MISERY

Based on the novel by Stephen King
Screenplay by William Goldman
Directed by Rob Reiner

James Caan
Kathy Bates
Richard Farnsworth
Lauren Bacall

Premiere date: November 30, 1990
R

Romance author Paul Sheldon longs for parting with Misery, Sheldon's plucky heroine of seven novels. She's delivered Sheldon fame and fortune and recognition beyond the average writer's dreams, but she is also interminably linked to him. Determined to escape an eternal role as dimestore novelist, he kills her off in the eighth novel and heads to his New England cabin to work on his own Great American Novel. Upon its completion, Sheldon excitedly sets out for his New York City publisher in the midst of a raging blizzard and within minutes veers into a desolate snowbank. From the brink of death, he is rescued from the snow by Annie Wilkes, who just so happens to be Misery's self-professed biggest fan. At first, she nurses him back to health in her remote cabin, telling him the roads and phones are knocked out by the storm, fawning over his literary accomplishments. However, things change when she purchases his eighth Misery book and reaches the point of Misery's death. Annie's psychotic underbelly swiftly surfaces as the unfortunate author is held clandestinely captive in her home. Meanwhile, a wily small-town sheriff circles in.

1 Academy Award Nomination, 1 Win
Best Actress - Kathy Bates

Oscar-Winning Baddies

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Some of my favorites from the past 20 years. I almost included Jeremy Irons as Claus von Bulow, but innocent until proven guilty, right? Christoph Waltz's Colonel Hans Linda has a decent shot at joining these ranks next March. We'll have to wait and see.

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Have I missed any? Who are your favorites? Where does Hans Landa rank amongst other infamous screen villains?