BROWN'S REQUIEM, THE FILM
James Ellroy's first novel, "BROWN'S REQUIEM," was the third Ellroy book to be adapted for film. Never widely released, "Requiem" is now available on VHS and DVD.
Director Jason Freeland reportedly spent a year adapting Ellroy's novel, shifting its time-period from the early-1980s to the late-1990s with mixed results. The screenplay was revised again with the assistance of star Michael Rooker, who felt the original script (and much of the dialogue) read too much like a straight lift from the novel and wouldn't be convincing on film.
First-time director Freeland also chose to incorporate significant voice-over narration by star Michael Rooker (apparently in an effort to mirror Ellroy's rare use of first person POV).
While not what might you might have envisioned when reading the novel, Rooker is an extremely winning Fritz Brown. Selma Blair plays the female lead.
The film is certainly worth a look and succeeds on many levels as an adaptation of Ellroy's first and most uneven novel.
INSIDER TIP: Watch for the scene where Rooker is beaten next to his car. An actor failed to pull a kick and booted Rooker in the kidney. The actor finished the scene — kicking a fleeing car in real anger — despite his fear that he had sustained a ruptured kidney and would be urinating blood.
Also intriguing: Freeland's first-choice to play Fritz Brown was James Gandolfini.
• Film review HERE.
• Related article HERE.
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