BUG

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 10:40pm

I remember hearing great things about the show when it played off-Broadway. With the film coming out on Friday, my interest has been renewed.

How was the off-Bway production?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:18am

The Off-Broadway production was very minimalist (as most Off-Broadway shows are, I suppose). But the text and the direction really spoke for themselves. It is an absolutely haunting play and I hope they keep the film simple and just let the story be told. I hope that the acting in the film equals that of the Off-Broadway casts. Who is starring in the film? I had completely forgotten that they were making it into a film. Is it going to be a big screen bonanza or just an independent deal out in the Village?

Updated On: 5/20/07 at 12:18 AM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:35am

It's a great play and I have a very personal relation to it.

The play was definitely more comedic in many ways - showing the absurdism in what they believed. The movie seems to be more along the lines of horror.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:56am

That's really a shame, but it doesn't surprise me. Everything has to be simplified and dumbed down for movie audiences. I found the play to be a complex psychological thriller that honestly would involve way too much thinking for mainstream movie audience tastes.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:58am

I honestly heard that it isn't really a horror film - they just have great marketers who are calling it that. Not sure if it's true or not...but the stage show is much...calmer...in many ways.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 8:20am

The film is definitely being marketed as a horror film, down to the deep, creepy voice over. It's directed by the guy who did The Exorcist; Ashley Judd, Harry Connick Jr, Lynn Collins, Michael Shannon, and Brian F. O'Byrne star.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:15am

To be fair WIll Friedkin is most famous for Exorcist (and French Connection) but he got his start making two very critically lauded and faithful films of 60s plays--Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party and The Boys in the Band. His reputation in the 80s and 90s (with films like Jade) has been kinda tarnished and now he's back to doing smaller films based on things he loved--and apparantly he was a big fan of the play.

I'm interested to see how it comes out

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:57am

THE EXORCIST is nothing to sneeze at. Despite its horror, it is still a very deeply rooted film.

And BUG is very much the same way - slow to start, but then it hits you like a truck.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:03am

I'm sure that Will Friedkin has done some good work by film standards, but with all due respect, very few Hollywood film directors have the level of creative freedom that theatre writers and directors do.

If Tracy Letts had wanted to use his original idea for a screenplay instead of a play from day one and he wrote it with the same raw honesty that made the play the critical hit that it was, it never would have been produced. BUG is the type of play that was embraced and successful because it was a play. Did Letts also write the screenplay?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:07am

Yes, he did.

And from the looks of it, very little has changed.

[FosterChild]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:08am

I can't say I know much about the play but the film is incredible.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:16am

I'll look forward to seeing it. You'll have to pardon my skepticism. I'm glad to hear a positive reaction about the film. From my history of seeing one stage to screen adaptation after another and being vehemently disappointed time and again, I've sort of built up a resistance to expecting an experience somewhat familiar to the one I had in the theatre. I think I set my expectations too high for film.

[Jon]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:49am

I'm proud to say that our theatre gave Michael Shannon his first professional acting job, back in 1991. He played the lead role of Mio in WINTERSET, and incredibly difficuot role for a teenaged actor. He told us he was 19. It wasn't until we met his parents on opening night that we learned he was really 16! He was wise to lie - we probably would have been afraid to entrust the role to a 16 year old.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 8:07pm

Also it should be noted that despite the cast this isn't a big budget Hollywood production--Friedkin was working very much outside the system. For better or worse (ie the studios didn't seem to knwo hwo to handle this film--I think it was ready to be released over a year ago)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 8:31pm

If it makes you feel better Friedkin also directed in California a few years back a theatre production of another of Tracy's plays--which is how they became friends and I believe how he became involved in the film.

E

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 9:56pm

the movie looks pretty freaky..i didnt get to see the off-broadway play but i really want to see the movie.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:37pm

Saw the off-broadway show and really loved it. The acting was superb and the story itself was shocking! It felt so right when I read that it was being made into a film. The horror aspect of it just screamed out. Can't wait to see it!

[cudramacat]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:40pm

We did this play at my university in November and it is a great show! There is so much that can be done with it. Anyway, I am interested to see the film just because I know the play. I definitely think it is going to be more of a horror film but Ashley Judd and Harry Conick Jr. are in it and even though it might be far more graphic than the play ever would be, hopefully it won't distract from the great story.

[pushdabutton]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 11:18pm

I agree munk. This movie was awful. Audience members were laughing throughout the entire movie at how ridiculous it was when I saw it. Definetly not worth seeing.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 11:22pm

It's sharply divided critics (many feeling like you do)

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 12:13am

I saw it. Having spent a great deal of time with the play I can say I enjoyed the movie for what it was.

The play always had an absurdist factor to it that contributed to the hilarity.

It isn't supposed to be a horror movie. It's supposed to be a sci-fi psycho thriller that lets us truly laugh at the absurdity of Peter's beliefs and his actions.

The play truly is more comedy than horror. "SUPERMOTHER" is supposed to be insane and, therefore, funny. And the more intense and adamant Agnes is, the more absurd and funnier it becomes.

The play new very well what it was - and often had people laughing (and then scratching). The movie seemed to try to be a horror flick with script of comedic absurdity.
Updated On: 5/31/07 at 12:13 AM

[lucydee]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 6:34pm

I saw BUG on Sunday night. Ashley Judd and Harry C. were the best part of the movie. This movie is really bad. I kept hoping it would pick up and it didn't. Very stupid and the worse movie I have seen this year!
It really sucked. Don't waste your money on this one, go see something else.