i knew this would come up sooner or later...
i voted equal, which is unheard of for me.
i normally much prefer the written work, although rarely, jaws for example, a really crappy book becomes a knockout movie.
in this case, the story, to me, is flawless. it is the single best piece of short fiction i have ever read, perhaps even the best of all formats, and, believe me, i have been reading since i was 4. i have read me some BOOKS. every word, every description, every motivation, every evocation, even the dialect writing (and i hate dialect, can't enjoy huck finn because of it), it all rings crystal true.
there are more flaws in the movie, some jangle, others minor irritations; but, the quality of the screenplay, the casting, the acting, the cinematography, the score, the set dressing, the costuming, and the guiding hand of a genius director add up to something the like of which i have never seen before, and don't expect to see again soon. and i never even got to the subject matter, can you believe that?!
a masterpiece in both vernaculars!
jack