Reel Lit

THE PRESTIGE
Christopher Priest (paperback)
Writer-director brothers Jonathan and Christopher Nolan skip the '95 novel's modern framing, alter the ending, and amp up the violence between feuding magicians.
Last Word The film intrigues, but Priest's two first-person narratives create more suspense.

FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
James Bradley with Ron Powers (paperback)
In saturated visuals, director Clint Eastwood re-creates the gory WWII battles of Bradley's 2000 nonfiction best-seller; the script highlights Adam Beach's role as a troubled Marine.
Last Word Much of Bradley's narrative color (and efficient pace) is lost.

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS
Augusten Burroughs (paperback)
Auteur Ryan Murphy adapts Burroughs' '02 memoir, about being sent to live with his mother's therapist, rather faithfully, though he trims out various road trips and escape attempts.
Last Word The broadly funny film can't rival the memoir's razor-sharp humor.