Author(s): Connor Campbell
Location: Carrollton, Texas
"Flowers for Algernon"
Directed by Ron Howard
Written by Daniel Keyes & Larry McMurtry
Principal Cast:
Christian Clemenson- Charly Gordon
Reese Witherspoon- Alice Kinnian
Kevin Spacey- Professor Harold Nemur
Philip Seymour Hoffman- Dr. Strauss
Sally Field- Rose Gordon
Tagline: "Being a genius has it’s disadvantages"
Synopsis: The year is 1963. Charly Gordon is 32 and is mentally retarded. He lives in New York and works at Donner’s Bakery as a delivery boy and janitor. He attends classes at the Beekman College Center for Retarded Adults. His teacher is Ms. Kinnian. One day after class, Ms. Kinnian tells him about a study that he can participate in that will help him learn. He agrees.
The experiment he will be participating in will triple his IQ from 68, to 204. Charly meets with Dr. Strauss & Professor Nemur. They test him and tell him to keep progress reports.
After work at the bakery, some of his co-workers invite him to go out. They go to a bar a drink. The people who he believes to be his friends are manipulating him and laughing at him, but since Charly doesn’t know what’s going on, he laughs too. On his way home from the bar, he forgets where he lives.
Over the weeks, Charly is tested by racing a mouse named Algernon in a maze. Alegernon has already had the surgery. Charly continuously looses to Algernon, then he has the surgery.
Things begin to change for Charly. His IQ is growing rapidly and is noticing and remembering more things. One day, he again goes to a bar with co-workers, and when they try to manipulate him again, he realizes they are laughing at him. He storms out of the bar and quits his job. He is smart enough now to where he can help Dr. Strauss and Professor Nemur in their studies. Over time, he develops feelings for Ms. Kinnian.
They go on their first date, but Charly’s knowledge is interfering. He is talking about things that Alice has no clue about. His knowledge is dominating his social life and makes everyone around him feel inferior. Charly, confused goes to a diner where people are laughing at a waiter who is just dropped a tray. The waiter joins in laughing. Charly realizes that the waiter is retarded. He has an outburst of rage and yells at the customers and leaves. He is disturbed at the fact that he was exactly like that a couple of weeks ago.
Charly also remembers his family, particularly his mother, Rose. When Charly was declared mentally retarded, Rose blames herself and shuns him. He decides to confront his mother. Their meeting is a powerful argument that results in forgiveness. But then something bad happens.
Algernon’s IQ is dropping, and rapidly. He refuses to the maze and will not eat. Dr. Strauss and Professor Nemur abandon the project, but Charly, convinced the same will happen to him, continues research. Soon, Algernon dies.
Charly is beginning to lose his intelligence now. He goes back to work at Donner’s Bakery to find that he is no longer welcome. His relationship with Alice Kinnian has fallen apart and He has once again forgotten where he lives.
He spends days locked in his apartment, determined not to lose his knowledge, but it is useless. Several days later, Charly is admitted to the hospital. On his deathbed, he is surrounded by Alice, Dr. Strauss, Professor Nemur & his mother. His last words are “put flowers on Algernon’s grave.”
What the press would say:
This is a truly stunning film. Daniel Keyes and Larry McMurtry have written a masterpiece. This is McMurty’s best work since the Last Picture Show. The scene where Charly, after beginning to lose his intelligence and accidentally goes to Ms. Kinnians class is written and acted beautifully. Ron Howard does a spectacular job directing this stunning achievement. A Simply phenomenal work of art. Christian Clemenson does an amazing job as Charly Gordon, the mentally retarded man who for a short period of time experiences what it’s like to be a genius. His performance cries out Oscar. Reese Witherspoon is amazing as Ms. Kinnian. Her performance is subtle, but captures the character amazingly, since she must act differently throughout the film since it is from Charly’s point of view. Kevin Spacey and Philip Seymour Hoffman give great performances as the doctors who bicker and fight with each other about the experiment. They both bring depth to their characters. They don't just read what’s on the page. Sally Field is spectacular as Rose, Charly’s mother. Although her part is small, it’s affective. She nails the role of a reluctant mother who doesn’t want to except that her son is retarded. Overall, this is one of the best, if not THE best film I’ve seen this year
FYC
Best Picture
Best Director- Ron Howard
Best Actor- Christian Clemenson
Best Actress- Reese Witherspoon
Best Supporting Actor- Kevin Spacey
Best Supporting Actor- Philip Seymour Hoffman
Best Supporting Actress- Sally Field
Best Adapted Screenplay- Daniel Keyes & Larry McMurtry
Best Editing
Best Cinematography
Best Costume Design
Best Original Score
Best Sound Editing
Best Sound Mixing
Location: Carrollton, Texas
"Flowers for Algernon"
Directed by Ron Howard
Written by Daniel Keyes & Larry McMurtry
Principal Cast:
Christian Clemenson- Charly Gordon
Reese Witherspoon- Alice Kinnian
Kevin Spacey- Professor Harold Nemur
Philip Seymour Hoffman- Dr. Strauss
Sally Field- Rose Gordon
Tagline: "Being a genius has it’s disadvantages"
Synopsis: The year is 1963. Charly Gordon is 32 and is mentally retarded. He lives in New York and works at Donner’s Bakery as a delivery boy and janitor. He attends classes at the Beekman College Center for Retarded Adults. His teacher is Ms. Kinnian. One day after class, Ms. Kinnian tells him about a study that he can participate in that will help him learn. He agrees.
