favour of Michelle Pfeiffer. But if she'd got that role, she wouldn't have done Misery! It's funny how things work out.

Henry Graham

Let's give Kathy Bates a huge round of applause... She just NAILS every role she plays and usually ends up stealing every scene she's in. Agreed.. Her Oscar much deserved. LOVED her in PRIMARY COLORS, DELORES CLAIBORNE and THE LATE SHIFT...

RFK Fan

Fun flick, Mr Man!

Catchermag


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