2008 Woodie Awards
"Running with Scissors" reemgerges on film
Can the movie capture the appeal of the novel?
Jessi Wyse
Issue date: 2/23/07 Section: A&E
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"Running with Scissors" is a quirky, disturbing and uncomfortably hilarious chronicle of author Augusten Burrough's largely dysfunctional coming of age. The story follows Burrough's life from his early childhood to later teen years. Through the pages, we watch him go from the child of an alcoholic father and a mentally unstable mother to the ward of Dr. Finch, his mother's therapist, and member of Finch's strange, sprawling family.
Written in 2003, this book was recently adapted to a largely successful motion picture, which was embraced by a variety of audiences. Lovers of dark comedy celebrated the movie's horrific hilarity, while others were sucked in by its all-star cast, compelling characters and oddly charming strangeness. Although many critics were skeptical, the film has nonetheless received quite a bit of acclaim, including a Golden Globe nomination for lead actress Annette Benning.
Lovers of the screen adaptation of "Running with Scissors" who have not yet read the book should certainly not hesitate to do so. As simply a story, the two are extremely similar. Both the written version and the film illustrate roughly the same events, characters and general plotline. The book, however, takes the tale to a greater depth by bringing insights, sass, innocence and voice to Burrough's experiences that are not articulated nearly as well onscreen. Memoirs are characterized by their ability to completely share a story through the eyes of the individual who experienced it, and in the case of "Running with Scissors," this is completed far more effectively when we are able to hear Augusten's inner thoughts and reactions to the bizarre events taking place around him.
In addition, the written version of "Running with Scissors" also helps us as readers to become closer to its bizarre characters. While the movie simply shows us their strangeness, the book helps us to see how they came to be so odd and shows the sides of them that are able to pass for normal. This not only helps us to connect more with the characters, but also helps the story itself to become more believable. While the movie at times appears strange to the point of ridiculousness, the book's added depth and honesty gives it far more credibility.
Written in 2003, this book was recently adapted to a largely successful motion picture, which was embraced by a variety of audiences. Lovers of dark comedy celebrated the movie's horrific hilarity, while others were sucked in by its all-star cast, compelling characters and oddly charming strangeness. Although many critics were skeptical, the film has nonetheless received quite a bit of acclaim, including a Golden Globe nomination for lead actress Annette Benning.
Lovers of the screen adaptation of "Running with Scissors" who have not yet read the book should certainly not hesitate to do so. As simply a story, the two are extremely similar. Both the written version and the film illustrate roughly the same events, characters and general plotline. The book, however, takes the tale to a greater depth by bringing insights, sass, innocence and voice to Burrough's experiences that are not articulated nearly as well onscreen. Memoirs are characterized by their ability to completely share a story through the eyes of the individual who experienced it, and in the case of "Running with Scissors," this is completed far more effectively when we are able to hear Augusten's inner thoughts and reactions to the bizarre events taking place around him.
In addition, the written version of "Running with Scissors" also helps us as readers to become closer to its bizarre characters. While the movie simply shows us their strangeness, the book helps us to see how they came to be so odd and shows the sides of them that are able to pass for normal. This not only helps us to connect more with the characters, but also helps the story itself to become more believable. While the movie at times appears strange to the point of ridiculousness, the book's added depth and honesty gives it far more credibility.
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