Dear Hollywood...
/A Literary Smackdown On Adaptations…
Even before the credits roll on a book adaptation to film or television, without question the persistent refrain amongst booklovers will be, “the book was better”.
It might seem like we are in the age where every movie is based on a previously existing film, but the truth is Hollywood has been plundering novels for more than a century. There are only so many original screenplay ideas out there, no small percentage of which are likewise based on borrowed ideas. “Art is theft,” as Picasso reportedly said, but at least Hollywood dispenses credit every now and then. Putting the printed page up on the big screen is a tradition as old as cinema itself.
The ideal adaptation remains faithful to the source material while adding its own slant. They avoid being mere regurgitations and strive to be astute expansions. And the most important component? The casting. Get that wrong and you will alienate and irritate the not inconsiderable volume of readers that populate the world in which we live.
As I built this feature, I asked myself the following. Why, when we have clearly milked dry the creative genius of past movie successes, are we not scooping up the rights to the endless untouched bounty to be found in the pages of books? What hidden gems got it right? Which adaptations are readers anxiously awaiting? And where did Hollywood fail us?
Fade in…
Nailed It!…When They Got It Right
The Flight Attendant – Chris Bohjalian
The journey from book to screen here was masterfully innovative. Rather than leaving Cassie with only her internal dialogue to solve the riddle of a murder she wakes up to, one she may or may not have committed, the series creators have her engaging in conversation with Alex, the dead man. As Cassie’s life continues to unravel, the injection of dark humour brings some much-needed levity to the narrative.
Bridgerton Series – Julia Quinn
The makers of this rollicking melodrama managed to turn a staid regency romance series into anything but! Twenty years after the series released in print, the screen version erupted, pun intended, in popularity, adding lots of steam and casting diversly. And it cannot go unmentioned that it brought back the term jizz. Its suddenly everywhere. The word, not the…um, stuff itself.
Vulgar Favors: The Assassination of Gianni Versace – Maureen Orth
We all know the crime and the criminal at the center of this story, but this ingenious telling in reverse structure yields a disturbing character study that is worse than anything you might be anticipating. Add to that flawless casting and outstanding performances and you won’t be able to look away.
The Silver Linings Playbook – Matthew Quick
This is one of those cases where the movie put the book on the bestseller’s lists. A wonderfully acted story that centers on a bipolar guy sprung from a facility before he’s quite ready. While trying to find a way around his ex-wife’s restraining order he meets a woman prepping for a dance competition that she finds a way to rope him into. These two inevitably prove perfect for each other.
The Girl With All The Gifts – M.R. Carey
This story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world in which most of humanity is infected with something that turns them into zombies. Scientist’s stumble across a group of hybrid children who while having the taste for blood, retain their full mental capabilities. Studios love a post-apocalyptic story, and this is a well done one that hasn’t been as widely publicized as some.
The Old Guard – Greg Rucka
Close to the origin material and all the better for it. A group of mercanies and warriors who have been fighting for humanity for centuries or even millennia and are virtually indestructible make for good viewing, no doubt about it. They go to battle to keep their secrets, but don’t mistake good brawling for a lack of depth in motivation and backstory.
Dead Until Dark (aka True Blood) – Charlaine Harris
On the page, the love affair between Sookie and Bill isn’t nearly as sizzling as the series depicted. In fact, they elevated every aspect to a more adult level; the supernatural elements, the violence, and of course…the sex. So. Much. Sex.
L.A. Confidential – James Ellroy
The sheer density of this book demanded a trimming down to fit the screen time and the choice to focus on the three police officers was inspired. It’s the early 1950’s and these men find themselves embroiled in corruption, murder, organized crime and sex in different ways, each coming out the other side in their own unique manner.
The Joy Luck Club – Amy Tan
This was a movie that few thought would be made. An intricate and poignant story about the cultural divide between four Chinese American daughters and their immigrant mothers. An excellent example of reinventing a completely different way of showing the stories on screen that keeps the heart and soul of the book intact.
Coming Soon…A Preview
Sleeping Giants – Sylvain Neuvel
This is the story of a young girl who falls through a weak spot in the ground one day and lands in the palm of a giant, mysterious metal hand. Years later as a physicist she is still trying to unravel its secrets and what their impact might be on humanity. With the screen writing job in the hands of David Koepp, himself a fantastic author, I have high hopes!
Permanent Record – Mary H. K. Choi
The novel explores how social media influences the relationship of two young adults who are the very epitome of an unlikely match. With one of the key players behind Crazy Rich Asians taking this bestseller on we are likely in very good hands.
Monster – Walter Dean Meyers
The plot follows Steve, a seventeen-year-old honor student who is accused and convicted of murder, a crime he did not commit. An important and timely depiction of the modern-day struggles against racism. Early reviews state this adaptation is both thought provoking and entertaining.
Last Looks – Howard Michael Gould
This screwball thriller, set in Hollywood, finds a disgraced ex-cop recruited by a private eye to investigate a murder. The book is fast paced and funny which seems fitting for the screen. Lead by a vintage antihero dare I compare it to a Nice Guys?
White Tiger – Aravind Adiga
A sweeping tale that explores class and privilege in India through the eyes of a poor villager who evolves into a savvy businessman is potential cinematic gold! The book overlays heavy topics with dark humor, which can be a challenge to translate to the screen. Let’s hope the filmmakers don’t squander those nuances.
