MovieChat Forums > The Osterman Weekend (1983) Discussion > the book and the film

the book and the film

posted 16 years ago by theTalented-Mr-Kelly
3 replies | jump to latest

I just read robert ludlums the osterman weekend i was very impressed with it,especially the brilliant ending,ill definately read another ludlum book (this was my first one) i saw it in hodges figgis in dublin on sale for only 4.50!Anyway I was wondering whether i would enjoy this film, ive heard a lot about it,not all good,I have seen one other peckinpah movie, 'the getaway' which i really enjoyed and my mum says im far too young to see the wild bunch or straw dogs,please give your opinions of the movie and tell me the good points or bad ones thanks.R

[–] ikverkoopspellen 16 years ago

I have read the book and saw the film last week. The story in the film is different in quite a few ways. Most importantly: The basement scene from the book is missing.

The film is not as intense, exciting and interesting as the book.

I would not recommend it, even though I love other Peckinpah films.

[–] theTalented-Mr-Kelly 16 years ago

hey dude just saw it a while ago my mom bought it off ebay for 1 euro it was pretty crappy in parts, the score was like that of hotel lobby music at times, but some of the action scenes were brilliant!, especially the bit where Rutger Hauer uses that cross bow in the pool,but other than that yeah the film was really only ejoyable for action and some tension and it was very unfaithful to the book they changed that tense scene at the end completely.

[–] badcommand 16 years ago

The book is excellent, very tense and very well written. I waited ages for this film to come along at the right price (25p off ebay, ha ha), but how disappointed I was when I finally saw it. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad film if it wasn't based on a book, but it is based on a book, and a great book at that. Therefore, I have to compare the film with the original as the two can't be separated. Relative to the book, the film is rubbish, I'm sorry to say. I had such high expectations, but the film bore such little resemblance to the book that had I not known it was called "The Osterman Weekend", I would never have guessed that it was based on the book of the same name.

I gave this film 5/10 simply because I made it through to the end (and Rutger Hauer and John Hurt have done some great stuff), but it was more out of morbid curiosity as to how much more they could butcher the book than for any entertainment value. This was a film that was a product of its time (replete with cheesy music and bad acting) and it hasn't aged well. I'm glad I bought it for 25p because any more and I would've considered it a waste of money. So, so disappointing.