Everybody lies

posted on Thursday, February, 5th, 2009 in Thursday Thirteen, moving pictures

It is a sad, but well-known phenomenon that many movies that are based on books turn out plain sucky. That’s why it is usually advisable, if possible, to first watch the movie and only read the book afterwards so as to avoid the disappointment.

But there are, now and again, a couple of films that get it right. They manage to translate the story from the pages of the books onto the screen in a manner that even avid fans of the books can live with.

Here are the ones that worked for me:

1. Harold and Maude

imdb-summary:

The self-destructive and needy wealthy teenager Harold is obsessed by death and spends his leisure time attending funerals, watching the demolishing of buildings, visiting junkyards, simulating suicides trying to get attention from his indifferent, snobbish and egocentric mother, and having sessions with his psychologist. When Harold meets the anarchist seventy-nine-year-old Maude at a funeral, they become friends and the old lady discloses other perspectives of the cycle of life for him. Meanwhile, his mother enlists him in a dating service and tries to force Harold to join the army. On the day of Maude’s eightieth birthday, Harold proposes to her but he finds the truth about life at the end of hers.

This movie is old – older than me, in fact. But even though it has aged, it is still a lovely story. I loved the book already and was not even interested in watching the movie, but for once was pleasantly surprised when I recently stumbled upon it on t.v.

Besides, is it bad that I would literally kill to have this car? I have a thing for hearses anyway, but this Jaguar is just the cutest thing automobile-wise that I’ve ever laid eyes on.

2. Girl With a Pearl Earring

imdb-summray:

This film, adapted from a work of fiction by author Tracy Chevalier, tells a story about the events surrounding the creation of the painting “Girl With A Pearl Earring” by 17th century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer. Little is known about the girl in the painting, it is speculated that she was a maid who lived in the house of the painter along with his family and other servants, though there is no historical evidence . This masterful film attempts to recreate the mysterious girl’s life. Griet, played by Scarlett Johansson, is a maid in the house of painter Johannes Vermeer, played by British actor Colin Firth. Vermeer’s wealthy patron and sole means of support, Van Ruijven, commissions him to paint Griet with the intent that he will have her for himself before it is finished. She must somehow secretly pose for the crucial painting without the knowledge of Vermeer’s wife, avoid Van Ruijven’s grasp, and protect herself from the cruel gossip of the world of a 17th century servant.

I think the movie managed perfectly to translate the mood from the book to the screen. Plus, every film with Colin Firth in it automatically gets a benevolent treatment from me.

3. Lord of the Rings

I don’t think I have to post a summary for this one, do I? Whoever doesn’t know what these 3 films are about must have lived in a cave or something for the last 10 years or so.

The book is one of my all-time favorites and I was actually quite convinced that it just wasn’t humanly possible to translate the sweeping grandeur of the story on to the screen. Peter Jackson proved me wrong and I gladly bow to his genius. Those movies deserved every single Oscar they won, and then some.

4. Cider House Rules

imdb-summary:

Homer is an orphan in remote St. Cloud, Maine. Never adopted, he becomes the favorite of orphanage director Dr. Larch, who imparts his full medical knowledge on Homer, who becomes a skilled, albeit unlicensed, physician. But Homer yearns for a self-chosen life outside the orphanage. When Wally and pregnant Candy visit the orphanage Dr. Larch provides medically safe, albeit illegal, abortions Homer leaves with them to work on Wally’s family apple farm. Wally goes off to war, leaving Homer and Candy alone together. What will Homer learn about life and love in the cider house? What of the destiny that Dr. Larch has planned for him?

John Irving is among my favorite writers and “The Cider House Rules” is one of my favorite books by him (THE favorite is “A Prayer for Owen Meany”). I’m not much of a fan of Tobey Maguire, although I don’t mind him much either. But Michael Caine is the real reason why I love to watch this film again from time to time.

5. Batman Begins and The Dark Knight

Yes, I am aware that these are not exactly “book adaptions” in the strictest sense. But I count graphical novels, a.k.a. comics, as books here anyway. I can hardly leave two of the most amazing movies of the last couple of years off this list.

