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Reviews (3)
Aug 20, 2017
Has It All: Except Passion
This is a great film for DH Lawrence fans, but it may be less than enticing for people who don't know the novel. The film is relatively faithful to the book, which is both an asset and a shortcoming. The book is cerebral which doesn't often translate well into film, especially when one considers the elegance of DH Lawrence' prose. That said, the acting is very good overall, the sets are richly presented, and Sylvia Kristel was at her best. The best acting, however, is performed by Shane Briant, who portrays the arrogant and sadistic Clifford Chatterley. Nicholas Clay as Oliver Mellers does his part by being the muscular woodsman, but isn't given very much compelling dialogue. The story is good, the movie is faithful, but what's missing is passion between Mellers and Constance.
Nov 28, 2018
A True Monument in Asian American Literature
"No No Boy" is an extraordinary piece of literature for what it is, what it represents, and it's absolute daring for a novel set in 1946 (written in 1957). There simply is nothing like it in the Asian American canon of literature. The main character, Ichiro, is a young man returning home to postwar Seattle after 2 years in prison. His crime was refusing to serve in the army (after witnessing his family interned for being Japanese). The core strength of this novel, I believe, is the friendship he explores with his friend Kenji, who DID serve in the army and was severely wounded (his leg was amputated) by German machine-gun fire. Kenji adopts an American name (Ken) and drives a brand new Oldsmobile equipped to accommodate his disability. Furthermore, he gets money from the government to attend the University of Washington. But the injury to his leg is life-threatening as an encroaching infection repeatedly forces doctors to remove more and more of his leg. South Jackson Street in Seattle's Chinatown is the center of the universe for this novel. The author, John Okada, died young (48) believing his work to be a failure, but it was resurrected posthumously and now stands as a cornerstone in the Asian-American experience.
Feb 13, 2019
A rare glimpse of extraordinary talent
This is an extraordinary story that highlights a very young Sondra Locke as a genuine talent rather than an Eastwood sidekick. She was rightfully nominated for an academy award for this role. And Alan Arkin is perfect in the role of the disabled John Singer. This film demonstrates your best friends are good listeners. It also delves into the invisible stress that community caretakers experience. Lastly, while the movie wasn't totally faithful to the novel, it does create an avenue for the real star, Carson McCullers, to emerge as a preeminent writer in the American landscape.