366 Minutes
Directed By: Mick Garris
Teleplay By: Stephen King
Based On The Novel By: Stephen King
M-O-O-N, that spells Tom Cullen. -Tom Cullen
Synopsis
Man has finally met his match. A super virus created by the military has wiped out the majority of the planet nearly ending in an extinction for man. The survivors have each found they share similar dreams. One that leads them to Nebraska to an elderly woman, and one that leads them to Las Vegas to a man who is ominous and terrifying. As the survivors pick sides reality shifts once again, and suddenly surviving isn’t enough. One side must prevail.
Review
Just like a Stephen King novel, a translated film, even miniseries like The Stand, ends up being pretty prolific. One of the things I admire about Stephen Kings storytelling is the need for the writer to really finish a story instead of leaving the unknown. When a tale is told, everything is told, and it feels like the story has really ended. There is a complete catharsis to finish his stories, and it was evident that he was responsible for the teleplay of The Stand as it omitted that same feeling of tying up all loose ends.
A magnificent tale of survival after a man made Apocalypse, a fear displayed again and again in film and novella, King manages to make his own twist on it that is very different than most stories. Death by virus is a simplistic method for extinction, but the supernatural and religious overtones that follow the cataclysmic end of man, really define what The Stand is about. There is no question the story began as child questioning the universe what the meaning of life is, good and evil, if God exists, and all the other profound questions one could surmise. It’s told in Kings simple way of letting a plethora of characters play out seemingly irrelevant events that lead to a masterful conclusion.
My one complaint about the tale had less to do with the story telling and more to do with the directorial position than anything. The first three parts were clearly started and finished but also contained a symmetry between them. They never felt like they were carrying on or going for too long. The fourth and final part felt very dragged out at times. Especially with the final mission which seemed created just for the sake of killing more people. Whatever the motivation, the result was a dragging that left the story feeling like it would never end.
Cast
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Gary Sinise as Stu Redman
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Rob Lowe as Nick Andros
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Molly Ringwald as Frannie Goldsmith
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Jamey Sheridan as Randall Flagg
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Ruby Dee as Mother Abigail
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Laura San Giacomo as Nadine Cross
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Corin Nemec as Harold Lauder
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Ossie Davis as Judge Richard Farris
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Miguel Ferrer as Lloyd Henreid
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Matt Frewer as Trashcan Man
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Adam Storke as Larry Underwood
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Ray Walston as Glen Batemen
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Bill Fagerbakke as Tom Cullen
The cast was fully loaded and to no surprise, each actor, on the good and evil side added something special to the survivors of earth and each actor really displayed the understanding that surviving wasn’t enough. Jamey Sheridan, Bill Fagerbakke, and Gary Sinise were the stand out performances, but everyone else played very well to the typical Stephen King ensemble cast, other than Molly Ringwald. In the past twenty years she continues to prove she has no acting talent and that her career as an eighties teen princess should be left in the eighties with Tiffany and Debbie Gibson’s music. She was an annoying thorn in the side of the movie, but only that, not enough to ruin it.
Ratings and Suggestions
It took me nearly fourteen years to finally sit down and make a marathon of The Stand, but it was well worth the wait. I’m not sure it’s the kind of movie I want to revisit, but I’m definitely implored to read the book. This, more than many of Kings supernatural tales, really seemed to get under my skin and be entertained at the same time. It’s a balance he generally plays well. I think everyone should take a viewing of this movie eventually. It would be worth your while. This quote from the film seemed to sum up the theme best:
You’re quite a piece of work Mr Cockroach. We could learn a lesson from you, especially in light of recent events. I have an idea come this time tomorrow I’ll be gone, but you’ll still be trucking, running little roach errands. -Glen Batemen
Great review! The open scene of the movie was one of the best ever. And if you listen to the commentary King talks about the people at ABC freaking out because King wanted to show dead people with their eyes open.
I loved the first three acts like you and the forth was just blah. I read half the book once and it was amazing. It was a long time ago I may bust it out again and give it a go.