You see, the thing is, I am not even a big fan of comics. I am trying to develop a taste for them, because I certainly do admire the artistry, but in many cases – Batman comics being among them – they are just a little bit unsatisfying, because they are over too quickly and I am left craving more story, more character development, more descriptions – basically more of everything.

And that’s exactly why I have to include those two movies in this list. Because only after watching those movies do I actually understand that there is more to the Batman comics than just pretty pictures of a guy in a cape and with cool gadgets. These movies had everything I missed in the original comics.

6. Stardust

imdb-summary:

In the 1800’s, the clumsy teenager Tristan Thorn crosses the wall in the border of his town to the magic realm of Stormhold to bring a fallen star to his beloved Victoria, a spoiled girl that does not love him but has promised to marry him if he accomplishes his promise. In the fantasy kingdom, he meets the star Yvaine and imprisons her with a magic rope, promising to release her after meeting Victoria. Yvaine was hit by the magic ruby of the evil King of Stormhold that has promised his throne to the son that could find the stone. Meanwhile, three evil witches led by Lamia seek Yvaine to eat her heart and make them young again, and the two sons of the dead king also search Ivaine because she wears the necklace with the powerful ruby.

Again, falling in love with this movie totally surprised me. I adore Neil Gaiman’s books, but since there are so many magical elements in them I always have a hard time believing they are translatable to film. This one especially with its fairytale story could have gone horribly wrong. But luckily it turned out fantastic, not least because of all the great actors involved. Claire Danes especially was gorgeous as the fallen star Yvaine. And not to forget Robert DeNiro in a fantastic role as Captain Shakespeare. Bloody hilarious.

7. A Boy and His Dog

imdb-summary:

A post-apocalyptic tale based on a novella by Harlan Ellison. A boy communicates telepathically with his dog as they scavenge for food and sex, and they stumble into an underground society where the old society is preserved. The daughter of one of the leaders of the community seduces and lures him below, where the citizens have become unable to reproduce because of being underground so long. They use him for impregnation purposes, and then plan to be rid of him.

Another oldie. Apparently, there are several versions of this film. I watched the one from 1975 (the year I was born), starring a very young Don Johnson. Normally I rarely bother to watch such old movies, because I usually end up hating them anyway. The cheesy special effects, the overblown acting style and all that normally is just not my cup of tea.

The reason I watched this one was my love for dystopian fiction and the fact that I couldn’t manage to get my hands on the original story by Harlan Ellison. I fully expected to hate the film, but surprisingly I quite enjoyed it. It is certainly one of the stranger films I have ever seen, and I wouldn’t exactly go as far as saying it’s a good one. But it is certainly entertaining, in a twisted kind of way. But then again, maybe that’s just me.

8. I Am Legend

imdb-summary:

Robert Neville is a scientist who was unable to stop the spread of the terrible virus that was incurable and man-made. Immune, Neville is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City and perhaps the world. For three years, Neville has faithfully sent out daily radio messages, desperate to find any other survivors who might be out there. But he is not alone. Mutant victims of the plague — The Infected — lurk in the shadows… watching Neville’s every move… waiting for him to make a fatal mistake. Perhaps mankind’s last, best hope, Neville is driven by only one remaining mission: to find a way to reverse the effects of the virus using his own immune blood. But he knows he is outnumbered… and quickly running out of time.

Again, this is the remake of the remake of the adaption of a shortstory. And for once I think the movie is way better than the original story – or would be, if it wasn’t for the botched ending. I didn’t like the original story at all when I read it after watching the movie, but I have to admit that the ending of the story does make a lot more sense in the light of the title.

9. The Shining

imdb-summary:

A man, his son and wife become the winter caretakers of an isolated hotel where Danny, the son, sees disturbing visions of the hotel’s past using a telepathic gift known as “The Shining”. The father, Jack Torrance, is underway in a writing project when he slowly slips into insanity as a result of cabin fever and former guests of the hotels ghost’s. After being convinced by a waiter’s ghost to “correct” the family, Jack goes completely insane. The only thing that can save Danny and his mother is “The Shining”.

One thing you have to know about me: I don’t have nightmares. Ever. Or maybe I have them and then just don’t remember them when I wake up, who cares. The point is, even though I can be scared shitless when I’m awake, I don’t lose sleep over scary movies or books.

