Miseducation: Book V/s Movie.

I’ve wanted to read The Miseducation of Cameron Post for as along as I can remember. Emily Danforth’s book talks about Cameron Post, a seventeen year old sent to a Christian Camp for conversion therapy by her Aunt in the 1980’s.

I finally read the book (and really loved it) and then I finally watched the 2018 movie starring Chloë Grace Moretz. The movie is quite good. But I’ve realized that every time I watch a book getting made into a movie, I am usually a little bit disappointed. This is my post on how Book Cameron is different from Movie Cameron.

 

The biggest difference in the book and the movie is how terribly short it is cut to. This is however expected – they cannot make a whole 400 page book to screen. The book Cameron has a really sad and depressing past that we get to experience, movie Cameron does not.

Book Cameron has her first kiss when she’s eleven years old and movie Cameron is already seventeen when we see her for the first time.

Book Cameron has a crazy summer affair with Lindsey at her swimming meet, and in my personal opinion, Lindsey shapes book Cameron’s personality in many ways and so having no Lindsey in the movie really makes movie Cameron seem very different.

My least favourite part from the movie is the fact that Cameron’s best friend – Jamie is shown completely opposite of what he is in the book. Book Jamie loves Cameron but he realizes and recognizes what Cameron wants and supports her. Movie Jamie doesn’t out her, but movie Jamie is not her best friend.

The movie ends exactly like the book ends (and that was a relief), however with the major sub-plot of Cameron’s parents’ death missing from the movie, the ending doesn’t seem as strong as it does in the book.

Despite everything, The Miseducation of Cameron Post is both a book and a movie worth reading and watching.

Saying Goodbye to Michael Scott.

 

Back when I was interning in September of last year, almost ever single one of my co-interns was behind my life to get me to start watching The Office. I guess I wanted to – my brother had recently finished all of nine seasons, but it didn’t really feel like my cup of tea.

Then around October, my brother and I were having dinner and we couldn’t decide what to watch online. He suggested The Office. I agreed. And that is how we started watching three episodes every night along with dinner.

Three days ago, we finished season seven. Season seven is also the last season with Steve Carell playing his iconic character – Michael Scott, the branch manager of the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin, a paper company where he worked for over nineteen years.

The last episode that Steve Carell plays his character in is the 22nd episode of the seventh season named ‘Goodbye Michael’. It’s a normal day in the office and Michael tells all his staff that it is his second last day at work. The truth is that it is Michael’s last day but it does not want any drama and he clearly is not a fan of goodbyes and thus he decides to not let anyone know. He goes around in the episode saying goodbye to every single employee individually and I bet you, you will cry when he says goodbye to Jim and Dwight.

The episode is known as one of the best and the most emotional Office episodes – and it lives up to all of its hype. Michael ends his role with a very well placed “Thats what she said” (almost like he has done always) and the episode is suddenly over so quickly that you can’t believe that you won’t hear any more degrading Michael Scott jokes again.

For anyone who hasn’t ever watched The Office, I would recommend it fully and completely.

Birthday Wisdom –

Around two weeks ago, I turned 22. *cue Taylor Swift* – To be completely fair to 2018, my year from 21 to 22 has been not that bad. Sure, there were tough days and long nights, but overall it was quite a good transition.

Here are a few things that I’ve learnt in this last year:

1. Grudges should be temporary: As I’m getting one step closer to graduation every day, I’ve slowly realized that absolutely nothing can be gained from holding grudges over people. Anything that has already happened cannot be changed, and rightfully so. Its very important to learn to move on from people and fights.
2. Don’t force your opinions on people: No matter how hard this hits, it is the truth of life that 90% of time, people will not agree with you. You will always find that one person who says completely opposite of what you say. The trick to a happy day is learning to let these people be. They need their opinions.
3. Skin care is the best care: Take it from someone who has had HORRIBLE skin – nothing in life will make you smile as hard as amazing skin will. Take care of those cheeks!
4. Connection is a two-way street: Staying in touch with people is so important, but really you cannot do it alone. It has, and always will be a job for both sides. If you feel someone isn’t putting as much effort as you are into a friendship or a relationship or partnership, really just let them go.

 

So this is the older and more wiser me –

Boy Erased (2018)

Boy Erased is a movie based off a book.
Its also a movie that I was really excited to watch.
Boy Erased is the story of a 18 year boy, who is the son of a pastor and who is sent to gay conversion therapy. From brilliant acting to a brilliant soundtrack, this movie has everything (including Troye Sivan)

The main lead – Jared – is played by Lucas Hedges and in my personal opinion, Lucas Hedges’ acting is impeccable, especially considering that his parents in the movie are played by Nicole Kidman and Russel Crowe (If I was Lucas Hedges, I would be freaked!).

The movie had two trailers before its release and I remember one of them ending with the lines ‘Stop Erasing’. This was what made me really look forward to this movie. I knew the basic story. I knew how it was going to end. But I needed to know how it was going to reach to that ending.

The movie starts with Jared’s mother dropping him off to Love In Action gay conversion therapy assessment program. Over a run time of 114 minutes, the movie depicts Jared’s life during the program with regular flashbacks of his life before the program. The movie is brilliant. There are no other words to describe it. Nicole Kidman’s acting is heartfelt and honest coupled by Russel Crowe’s acting that is equally brilliant.

There’s a part, towards the end of the movie, where Jared is talking to his father and he says,
“I am gay. And I am your son. And none of these things are going to change. So if you want to be in my life, I’m afraid you’re going to have to change.” – This is the heart of the movie.

Through powerful acting and meaningful dialogues, Boy Erased successfully gets its message across – The truth cannot be converted.

This movie is a definite must watch! 5/5 in my opinion (Plus, I cried, like always)