After reading through the book The Descendants I was curious how the movie compared. I had heard of the movie and how good it was, but never heard about the book before this class. I think this fact is seen in the movie as well. I feel the movie is a backdrop to feature George Clooney and a new up and coming actress Shailene Woodley. I feel the focus of the film is to show the actors acting abilities rather than accurately portray the book. In general the movie follows the book but there are some key changes.
The first change I noticed was the change in Scottie's role. I felt that throughout the book Scottie had a big presence and was a major character. In the book she shows the emotional turmoil the situation is causing them all to go through, she also reveals the family relations, and her father's lack of parenting skills. This is partially seen in the movie but not to the degree it is seen in the book. One scene that was very different was when the doctor comes to tell Matt King that his wife is not going to get better. In the book Scottie is there being a child by refusing to leave and distracting from the situation. She acts like a shield to her father because he really does not want to know what the doctor has to say. In the film though Scottie is absent from this scene and her father is simply told by the doctor without anyone there to distract him. This difference affects how Matt King is displayed as well. In the books version he is scared, overwhelmed, and not ready to face what is happening. The movie however makes him seem much braver and willing to take on what is happening to him. I feel this also shows the emphasis that is being put on George Clooney over the character he portrays in the book and over the role of Scottie. The movie is serving to show off George Clooney as the hero dad character rather than accurately portray the storyline of the book. It wants to show George Clooney as a hero dealing with all these problems rather than a real man who doesn't want to face his problems.
Another reason I feel Scottie's role is decreased is to focus on Alex. Alex's problems in the movie are emphasized and Scottie's are decreased. In the movie we do not see Scottie with the sea urchin spins in her hand or her play acting out things she saw in a porn movie. Instead we see all the ways Alex is messed up. They include her drunken scene at boarding school and reference her drug addictions. I feel this is done to showcase the actress Shailene Woodley's abilities rather than stick directly to the story line. They want to emphasize her as the messed up daughter who redeems herself instead of showing the progression of both girls. It brings the focus of the film onto Matt and Alex instead of the trio that is was in the book.
A third change can be seen in how Sid's story is portrayed. It was more of an omission than a change. They reveal in the movie that his dad has died but they don't reveal the backstory or after effects of his death. I feel this is done throughout the movie where the follow the basic storyline but leave the deeper issues out. They show the basic pain the characters are in but leave out the deeper more painful meanings. I feel this is done to keep the movie as more a form of entertainment to feature acting abilities rather than give a message like the book does. It makes the movie lighter and much more humorous. The changes are subtle but very profound when you look at the many differences between book and movie.
I agree with the lack of Scottie's representation in the movie, as it is a much more important role in the novel. I find that the reason she is less of a major character in the movie is because the film is attempting to attract a wider audience, and such a young unique character is not so easily accepted by popular appeal. Rather, emphasizing the character as Alex in the way that brings attention to her teenage angst creates a character that moviegoers can better identify with. The shift from Matt, Alex, and Scottie functioning as a three person family unit draws attention to the mixed up father/ mixed up daughter dynamic which is more suitable for on screen interaction, which more audience members can see and learn from.
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