The novel 11/22/63 was one of the greatest books I have ever read, from my favorite author of all-time. Suffice it to say that this miniseries had a lot to live up to for me. While I generally enjoyed the series, it was severely hampered by one key mistake from the get-go: casting James Franco as the main lead.
For a basic plot summary, 11.22.63 tells the story of Jake Epping (James Franco), an adult education teacher who discovers that his friend, Al Templeton (Chris Cooper), just happens to own a diner that sits atop a sort of temporal hot spot (dubbed the "Rabbit Hole"). Basically, every time a person enters a certain closet in the diner, they emerge out the back at the same exact point in 1960. Long story short, Al gives Jake a mission: stick around in the past long enough to prevent President John F. Kennedy from being assassinated, which would presumably lead to a better future for all involved. After some experimenting in the past involving a fellow school co-worker, Harry Dunning (Leon Rippy), Jake decides to go through with the plot, staking out the house of the infamous Lee Harvey Oswald (Daniel Webber), mother Marguerite (Cherry Jones), and wife Marina (Lucy Fry) in order to find out if Oswald acted alone or was under the handling of George de Mohrenschildt (Jonny Coyne). Of course, three years is a long time to wait, so along the way Jake picks up some company in young friend Bill (George MacKay) and the enchanting Sadie Dunhill (Sarah Gadon), whom he meets at the high school where his past identity comes to roost while waiting for that fateful 11/22/63.
Let's get the heart of the matter of why I can only give this three stars: James Franco is terrible for this role. Nothing against the guy personally, but his style just doesn't play in this type of story. In order for viewers to completely buy into the transformation that takes place over the time that Epping resides in the past, we need to have someone who can convey that emotion, and Franco doesn't live up to the billing. This is apparent in every single episode of the show, sadly. Franco is an actor who "plays things too cool", never getting too high or low in a story that needs that kind of raw emotional to really connect on a visceral level. His presence automatically knocks one star off this series regardless of how well the rest of it does.
As far as critiquing the story and other acting, that is a very tough thing for me to do having already read the superb novel. As such, I was readily aware of the "things I was missing", so to speak. This version of the story isn't quite as large in scope as the novel (though perhaps that is to be expected from just eight episodes made out of a 1,000+ page book), but it does cover the really important stuff. However, I really do feel that it could have incorporated a few more of the book's more interesting side-concepts and been even the richer for it.
Simply put, while the first few and last few episodes of 11.22.63 were dynamite, I felt that the middle ones dragged a bit, whereas I never remember feeling that while reading the book. I honestly think, though, that this could again have a lot to do with the fact that Franco never really "sold" any of the scenes where Jake is supposed to be building a relationship with Sadie (who Gadon makes into easily the most interesting and vibrant character of the whole shebang).
So, I know I am biased because of my love for the book and for all things Stephen King, but to me this was just an "okay" series that could have been much more with a better lead casting choice and (potentially) less drag in the middle. I'm interested to hear, though, what others who have no previous experience with the book have to say about things. I can't say I am disappointed in 11.22.63 (although I almost can), but it certainly didn't blow me away, either.
For a basic plot summary, 11.22.63 tells the story of Jake Epping (James Franco), an adult education teacher who discovers that his friend, Al Templeton (Chris Cooper), just happens to own a diner that sits atop a sort of temporal hot spot (dubbed the "Rabbit Hole"). Basically, every time a person enters a certain closet in the diner, they emerge out the back at the same exact point in 1960. Long story short, Al gives Jake a mission: stick around in the past long enough to prevent President John F. Kennedy from being assassinated, which would presumably lead to a better future for all involved. After some experimenting in the past involving a fellow school co-worker, Harry Dunning (Leon Rippy), Jake decides to go through with the plot, staking out the house of the infamous Lee Harvey Oswald (Daniel Webber), mother Marguerite (Cherry Jones), and wife Marina (Lucy Fry) in order to find out if Oswald acted alone or was under the handling of George de Mohrenschildt (Jonny Coyne). Of course, three years is a long time to wait, so along the way Jake picks up some company in young friend Bill (George MacKay) and the enchanting Sadie Dunhill (Sarah Gadon), whom he meets at the high school where his past identity comes to roost while waiting for that fateful 11/22/63.
Let's get the heart of the matter of why I can only give this three stars: James Franco is terrible for this role. Nothing against the guy personally, but his style just doesn't play in this type of story. In order for viewers to completely buy into the transformation that takes place over the time that Epping resides in the past, we need to have someone who can convey that emotion, and Franco doesn't live up to the billing. This is apparent in every single episode of the show, sadly. Franco is an actor who "plays things too cool", never getting too high or low in a story that needs that kind of raw emotional to really connect on a visceral level. His presence automatically knocks one star off this series regardless of how well the rest of it does.
As far as critiquing the story and other acting, that is a very tough thing for me to do having already read the superb novel. As such, I was readily aware of the "things I was missing", so to speak. This version of the story isn't quite as large in scope as the novel (though perhaps that is to be expected from just eight episodes made out of a 1,000+ page book), but it does cover the really important stuff. However, I really do feel that it could have incorporated a few more of the book's more interesting side-concepts and been even the richer for it.
Simply put, while the first few and last few episodes of 11.22.63 were dynamite, I felt that the middle ones dragged a bit, whereas I never remember feeling that while reading the book. I honestly think, though, that this could again have a lot to do with the fact that Franco never really "sold" any of the scenes where Jake is supposed to be building a relationship with Sadie (who Gadon makes into easily the most interesting and vibrant character of the whole shebang).
So, I know I am biased because of my love for the book and for all things Stephen King, but to me this was just an "okay" series that could have been much more with a better lead casting choice and (potentially) less drag in the middle. I'm interested to hear, though, what others who have no previous experience with the book have to say about things. I can't say I am disappointed in 11.22.63 (although I almost can), but it certainly didn't blow me away, either.