The experiment he will be participating in will triple his IQ from 68, to 204. Charly meets with Dr. Strauss & Professor Nemur. They test him and tell him to keep progress reports.
After work at the bakery, some of his co-workers invite him to go out. They go to a bar a drink. The people who he believes to be his friends are manipulating him and laughing at him, but since Charly doesn’t know what’s going on, he laughs too. On his way home from the bar, he forgets where he lives.
Over the weeks, Charly is tested by racing a mouse named Algernon in a maze. Alegernon has already had the surgery. Charly continuously looses to Algernon, then he has the surgery.
Things begin to change for Charly. His IQ is growing rapidly and is noticing and remembering more things. One day, he again goes to a bar with co-workers, and when they try to manipulate him again, he realizes they are laughing at him. He storms out of the bar and quits his job. He is smart enough now to where he can help Dr. Strauss and Professor Nemur in their studies. Over time, he develops feelings for Ms. Kinnian.
They go on their first date, but Charly’s knowledge is interfering. He is talking about things that Alice has no clue about. His knowledge is dominating his social life and makes everyone around him feel inferior. Charly, confused goes to a diner where people are laughing at a waiter who is just dropped a tray. The waiter joins in laughing. Charly realizes that the waiter is retarded. He has an outburst of rage and yells at the customers and leaves. He is disturbed at the fact that he was exactly like that a couple of weeks ago.
Charly also remembers his family, particularly his mother, Rose. When Charly was declared mentally retarded, Rose blames herself and shuns him. He decides to confront his mother. Their meeting is a powerful argument that results in forgiveness. But then something bad happens.
Algernon’s IQ is dropping, and rapidly. He refuses to the maze and will not eat. Dr. Strauss and Professor Nemur abandon the project, but Charly, convinced the same will happen to him, continues research. Soon, Algernon dies.
Charly is beginning to lose his intelligence now. He goes back to work at Donner’s Bakery to find that he is no longer welcome. His relationship with Alice Kinnian has fallen apart and He has once again forgotten where he lives.
He spends days locked in his apartment, determined not to lose his knowledge, but it is useless. Several days later, Charly is admitted to the hospital. On his deathbed, he is surrounded by Alice, Dr. Strauss, Professor Nemur & his mother. His last words are “put flowers on Algernon’s grave.”
What the press would say:
This is a truly stunning film. Daniel Keyes and Larry McMurtry have written a masterpiece. This is McMurty’s best work since the Last Picture Show. The scene where Charly, after beginning to lose his intelligence and accidentally goes to Ms. Kinnians class is written and acted beautifully. Ron Howard does a spectacular job directing this stunning achievement. A Simply phenomenal work of art. Christian Clemenson does an amazing job as Charly Gordon, the mentally retarded man who for a short period of time experiences what it’s like to be a genius. His performance cries out Oscar. Reese Witherspoon is amazing as Ms. Kinnian. Her performance is subtle, but captures the character amazingly, since she must act differently throughout the film since it is from Charly’s point of view. Kevin Spacey and Philip Seymour Hoffman give great performances as the doctors who bicker and fight with each other about the experiment. They both bring depth to their characters. They don't just read what’s on the page. Sally Field is spectacular as Rose, Charly’s mother. Although her part is small, it’s affective. She nails the role of a reluctant mother who doesn’t want to except that her son is retarded. Overall, this is one of the best, if not THE best film I’ve seen this year
FYC
Best Picture
Best Director- Ron Howard
Best Actor- Christian Clemenson
Best Actress- Reese Witherspoon
Best Supporting Actor- Kevin Spacey
Best Supporting Actor- Philip Seymour Hoffman
Best Supporting Actress- Sally Field
Best Adapted Screenplay- Daniel Keyes & Larry McMurtry
Best Editing
Best Cinematography
Best Costume Design
Best Original Score
Best Sound Editing
Best Sound Mixing
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