OK film, but great book.

Rating: 6/10 (25 May 2008)

Sooo many great parts from the book has been cut out for no apparent reason, as absurd parts have been added! I found myself occasionally bewildered in the film and I had just finished the book.
I frankly found the Robert DeNiro performance and character an embarrassment. What was the purpose of making him ravingly gay??? Was this such a great idea it justified dropping vast and essential parts from the book, such as the damned MAIN CHARACTERS? The Ricky Gervais character was actually quite an amusing brief addition.
The whole thing appeared to be made by someone who had heard about the book 3rd hand and contained none of the understanding of the characters, the pathos or the love that made the book great.
Don't be put off the great book by this barely passable film.