The Night Listener and Wal-Mart Horrors

[kybearfuzz]

After work today I decided to catch an early showing of The Night Listener. I had planned to see it and saw Chuck's (anziulewicz entry on the movie and decided that today would be good as I have no softball game tonight.

Robin Williams plays Gabriel Noone, a radio show storyteller whose personal life is falling apart after his partner Jess moves out of their home to have "some space." In the midst of his personal crisis, his publisher hands him a book submission about a young boy who survived sexual abuse by his parents. The book touches him and he begins a friendship with the boy and his adoptive mother over the phone. However, certain events happen that make him doubt the identity of the boy and the truth behind the story. He travels to meet the boy and the mother only to find things aren't quite what he believed...

Robin Williams is excellent in this movie, showing that he really did earn that Oscar because of his ability to emote. He's showing his years, with graying beard and growing tummy (which I don't mind at all). Toni Collette also stars as the boy's creepy blind and adoptive mother. One of my favorite characters is played by the wonderful Sandra Oh, who seems to be popping up everywhere these days.

After the movie, I went to Wal-Mart for groceries, where sadly I encountered a short dumpy woman in a see-through tee-shirt and no bra. Her flabby, pendulous boobs were right there. You could see.. well.. everything... *shudder* Why on earth would you go out in such a thing???? If I wasn't gay before...

Did I enjoy the movie? Very much!
Watch it again? Yeah, I think so.
Buy the DVD? I think so.

Comments

The Book

[pink-halen.livejournal.com]

We have the audio book of the Night Listener read by Maupin himself. I am curious how much was left out. I'm certain that the night encounter with the hunky trucker was axed from the film as it didn't advance the plot but it did advance me just a bit.

Having read the book and knowing the ending means I don't think I would enjoy the movie as much. In fact, now I don't like the book after the trucker scene. (It's on the way to visit the boy.)

Robin Williams is a very good actor but there is always a percentage of the audience that want him to do Mork and nothing else.

I'm really not sure how to classify this story. It is not really a horror show or thriller but there are elements of that. Maupin can spin a wonderful yarn. And there is even a tidbit for the "Tales of the City" Fans.

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

I've read the book when I was in LA as my roomies had it. I liked it but I have heard the conclusion in the movie is better than the book.

The one I want to see made into a movie is Maybe the Moon.

I saw this Friday

[telemann.livejournal.com]

in large part due to Roger Ebert's glowing review.

Robin Williams as an actor has really arrived--Ebert is dead on with that. But the plot was a teeny bit of a disappointment (very minor let down really); and I don't want to spoil this for anyone who's not seen it.

I was in Wal Mart a few years ago and turned down an aisle. Caught a chick diggin in her ass. I never seen a hand move so quick in my life ;)

Re: I saw this Friday

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

ohhhhhh, there goes my supper...!!

[ricksf.livejournal.com]

I've read my way through the Tales of the City series of which Night Listener (which may be the best of the Maupin books) was kinda sorta a sequel. It's told with heart and from a very personal level. If that got transferred to the screen (and I greatly respect Williams' acting ability), it should have made for a wonderful movie.

Now all I've got to do is get my butt to the theater to see it!

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

When did the book come out? Was I perchance staying at your place on Sanchez when I read it? I'm trying to remember...

[carytown.livejournal.com]

I happen to LOVE both Toni Collette and Robin Williams. Strangely enough I'm not nearly as much a fan of his comedy as I am of his tremendous acting abilities. I can't wait to see this.

[demcub.livejournal.com]

OMG - do I HAVE to go through the whole Wal-Mart thing again. I think I am going to cry....

[fjdbear.livejournal.com]

I read the Night Listener when it came out. Im a huge AM fan. He is working on Michael Tolliver Lives!

Sometime in the mid- 90s, I was just reading one of the last TOTC books and was headed to work (with the book in my backpack) and ran into Donald Moffat (whom I literally chased down 9th street)...he played Edgar in the first series on PBS which had just aired. Anyway, he autographed my book, and we chatted, (mostly about Jesse Helms and the uptight republicans). It was all too surreal because a week or so later I saw him again on Lafayette Street (with his wife). But then, three days later, while I was boarding a metro north train to Poughkeepsie, there they were again. This time he looked up and shot me a "Are you stalking me?" glance. I felt like the Day Stalker and made sure I ignored him.

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

Michael Tolliver Lives? No kidding? I am so there!

Once upon a time I guess I would have reluctantly accepted that, sometime not too long after the final TOTC book, Michael would be joining Jon in gay heaven, after dealing with AIDS-related hell on the way there. But that was before HAART and all. So it makes sense that Michael should manage to be a survivor. I'm ready to hear his story, if I'm interpreting this correctly!

[jdawg1974.livejournal.com]

If you choose to go to the Trash-Mart... you must be prepared for ANYTHING!!!!!

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

I really, really enjoyed the book, so I'm looking forward to the movie. I've forgotten enough details about it that I think at least *something* will surprise me again. ;-)

As for Sandra Oh — YAY! I can hardly wait. John and I just watched Further Tales of the City on DVD the other day (2nd time for both of us) and there she was in all her glory, bitching away and chewing up scenery as a larger-than-life step-on-anyone-till-I-get-what-I-want TV anchorwoman with a dirty little secret. Watching Laura Linney (whose tits in the iso-tank looked *much* better, I assume, than Wal-Mart lady's) get Miss Oh's goat was sinfully satisfying.

Have I mentioned that I'm sort of a fan of Armistead Maupin? ;-)