Stephen King’s book “The Shining” was mildly scary when I read it as a teenager, but it didn’t impress me all that much in the end. But watching Jack Nicholson lose it in this movie? Scared the shit out of me. This was actually the first time that I was afraid to close my eyes at night for fear of nightmares. (Incidentally, it was also the last time, since I slept like a baby anyway and just figured worrying about nightmares is a waste of time for me.) From that point on Jack Nicholson to me was the definition of a very scary deranged guy. Until Heath Ledger came along and completely upstaged him in “The Dark Knight”.

10. Pet Sematary

imdb-summary:

The Creeds have just moved to a new house in the countryside. Their house is perfect, except for two things: the semi-trailers that roar past on the narrow road, and the mysterious cemetary in the woods behind the house. The Creed’s neighbours are reluctant to talk about the cemetary, and for good reason too.

“Pet Sematary” was the first book by Stephen King that I ever read. I must have been in my early teens and I clearly remember finding it scary and fun. Entertaining enough to turn me into a devoted King-fan.

Now, everybody knows that adaptions of King’s books more often than not end up being total crap. One could argue that “Pet Sematary” falls into the same category. It is noticably different from the book in some regards, mainly in that it is way funnier. I’m not quite sure if that was intentional, but I certainly laughed out loud a couple of times, especially when Victor, the dead guy, turns up. Even though he deoesn’t look too pretty with his brains being all smashed up and running down the side of his head, I nevertheless had a huge crush on the guy when I saw the movie for the first time. What can I say, I have strange taste in men.

11. Chocolat

imdb-summary:

Vianne Rocher and her young daughter are drifters who are met with skepticism and resistance when they move to a conservative town in rural France and open a chocolate shop during Lent. As Vianne begins to work her magic and help those around her, the townspeople are soon won-over by her exuberance and her delicious chocolates – except for the mayor, who is determined to shut her down. When a group of river drifters visit the town, Vianne teaches the townspeople something about acceptance, and finds love for herself along the way.

This is an adaption of one of Joanne Harris’ books, it’s about chocolate, and it has got Johnny Depp, Juliette Binoche and Judi Dench in it. What more could a movie need? Nothing, as far as I am concerned.

Again, the story in the movie is altered from the book – and I really wonder why they always have to do that – but in this case the deviation is not too bothersome. The story still flows. Defnitely a film to be watched repeatedly, curled up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate.

13. Nobody’s Fool

imdb-summary:

Sully is a rascally ne’er-do-well approaching retirement age. While he is pressing a worker’s compensation suit for a bad knee, he secretly works for his nemesis, Carl, and flirts with Carl’s young wife Toby. Sully’s long- forgotten son and family have moved back to town, so Sully faces unfamiliar family responsibilities. Meanwhile, Sully’s landlady’s banker son plots to push through a new development and evict Sully from his mother’s life.

Richard Russo’s books are full of lovable loser characters and this one of no different. Sully is certainly not exactly a role-model for how one should live his life, but I would definitely get along with him fantastically. That he is portrayed by the phenomenal Paul Newman doesn’t hurt either. How could this guy be still this hot at his age? Must be the blue eyes. Very entertaining movie in any case.

12. Empire Falls

imdb-summary:

A story about the intricacies of small town, blue-collar American life, centered around the misadventures of one, Miles Roby, manager of the Empire Grill. Trapped within the confines of Empire Falls, Maine since the death of his mother, Miles has been unable to sever his many ties to his dilapidated hometown, including his reformed brother, his lay-about father, his soon-to-be-ex-wife, and their intelligent, if awkward daughter, Tick.

All right, this one is not a movie, but a 4-part t.v. series. But it is still a book adaption, so I feel free to include it here. Again, the book was written by Richard Russo, and again Paul Newman is in it. 11 years older, but still as charming as hell. It’s a quiet little film about normal people – no superheroes here, nor big action scenes or the like – but that’s exactly what makes it so remarkable and rewatchable.

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So much from me. What are your favorite book adaptions? I’m always happy about good tips.

Oh, one more thing: I made some new T13 headers and reorganized my header collection. Have a look around and tell me what you think, if you have time.