Top 5 Upcoming Film Adaptations

As summer roles in hopefully most of you are back to reading whether it is poolside or at the beach. If you are a fan of books to film like I am here are five upcoming film adaptations to pick up at the library this month.

1. Me Before You by JoJo Moyes. Romance novelist Moyes gets her first screen adaptation and might just put Nicholas Sparks in the dust. Starring Game of Thrones‘ Emilia Clarke and Hunger Games alum Sam Claflin, this love against all odds story will surely sell. It is on my ‘to-read’ list still. Film releases in June.

2. Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach. Tom Stoppard adapts this novel into a costume drama starring Christoph Waltz, Dane DeHaan, and Alicia Vikander (this year’s Oscar winner for The Danish Girl). Classic tale of artist falls in love with trophy wife, we shall see if the Weinstein Company put their money where their mouth is in releasing it. Still on my ‘to-read’ list as well. Film releases in July.

3. Girl on a Train by Paula Hawkins. This Gone Girl esq thriller follows a woman who imagines a backstory to a couple she can see from her daily train commute. The novel is set in London, but the film has been moved to New York with Emily Blunt playing the alcoholic lead. The trailer can be seen here. Film releases in October.

4. Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. If you haven’t read a Barnes novel pick this 150 pager up about an older man looking back on his life and our sense of time. Not an easily adaptation the film will star Charlotte Rampling and Jim Broadbent who will hopefully turn fine performances in a story about realizing our memories might deceive us. Film releases fall 2016.

5. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. Optioned by Reese Witherspoon’s production company it is currently being filmed for a release in 2017. Following three women, to be played by Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley, Big Little Lies centers on these Kindergarten moms whose friendship is book-ended with a murder. Fun commercial fiction, but worth a read.

 

10 Highly Anticipated Fall Film Adaptations

1. The Bourne Legacy (inspired by Robert Lundlum’s novels). In theaters August 10. Do I need to read these?

2. Cosmopolis by Don DeLillo. In theaters August 17. Lots of buzz on this one, especially as David Cronenberg is directed. I have not read, but still have doubts about Robert Pattinson. Waiting to be impressed.

3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. In theaters September 14. I know this novel has fans everywhere and I somehow missed in my younger years. Emma Watson outside of her Hermoine character will surely be a treat and we’ll seen if teens show up for films outside of the big franchises. Also, noted that the novel’s writer also wrote the screenplay and directed the film.

4. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. In theaters October 26. Still on my bookshelf to be read!

5. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. In theaters November 9. My mother has just bequeathed a copy of this to me. Big hill to climb, but it might be worth it with a Tom Stoppard script and direction by Joe Wright. Cue the sweeping epic music…

6. Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2by Stephanie Meyer. In theaters November 16. More comments on this later.

7. Life of Pi by Yann Martel. In theaters November 21. Read it now. And I mean NOW.

8. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. In theaters December 14. ENOUGH SAID!

9. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In theaters December 25. At this point most of American generations have read this literary milestone as part of required high school reading. This upcoming take my Baz Luhrman will not only prove to be different visually, but could push the story’s boundaries. I am giving it an older me re-read. I suggest you do the same.

10. On the Road by Jack Kerouac. Set to release this year. An American classic, but having recently read it will be interesting to see how they shape the narrative for the screen. The book didn’t move me, hopefully the movie will. I have faith in a slew of the actors, but the blight will probably be Kristen Stewart.

10 Spring Must Reads for Moviegoers

1. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Out in April, this adaptation will star Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon. Hoping that it will be both better than the Twilight series for Pattinson and better than the 2004′s Vanity Fair adaptation Witherspoon was in, we can all breathe a bit easier knowing how well put together the book is. Also, there is an actual reason to have an elephant in this one.

2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Really is this necessary? I don’t care how prolific it wants to be, lets put it to rest. Just like Austen. Let’s have a generation that learns the book before the film. Still mad at Jamie Bell.

3. Atlas Shrugged (Part 1) by Ayn Rand. Set for an April 15th release. Such a massive undertaking with a somewhat unknown director. Still on my to read list, but safe to say itll be a slog as they are cutting the book into more than one film.

4. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part II by J.K. Rowling. In theaters this summer. No argument needed. If you haven’t read any, you have a couple of months before the first part of the final chapter comes out. Get on it. Now.

5. Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Roald Dahl. June 17. If you didn’t read this as a child, you truly missed out. I don’t know how I feel about the story changes and the casting of Jim Carrey, but the only way to know is to see it.

6. One Day by David Nicholls. Set for a July release, this film stars Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess as former college sweethearts who visit each other every year to see where they are in their lives. On my to read list. But shot in London, Edinburgh and Paris…hmmm.

7. Snow Flower & The Secret Fan by Lisa See. July 2011. Also still on my to read list. Hugh Jackman stars in a story set in 19th century China and centered on the lifelong friendship between two girls who develop their own secret code as a way to contend with the rigid cultural norms imposed on women.

8. The Help by Kathryn Stocket. Set for an August 2011 release starring Easy A‘s Emma Stone, who can also be seen in the next Spiderman film.

9. On the Road by Jack Kerouac. In post production.

10. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. David Fincher is directing the first American-Hollywood version of this series starring Rooney Mara of Social Network craziness.

Top Ten Upcoming Film Adaptations:

Ones worth bothering to read the novel first, for all you people who have forgone the library.

1. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Limited release in September. By the author of The Remains of the Day, Never Let Me Go will star Kiera Knightley, Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garflied, Charlotte Rampling and Sally Hawkins. A conversationalist novel, the book is stirring and simply heart breaking in the most minimalist way. The book will leave so much unanswered that it can only benefit you to read it before the film, one that is surely to garner Oscar buzz.

2. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling. In theaters November 19th. No argument needed. If you haven’t read any, you have a couple of months before the first part of the final chapter comes out. Get on it. Now.

3. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Now in post-production, this adaptation will start Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon. Hoping that it will be both better than the Twilight series for Pattinson and better than the 2004’s Vanity Fair adaptation Witherspoon was in, we can all breathe a bit easier knowing how well put together the book is. Fingers crossed.

4. The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson. In post-production/2011 release.

5. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.In post-production/2011 release. Such a massive undertaking with a somewhat unknown director. The list is filling up with things to read right?

6. On the Road by Jack Kerouac. Currently shooting. Cannot wait. But Kristen Stewart?? Hooo-humm.

7. Snow Flower & The Secret Fan by Lisa See. In post-production/2011 release.

8. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. In development. David Fincher is set to direct the first American-Hollywood version of this series. I have yet to read them, but I am quite sure they are worth delving into, at least to know what all the fuss is about.

9. Life of Pi by Yann Martel. In development. Not to be missed or left unread.

10. Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Roald Dahl. In development. If you didn’t read this as a child, you truly missed out. And although Jim Carrey has just been attached to this project (odd choice?), I am still fascinated to see how this will be pulled off.

NOTE: I cannot even acknowledge or discuss the umpteenth adaption of Jane Eyre or some old novel knock-offs coming out in 2011. But another installment will be up again soon! Happy reading!

TOP 10: Summer Movies Worth the Trip (& the Cash)

(NOTE: In order of release date!)

1. Toy Story 3 to be released on June 18th, 2010. (Definitely spend an afternoon re-watching the last two films, Pixar cannot be beat!)

2. Jonah Hex to be released on June 18th, 2010. (Actually not interested in it because of the comic book concept, but more because a whole set burned down in my native New Orleans. A new director was hired to do re-shoots here in L.A., so I think it’s worth it to see what trip of a movie this will actually be.)

3. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse to be released on July 2nd, 2010. (Because it’s good to know what the kids love and what can change in a series with a new director for each film. Believe me I already have one vampire love in my life (long live BUFFY) and I intend to see where this one leads. Read the books so why not)

4. Despicable Me to be released on July 9th, 2010. (hahahahahahaha.)

5. Cyrus to be (limited) released on July 9th, 2010. (An official Sundance selection that looks full of character and cleverness, plus the idea of Marisa Tomei and John C. Reily as a couple is entertainment enough.)

6. Inception to be released on July 16th, 2010. (New Christopher Nolan!!!)

7. Salt to be released on July 23rd, 2010. (Didn’t think I would be excited about this one, but the preview looks bad ass. Can’t imagine it being played by a man.)

8. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World to be released on August 13th, 2010. (The preview doesn’t make much sense, so let’s hope the film will).

9. Happythankyoumoreplease to be (limited) released on August 27th, 2010. (There isn’t a trailer yet for this one, but it’s Sundance buzz makes it seem it’s worth the trip to a smaller theater to see it.)

10. The Town to be released on September 10th, 2010. (New Ben Affleck directed/written feature that finally features Jon Hamm in something other than schmoozer and sexy advertising Mad Men‘s Don Draper. We’ll see if the rest of the stellar cast can make this a memorable Affleck venture.)

NOTE: Don’t worry folks, if you don’t make it to the cinema this summer, I surely will so come back for all your real criticism on new films.

TOP 10: Upcoming Fall Screen Adaptations

(NOTE: These are sorted based on release date.)

1. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, to be released August 14th, 2009. (Eric Bana will not be the type of guy you will read about, but what else can we expect from Hollywood casting?)

2. Surrogates by Robert Venditti & Brett Weldele, to be released September 25th, 2009. (Another graphic novel adaptation with Bruce Willis, surprise, plays a cop. No surprises here probably).

3. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane, to be released October 2nd, 2009. (Newest DiCaprio and Scorsese collaboration, excellent cast with a Boston accented DiCaprio. Looks immensely gripping and the book is probably worth a read as Lehane also wrote already adapted novels, Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone).

4. The Informant by Kurt Eichenwald, to be released October 9th, 2009. (Another investigative/political thriller for sinking Matt Damon. The book is based on 6 years of investigative reporting by Eichenwald on a true financial informant, probably a snooze fest).

5. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, to be released October 16th, 2009. (If you haven’t read this as a child, you’ve already missed out, so come on, catch up)!

6. The Road by Cormac McCarthy, to be released October 16th, 2009 as well. (Much anticipated adaptation with Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall and Guy Pearce to name a few. McCathy’s All the Pretty Horses and No Country For Old Men have already been adapted on screen. Worth a sit and a read)!

7. The Vampire’s Assistant by Darren Shan , to be released October 23rd, 2009. (Yes, another vampire story…a series in fact, sporting a talented cast, writer/director Paul Weitz and shot on location in my hometown of New Orleans. Previously entitled Cirque du Freake, it’s on my list, and not just because of Patrick Fugit)!

8. The Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl, to be released November 13th, 2009. (Strong voice casting in this Wes Anderson animated feature will hopefully due Dahl’s book justice).

9. The Twilight Saga: New Moon by Stephanie Meyer, to be released November 20th, 2009. (Purely up to whether or not you want to try out the Twilight band wagon. Always a good idea to stay in tune with what the tweens are reading as these books/films are already so entrenched into pop culture. Liking Robert Pattinson is not a requirement. Read the first book, if any).

10. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebould, to be released December 11th, 2009. (Much delayed and anticipated adaptation. Worth the read no matter when as Sebould is able to construct a gripping story of a molested then murdered child who witnesses her family’s coping from heaven. Hoping this strong cast will pull through for Peter Jackson).