Word: plot
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Besides being dull, the plot entirely fails to come together at the end. The Wheel of Fortune theme that seems to show such promise never comes through and seems ultimately unrelated to the novel's meaning. The idea of a man bent on causing apocalypse to wipe out the consumer society is little more than a regurgitation of long overused cliches. And neither is the message of Messiah any major surprise. The messiah saves the world through-what else?-love! Here is a safe and time tested-vision but one incapable of laying claim to any originality...
...letters themselves were a surprise. They contained virtually no reflection on (or of ) Chekhov's art and instead sketched a loose plot about marital procrastination. Most exciting in their salutations (such as "my little actress" and "daughter") and in Chekhov's evasive discussions of travel, they also made an occasional gasp at beauty ("One of the cranes has flown away. Still no rain. They're building a shed in the courtyard. The other crane is bored."). Dominick Jones, who adapted the letters, included a subtle subplot in which Chekhov sends misleading and contradictory travel plans to Olga so that...
...That's not true. I plan very carefully. I start with political research, I usually hire researchers. I compile many notes on character, plot, venue, historical incident. Then I do a shorthand draft of the entire story, and then I block it out into a formal outline, then I follow that outline down to the most minute detail. You cannot write books as large, as complex, as densely populated as mine, without a detailed outline...
...marriage between Skerritt and Keaton is also an important aspect of the plot that is alluded to but quickly abandoned. Several times throughout the movie, the couple is pitted in conflicting roles concerning the strain of raising, and letting go of, Carla. This scenario is very real in such a complicated situation but unfortunately its importance is downplayed. The struggles are continually dissolved in a similar manner and without much angst. The personality of each character is no monotonously predictable and underdeveloped that the talents of Keaton and Skarritt are wasted upon them...
...weaknesses of the The Other Sister, including the unnecessary length, the failure to weave sub-stories effectively into the main plot and the underdevelopment of supporting characters obscure the positive aspects of the movie. Buy your ticket for this one solely to experience Lewis" effective performance...