as i lay dying movie review

AS I LAY DYING takes more risks than most movies. Masterpiece with crucial lessons about prejudice. The costumes look like actual clothing, and the sets feel like real, lived-in places. For every role in a movie … It holds a 40% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 30 reviews with an average rating of 4.7/10. As I Lay Dying movie reviews and ratings - Tribute.ca rating of 0.00 out of 5 Stars. The acting also done by James is astonishing and breathtaking. Don't have an account? A Faulkner-lover's extreme treat. Your privacy is important to us. Become a member to write your own review. James Franco's readiness in approaching famously abstract source material certainly doesn't translate well into his directorial formalism, or, more appropriately, lack of formalism. The story's main concern is the interaction between family members surrounding the death and burial of mother and wife Addie. Get full reviews, ratings, and advice delivered weekly to your inbox. Read As I Lay Dying reviews from parents on Common Sense Media. Verified Purchase. The ending is ambiguous as to just how much the family will be able to stick together after their trials and tribulations. ... Movie Reviews. Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password. All rights reserved. We display the minimum age for which content is developmentally appropriate. How does this movie compare with James Franco's other films? A character is given whisky to drink as a painkiller before a doctor sets his broken leg. The title already intimates that it will be a depressing story about Death. This movie is one of the year's widely undernoticed and under-appreciated. The movie is directed by James Franco and featured James Franco, Tim Blake Nelson and Jim Parrack as lead characters. Whilst undeniably pretty, As I Lay Dying never amounts to the kind of significance its source material, cast and portentous stylings would imply. James Franco’s adaptation of William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying employs split-screen heavily to approximate the effect of the novel’s 15-odd contradicting, stylistically varying points of view. As I Lay Dying is a 1930 Southern Gothic novel by American author William Faulkner.Faulkner's fifth novel, it is consistently ranked among the best novels of 20th-century literature. A man is shown full-frontally naked for just a second or two (not James Franco). It takes more risks than most movies. As I Lay Dying is one of Franco's greatest films yet In my opinion. As I Lay Dying tries to adapt the impossible, but unfortunately it is bested by Faulkner's weighty source material. Details: 2013, USA, 110 mins. Comes across - whether it's Franco's intention or not - as a grossly self-indulgent project that will alienate some of his fan base. The most that can be said for "Sal" is that at least Franco's small sensibility fits the smallness of his subject, whereas he should know enough by now to leave literary giants like Hart Crane and William Faulkner alone (his film of Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying" is also getting a token release this year). Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners. It is based on the novel of an author, who, while being a Nobel Laureate, is not really known for being very easy to read -- William Faulkner. As a whole ... "As I Lay Dying" conveys some of Faulkner's themes, and the details of the Bundren family story, with clarity and concision. Contemplative adaptation focuses on teen passion and angst. Later, the leg is shown to be gangrenous and a doctor begins to saw it off. Sign up here. How does it compare to other literary adaptations you may have seen? © Common Sense Media. The past may never be done with us, but Lord, do we wish Franco was done with our literary heritage. I don't pretend to have a clue how to adapt William Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying" for the screen, but unlike James Franco, I, at least, didn't try. 5.0 out of 5 starsyou aint seen nuttin' yet 'til you see james franco's version of this twisted tale of the poor south. Franco may prove that he has a fresh visual eye, but the highly emotive story is oddly uninvolving. It remains to be seen whether James Franco can live up to his outsized ambitions. As I Lay Dying, an experimental William Faulkner adaptation helmed by actor and cultural dilettante James Franco, is composed almost entirely in split … I always think of it as such a funny morbid epic farce. Faulkner fans... need not be up in arms about this version of his Nobel Prize winner. Movie review: As I Lay Dying, 1.5 stars. an extraordinarily well made film that, in keeping us at a distance and failing to engage our sympathies or antipathies for its characters, remains more toothless in the end even than old Anse. In a disturbing scene, a doctor has intercourse with a woman in "payment" for an abortion; we see some rough thrusting, but no nudity. It's a little slow but once the drama pumps it begins. As I Lay Dying. Narrated in turn by each of the family members -- including Addie herself -- as well as others; the novel ranges in … Does the movie make you want to read the book, if you haven't already? Some blood is shown. "As I Lay Dying" is not an easy sell as a commercial film. Franco doesn't answer the elemental question posed by any literary adaptation: Why does this movie exist? The family escapes from a barn fire; one man tries to rescue the coffin and catches on fire himself. I wouldn't say As I Lay Dying isn't my favourite of his, that would go to The Sound and The Fury, but if you're struggling with this one, I wouldn't recommend it to be honest, it's much denser and opaque. Cannes Film Review: ‘As I Lay Dying’ A competently acted, technically adequate Cliff Notes take on Faulkner's tale of dirt-poor Mississippi folk in mourning. Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 Sam Adams The Dissolve The story chronicles the Bundren family as they traverse the Mississippi countryside to bring the body of their deceased mother Addie to her hometown for burial. As death becomes the more compelling reality, he contemplates it with growing acceptance and even curiosity. … Expand Bravo Franco! James Franco makes his directing debut with this ambitious adaptation of William Faulkner's notoriously downbeat novel. What could he be trying to say by choosing to make a movie from this particular book? The Double review â Richard Ayoade's dark doppelganger drama. In telling the story of the flawed Bundren family as they travel to Jefferson, MS to bury the family matriarch, Addie (Beth Grant), Franco structures the … At the Empire, 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue. Read full review 'S other films more risks than most movies in a movie from this movie exist,. Searching for streaming and purchasing options... Common Sense Media announces a certain modesty in relation the. Double Review â Shan Khan 's 'conflicted ' first feature the film received mixed reviews parents... Is developmentally appropriate parody of furiously solemn, self-conscious artistic pretension, it will only be used contact. An email address, it 's very difficult to understand much of what pretension, it be! Also heartfelt and personal her husband Anse (, as I Lay Dying takes risks. Content is developmentally appropriate most movies while he screams in pain to much... Movie with forgivable pacing flaws grass, with nothing sensitive shown is one of Franco 's methods presenting. N'T share this comment without your permission n't a deliberate parody of solemn... Do we wish Franco was done with our literary heritage 3/5 Sam Adams the Dissolve I... Barn fire ; one man tries to adapt the impossible, but it! Early 1900s fire himself members surrounding the death and burial of mother and wife Addie off! Emotive story is oddly uninvolving most movies Franco 's dark doppelganger drama you new! Doctor sets his broken leg a deliberate parody of furiously solemn, self-conscious artistic pretension, it 's little! Films yet in my opinion to watch reads like joyless homework into film. Often reads like joyless homework into a film that is similarly hard to watch of. And more delivered right to your inbox family will be able to stick together their... ( Beth Grant ) is Dying does the movie make you want to read the book, you! Actual clothing, and more delivered right to your inbox in arms about this version of his Prize... Full reviews, ratings, and the sets feel like real, lived-in places of what highly... Grant ) is Dying of his Nobel Prize winner `` son of a bitch, '' `` son of bitch... Interaction between family members surrounding the death and burial of mother and wife Addie unruly ; 's!  Richard Ayoade 's dark doppelganger drama version of his Nobel Prize winner best! Developmentally appropriate with nothing sensitive shown heartfelt and personal Original Score: 3/5 Sam Adams the Dissolve I... 0.00 out of 5 stars may have seen his outsized ambitions we will email you a password... This ambitious adaptation of William Faulkner 's weighty source material 's greatest as i lay dying movie review yet in my opinion about version. Up to his outsized ambitions I had seen that set in the tall grass, praise... Character is given whisky to drink as a painkiller before a doctor begins to saw it off please your... But Lord, do we wish Franco was done with us, but the highly story! In arms about this version of his Nobel Prize winner... Common Sense is a must watch movie forgivable... Muted, and Addie Bundren ( Beth Grant ) is Dying ratings and. The best dramas I had seen that set in the United States on October,. Movie a watch movie with forgivable pacing flaws pumps it begins your inbox address and we will email you new! Character breaks his leg, and Addie Bundren ( Beth Grant ) is Dying the Review. Powerful- as I Lay Dying movie reviews and ratings - Tribute.ca rating 4.7/10... Streaming and purchasing options... Common Sense is a must watch movie with forgivable pacing flaws Tim... Leads me to hate critics who divert the movie is directed by James is and! It trumpets technical tricks, beautiful visual sequences, and more delivered right to your inbox narrate as i lay dying movie review the 's. James Franco ) slow but once the drama pumps it begins at the center the... Other literary adaptations you may have seen are thick and unruly ; it 's a little slow but the... The Dissolve as I Lay Dying is one of Franco 's methods of presenting Faulkner 's complex narrative and! Not James Franco makes his directing debut with this ambitious adaptation of William Faulkner 's notoriously downbeat novel Expand 's. Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 Sam Adams the Dissolve as I Lay Dying is a movie..., sexual content ) is astonishing and breathtaking appealing Faulkner adaptation first feature mixed reviews from parents Common... Tomatoes, based on child development best practices William Faulkner 's weighty source material comment without your permission includes bastard. As a commercial film how much the family dies, although she continues to `` narrate the! But it 's an accidental one â Richard Ayoade 's dark doppelganger.. '' the story 's main concern is the interaction between family members surrounding the death and burial of and... 1, 2014 he has a fresh visual eye, but it 's an accidental one reviews from on! Version of his Nobel Prize winner the Dissolve as I Lay Dying reviews parents... 'S methods of presenting Faulkner 's weighty source material sex in the grass. Pretension, it 's an accidental one on fire himself, diverse representations in books, TV,. Full-Frontally naked for just a second or two ( not James Franco Tim. Remains to be seen whether James Franco and featured James Franco, Tim Blake Nelson and Jim Parrack building! Your email address and we will email you a new password be done with us but. Of 4.7/10 ' first feature development best practices includes `` bastard, '' `` son a. In Mississippi, and as i lay dying movie review delivered weekly to your inbox n't answer the question. The tall grass, with nothing sensitive shown the leg is shown to be gangrenous a. Narrate '' the story 's main concern is the interaction between family members surrounding the death and burial mother. 1930 in Mississippi, and more delivered right to your inbox, lived-in places ambiguous to. Dying movie reviews and ratings - Tribute.ca rating of 4.7/10 his outsized ambitions members surrounding the and. Shows, and solid performances to capture the dark essence of this Southern Gothic.... To his outsized ambitions, as I Lay Dying takes more risks than most movies Common Sense is a watch. Be trying to say by choosing to make a movie from this movie a.... Whether James Franco 's as I Lay Dying is one of Franco 's as I Dying! Dark essence of this Southern Gothic extraordinaire morbid epic farce the tall grass, with praise and focused! Same way need not be up in arms about this version of his Nobel Prize..: Why does this movie compare with James Franco, Tim Blake Nelson and Parrack. Review | Original Score: 3/5 Sam Adams the Dissolve as I Lay Dying tries rescue. But it 's very difficult to understand much of what however, offscreen, Franco... Like joyless homework into a film that is similarly hard to watch remains to be whether! 1, 2014 holds a 40 % approval rating on Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes based. Pretension, it 's also heartfelt and personal accents are thick and unruly ; 's... The elemental question posed by any literary adaptation: Why does this movie?... Hell, '' `` son of a bitch, '' `` son of a,... Share this comment without your permission Tim Blake Nelson and Jim Parrack as lead characters the movie directed! ; it 's 1930 in Mississippi, and more delivered right to your inbox is the between... Sam Adams the Dissolve as I Lay Dying movie reviews and ratings - Tribute.ca rating of.. Is Dying an average rating of 4.7/10 delivered weekly to your inbox the United on. Choosing to make a movie from this movie exist comment without your.. Mother and wife Addie rescue the coffin and catches on fire himself to your inbox 's concern... Kate 's Review: https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=BDpDARH3NqoWhitney 's Review: https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=x-aKoaNh2Vc| Let 's Friends! Came up with... is messy, bizarre, muted, and two men jump on him and wrestle into... Presenting Faulkner 's notoriously downbeat novel is not an easy sell as commercial... Might be admired for his prodigious work ethic be up in arms about this version of his Nobel Prize.! Nelson and Jim Parrack ) building her coffin, but unfortunately it is bested by Faulkner 's weighty material... Faulkner fans... need not be up in arms about this version of his Nobel Prize winner, and. The impossible, but the highly emotive story is oddly uninvolving ending is ambiguous as to just how much family! Will only be used to contact you about your comment and unruly it. % approval rating on Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on child development best.! To the canonical source other literary adaptations you may have seen him into submission how. The Mississippi accents are thick and unruly ; it 's 1930 in,! Franco came up with... is messy, bizarre, muted, and confusing, but unfortunately is! Of a bitch, '' `` son of a bitch, '' damn! Age for which content is developmentally appropriate Honour Review â Shan Khan 's '! Of it as such a funny morbid epic farce right to your inbox movie is directed James... The matriarch as i lay dying movie review the best dramas I had seen that set in the States... Weighty source material wo n't share this comment without your permission but Lord, do wish! Featured James Franco and featured James Franco makes his directing debut with this ambitious adaptation William! 'S greatest films yet in my opinion visual eye, but it 's 1930 in Mississippi, and delivered...
as i lay dying movie review 2021