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Apt Pupil (1998)
Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins
Synopsis: Based on the novella by Stephen King, director Bryan Singer's follow-up to THE USUAL SUSPECTS is a harrowing psychological thriller about the relationship that forms between a boy and the neighbor he discovers is a Nazi war criminal. After a brief lesson in history class, star pupil Todd... Based on the novella by Stephen King, director Bryan Singer's follow-up to THE USUAL SUSPECTS is a harrowing psychological thriller about the relationship that forms between a boy and the neighbor he discovers is a Nazi war criminal. After a brief lesson in history class, star pupil Todd Bowden (Brad Renfro) becomes obsessed with Hitler and his followers. Through extensive research, he discovers that the infamous Kurt Dussender (Sir Ian McKellen) has been hiding out, living a normal life in his own neighborhood. But instead of reporting Dussender to the authorities, Todd decides to use him to gain further knowledge...everything that the history books won't tell him. But who ends up using whom, and what happens when a susceptible young mind encounters true evil, leads to a surprising, taught, and unsettling suspense film. Interested in the novella since he was 19, Singer worked closely with screenwriter Brandon Boyce to bring this compelling story to the screen. Filled with the same touches that are hallmarks of his previous films--careful editing, use of small spaces to evoke tense atmospherics, terrific cinematography, and stellar acting--the film is a disturbing exploration into the seductively dark side of human nature. [More]
Genre: Dramas
Starring: Ian McKellen, Brad Renfro, Elias Koteas, David Schwimmer, Bruce Davison
Screenwriter: Brandon Boyce
Story: Stephen King
Producer: Jane Hamsher, Don Murphy, Bryan Singer
Composer: John Ottman
Reviews
Stephen King's 1982 Different Seasons collection has been a gold mine for moviemakers:
"Pupil" demonstrates Singer's eye for framing shots and his skill in bringing out the best in his stars. Even so, there's something amiss here.
It's a story that has taken 10 years to get to the screen at least, but what kept it from the screen for so long was lost when it was finally filmed.
No hace mas que dejarnos la sensación de que o bien el director fue una llamarada de petate o el escritor vio pasar sus mejores momentos hace ya varios años
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