mfv1958

I thought this was going to be a gripping story how Jared was caught in a major pedophile scandal. Instead, episode 1 is all about this woman, Rochelle, breaking down every detail in endless minutia.

The fact that she looks and sounds like Rosanne Barr is a huge turn-off. She comes off as self-absorbed and unlikeable as a narrator.

Jared got what he deserved and maybe was given too little of a sentence. What he said on those tapes was disturbing and creepy. But Rochelle makes the story about her, not Jared. Even her emotional breakdowns seem contrived.

This could have been an intense one hour episode for any of the network prime-time crime shows. Using Rochelle sparingly would have been fine, but making her the focal point makes this 3-part documentary a total bore.

The original was no great movie, but the cast (Martin Sheen, George C. Scott, Drew Barrymore, Art Carney, Louise Fletcher...) was superb and the story stayed true to King's novel. This remake follows the book in concept only, and has absolutely no depth of character development or story.

If you didn't have the book or first movie to refer to, this movie would have been indecipherable. I wasn't expecting much, but was hoping for a good updated film. No such luck.