Oct 24 2001
Shot in the Heart
HBO, one of my favorite TV stations, has made a movie of “Shot in the Heart”, one of my favorite books (and if you follow this link, it’s worth the time to read the excerpt). The book was written by Mikal Gilmore, Gary Gilmore’s little brother. More than an examination of the crimes that led to Gary’s execution in January, 1977, it’s the story of a tragic and deeply flawed family. It must have taken considerable courage for Mikal Gilmore to research generations of his family’s history, sifting through the secrets and lies to face the painful truths that lay beneath. In reading Gilmore’s brilliant book, I felt as if I were watching a Greek tragedy unfold before my eyes, the events of generations of lives all leading inevitably to that cold January morning. It’s a deeply moving and troubling book, and one which isn’t easily forgotten.
My first reaction when I heard about the film was to be glad it was HBO, but I couldn’t see how the book could be translated to film, since there is so much family history and background in it — it’s not just about Gary’s crime and punishment. The answer is that it couldn’t. Unfortunately, the film jumps back and forth and goes for an arty feel and look rather than telling the story. If I hadn’t read the book, I wouldn’t have known what was going on most of the time, and we had to keep pausing the film so I could explain to Rufus wat was going on or who these people were. That said, Elias Koteas gave an outstanding performance. Not only did he look like Gary, he was able to convey the conflicted emotions of this complex man. I guess it’s always hard for a movie made of a book one loves to live up to such high expectations. So check it out and make up your own mind. But read the book.
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