Beowulf: The Script Book
Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary’s BEOWULF: THE SCRIPT BOOK presents me with a real dilemma: I’m itching to find out what they’ve done to the virtually unreadable epic poem for Robert Zemeckis’ upcoming film, yet I don’t dare wish it to be spoiled. So this review is half a review. Deal with it.
The splendidly oversized volume contains the duo’s first draft from 1997 and final draft from 2005. Granted, in that near-decade of development, there’s quite the project history, and that’s where this book doesn’t disappoint, as Avary spills the tortured details with uncharacteristic (for Hollywood) frankness in a foreword and a “middleword.”
It all begins with a hilarious, too-much-information story of Avary meeting with then-Warners head Lorenzo DiBonaventura, who tells Avary his favorite scene from KILLING ZOE involved a naked Julie Delpy getting roughed up. Turning down an opportunity to work on John Milius’ SGT. ROCK, Avary gets interested in an adaptation of Gaiman’s groundbreaking SANDMAN comics before wisely deciding to walk away, not wanting to be the guy who screws that up.
This decision endears him to Gaiman, and before long, the two are spending a couple weeks holed up at Puerto Vallarta, shooting pool, swimming, drinking and – when they’re not doing the above – collaborating on BEOWULF. Avary wanted to direct the film himself, but Zemeckis had become obsessed with doing so, and … well, you know how pecking orders go in La-La Land.
Nevertheless, a heartbroken Avary admits, “Nothing dries tears like money.” It’s that kind of honesty that makes me long for an entire autobiography from the screenwriter, who won an Oscar for co-writing PULP FICTION.
Gaiman provides the afterword, which is joyfully written as expected and comes off like friendly conversation, but it’s barely more than a page and shorn of meaty details. Mostly it serves to introduce two songs he penned for the movie whose lyrics appear in the appendix immediately following.
Right smack in the middle of the book between the scripts are some original character designs and concept art for the film drawn by Stephen Norrington, director of BLADE and THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN. These are terrific, polished nearly to the point of resembling a graphic novel, and amp up my enthusiasm for the finished film. This handsome book likely will do the same for you. –Rod Lott
OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THESE AUTHORS:
• ANANSI BOYS by Neil Gaiman
• FRAGILE THINGS: SHORT FICTIONS AND WONDERS by Neil Gaiman
Virtually unreadable?
Try Seamus Heaney’s translation. It’s pretty good, although I’m just as fond of the older Burton Raffael one too.
I should have qualified that — unreadable depending on the translation.
I was glad to read someone else thought the Beowulf “virtually unreadable.” I had trouble hacking through it with two swords.
Don’t take it back now. I’ll look like a dumbass
Ha! I’m not taking it back — it really does depend on the translation. Like, the one we had to read in high school = unreadable. But the one in FURTHER ADVENTURES OF BEOWULF, which I reviewed a while back = doable.
I’ve not read FURTHER ADVENTURES….I’ll check it out.
Oh, and the movie looks gawdawful.
I’m a big fan of both Gaiman and Avary, but I’m just not looking forward to this movie. The look of it just turns me off - based on the trailer anyway.