Fans of the book will be happy to know author Jojo Moyes[1] took on screenplay duties for "Me Before You[2]." Reading a story versus being able to see it on screen both adds and takes away from the audience.
For readers, each person can interpret the character in his or her own way, imagining the scenes the author has laid out. For moviegoers, they must rely on the screenwriter and those involved in production of the film to "get it right."
Fortunately, the heart of the story was maintained for the movie and the characters came alive with casting. Sam Claflin[3] ("The Hunger Games") was an excellent choice to play the arrogant lead, Will Traynor, a former playboy turned paraplegic. After a car accident occurs during the prime time of his life, 30-something Will finds he is not the man he once was.
Fun-spirited Louisa or "Lou" Clark (Emilia Clarke[4]) brings an effervescence to the screen and to Will's life as his caretaker. She's a hard worker who hasn't explored much beyond her English hometown. Her sense of adventure doesn't extend too far beyond her love for fashion, an element which was altered from book-to-screen.
Lou takes her job seriously. Partly out of obligation to her family who is struggling financially since her father has been out of work. She's bypassed opportunities in order to help pay the bills and does so without the slightest chip on her shoulder. Her joy barely dims around marathon-obsessed long-term boyfriend, Patrick (Matthew Lewis), who cares about little else than beating his running records.
The slow friendship and eventual romance between Lou and Will is heartwarming and bittersweet all at the same time. No spoilers for the people who didn't read the book, but they passed tissues out at the screening for a reason.
In some instances, the pop music soundtrack was more distracting than accompanying to the story. Much like the parts Moyes chose to omit from the original story might have been for the movie. You take some some, you lose some when a novel is translated to a screenplay but fortunately, in this case, the heart of the story remained intact.
References
- ^ Jojo Moyes (www.examiner.com)
- ^ Me Before You (www.examiner.com)
- ^ Sam Claflin (www.examiner.com)
- ^ Emilia Clarke (www.examiner.com)
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