Book Vs. Movie: Ghost World
The 1997 Daniel Clowes Graphic Novel vs. the Terry Zwigoff 2001 Film

The Margos are feeling very moody and isolated, discussing the 2001 film Ghost World starring Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson as best friends Enid and Rebecca, who are perfect early 00’s angsty and unimpressed with the world and was catnip for audiences and critics alike.

Based on chapter five’s “Hubba Hubba” by Daniel Clowes, the original 1997 graphic novel series Eightball, the story of two lonely misfits who interact with other lost souls, made for an unusual adaptation that earned an Academy Award nomination for Clowes and directed by Terry Zwigoff (Crumb, Bad Santa.)

We read the source material (which you can find as a compilation of short stories in Adaptations: From Short Story to Big Screen by Stephanie Harrison), watched the film (has it aged well?), and tried to decide which we liked better--the book or the movie?

In this ep, the Margos discuss:

• Daniel Clowes’s work
• The state of graphic novels and independent films in the 1990s
• Terry Zwigoff’s adaptation that was somehow NOT a Miramax film
• The differences between the graphic novel and movie
• The cast of the 2001 film: Thora Birch (Enid,) Scarlett Johannsson (Rebecca,) Steve Buscemi (Seymour,) Brad Renfro (Josh,) Illeana Douglas (Roberta Allsworth,) Bob Balaban (Enid’s father,) Stacey Travis (Dana,) Tom McGowan (Joe,) Brian George (convenience store owner,) Pat Healy (John Ellis,) Rini Bell (graduation speaker,) Terri Garr (Maxine,) David Cross (Gerald,) Ezra Buzzington (“Weird Al,”) and Bruce Glover as Feldman.

Clips used:

• Meeting Seymour
• Ghost World (2001 original trailer)
• High School graduation
• Enid gets hired and fired
• The art class scene introducing the painting
• Enid helps Seymour date
• Seymour attacks Josh
• Music: “Jaan Pehechan Ho” by Mohammed Rafi

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