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Catch-22→Catch-22
Joseph Heller·1970·Director: Mike Nichols
70%
Faithfulness
4.0
Book Rating
3.6
Movie Rating
Platform: DVD
Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin, Art Garfunkel
The Book
Catch-22 is a satirical war novel by American author Joseph Heller. It was his debut novel. He began writing it in 1953; the novel was first published in 1961. Often cited as one of the most significant novels of the 20th century, it uses a distinctive non-chronological third-person omniscient narration, describing events from the points of view of different characters. The separate storylines are out of sequence so the timeline develops along with the plot. The novel satirizes military bureaucracy and greed.
The Film
During World War II, a U.S. Army Air Force bombardier tries to avoid flying dangerous missions by proving he is insane, but the contradictory military rules make escape impossible. The story exposes the absurdity and paradoxes of war and bureaucracy.
Key Differences
The film condenses many of the novel's subplots and characters. Some of the novel's dark humor and narrative complexity are simplified. The film ends more straightforwardly, omitting some of the book's ambiguous and cyclical elements.
Our Verdict
Read the book firstThe film captures the central themes but loses much of the novel's depth and complexity, making it better to read the book first for full appreciation. The adaptation is entertaining but simplified.
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