My latest for Roger Ebert: a review of What Maisie Knew, the modern-day telling of Henry James’ 1897 novel. It’s good. It’s upsetting.
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This was one of my favorite books in high school! Sheila – for a release date, I find both September 2012 and May 3, 2013. Is it coming to theaters or has it come and gone? Where would you say is the definitive place to find this because I am regularly confused as to how to view some of the films you and others review. Since having children I go to fewer films and I feel like distribution, dvd’s, streaming technologies and such have changed so much I’m a neophyte movie watcher somehow.
The movie just opened yesterday. The 2012 date you saw was probably a festival date (there are usually multiple dates on IMDB, because of festivals). But in terms of a wider distribution, in regular theatres (not festival-related) – it just opened yesterday. So it’s out now in theatres.
It’d be interesting to hear your take on it, if you loved the book. I think they did a really good job of capturing the spirit of the book (and its title).
I have this book and will start reading it soon. I want to read it before the movie, which I am sure will come to Korea. Glad they decided to do a modern-day retelling instead of a period piece.
Bybee – yes, me too! It really shows how prescient James was – I mean, divorce in 1897 was a real scandal, not like today – and the way he details how Maisie makes sense of what is happening, how she looks around at the adults assessing them … it’s chilling. She understands who is “for” her and who is not safe.
Really good acting, and really good film-making. I had loved The Deep End (also directed by the same guys) – and had not been crazy about Uncertainty – their last film together – so they are a bit uneven for me, but I really really loved what they did here with this material!
Hope you get to see it!