Thursday Murder Club – Richard Osman
This charming and delightful murder mystery follows a group of savvy and snarky seniors as they pursue a killer conducting nefarious business in the retirement community they call home. With Steven Spielberg involved and the blockbuster success of Knives Out this gem is bound for greatness!
Killers Of The Flower Moon – David Grann
Based on a true story the movie focuses on the suspicious deaths of a number of people who found oil on their land and how the newly formed FBI cracked the case. With the Scorsese, DiCaprio and DeNiro reunited on screen I don’t expect anything less than magnificent.
The Reincarnationist Papers – D Eric Maikranz
A sci-fi thriller that depicts a secret society, and who doesn’t love those, whose members possess the ability to recall events from their past lives. Our lead, played by Mark Wahlberg, is haunted by what he thinks are hallucinations but are actually memories of his past lives. The film is being directed by Antoine Fuqua of Training Day fame, so I am in!
Knife Of Never Letting Go: Chaos Walking Book One – Patrick Ness
This story follows a young man who grows up believing all the women in the world have died due to a virus that also cursed men with the ability to hear each other’s thoughts. Then one day, a mysterious girl arrives. This story is part of a trilogy and Hollywood has a so so history with those, time will tell.
Heads Up…What Are They Waiting For?
The Lunar Chronicles – Marissa Meyer
A series of futuristic retellings of beloved fairy tales that turns them on their head and weaves them together in unique ways. Come on, tell me you don’t want to see edgy, snarky and kick ass versions of Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Snow White battling evil and finding love?
Such A Fun Age – Kiley Reid
With a complicated relationship at the center of this story, a young black babysitter and her well intentioned, possibly over-compensating employer you can’t really go too far wrong bringing this to the screen. Layer in false accusations and blurred lines between hero and villain, in the right hands this could be a hit.
Dear Child – Romy Hausmann
This story of a woman who has been held captive in a windowless cabin deep in a remote forest along with her children and manages to escape is perfect thriller material. More intricate and sinister than many books of its type, these brilliant characters are practically screaming to be brought to life.
Black Buck – Mateo Askaripour
It’s a proven fact that audiences love a rags to riches story, especially one with impeccable comic timing. Add to that a diverse perspective that skewers those that succumb to unconscious bias and racism. Never mind the characters that do so consciously! Buckle up!
Ten Thousand Doors Of January – Alix E. Harrow
A book steeped in magic translated for the screen? What are we waiting for? An enchanting story of a girl who sees things other can’t and her journey through as many adventures as she can find.
Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue – V.E. Schwab
With a lead character that makes a deal with the devil to live forever, viewers are bound to be as riveted to the screen as readers were to the page. Life after life Addie is forgotten by everyone she meets, until one day she’s not.
Yesterday – Felicia Yap
A murder mystery where the suspects and the sleuths’ memories are constantly erased? Knives Out was so yesterday.
This Story Is A Lie – Tom Pollock
An adrenaline rush of a story on the page, it has all the ingredients of a successful adaptation. An anxiety ridden teen math prodigy finds himself thrust into untangling the mystery of a violent attack on his mother and his sisters’ disappearance.
American Spy – Lauren Wilkinson
Spanning three decades and leapfrogging across international borders are earmarks for a great spy story. Great action sequences and insights into a little-known slice of the spy world, this book is ready for its close up.
Epic Fails…When It All Went Wrong
The Twilight Series – Stephenie Meyer
Too be fair, this was an epic fail as a book series as well so…
Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury
This classic dystopian novel set in a distant future where all books are verboten, and troops of fireman keep the peace by burning literature on sight has plot ripe for the picking. But the recent adaptation couldn’t even be saved by a stellar cast. I was underwhelmed.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Series – Stieg Larsson
Too be clear, I actually thought the film of the first installment of the dark and edgy tale of Lisbeth Salander was good, the problem is that it ended there. And then came back in the first in the series second wave of books. Either commit to a series in its entirety or don’t bother.
The Passage – Justin Cronin
The vampiric, apocalyptic, centuries spanning novel that waded fearlessly into the fragile ethics of humanity ended up with a screenplay that seemed to be written by an algorithm. The dialogue is clunky and mechanical and everything interesting about the book has vanished.
The Bonfire Of The Vanities – Tom Wolfe
This heavily hyped adaptation of Wolfe’s satirical novel of contemporary life in New York had a maverick director and a headline making cast and was supposed to be a blockbuster. Instead, it was a dud. But think about it, how do you translate the expert skewering of the vanities of extraordinarily unlikable characters into a movie? Well, maybe you don’t.
Earthsea Cycle – Ursula K. Le Guin
Full disclosure, there is a new adaptation coming but it’s going to need to avoid the pitfalls of the previous iterations to connect with an audience. Long considered one of the best fantasy series, creators have a lot of material here to pull from. Must dos include, embrace the diversity inherent in the books, only focus on one story at a time and remember that intricate world building must be customized for the visual audience. Fingers crossed.
The Stepford Wives – Ira Levin
If you look closely enough, there is important social commentary in Levin’s book in which women are being “replaced” with versions more pleasing to their husbands. In the films you get a droll and banal attempt at being a psychological horror which falls flat and loses the message.
Inkheart – Cornelia Funke
This beautifully busy series needed to be stripped down for its parts in order for the film version to have a more feasible load to carry. What we end up with on screen is a muddle of a movie that fails to do justice to the book despite its faithful retention of the story.
Horns – Joe Hill
Like it or not, admit it or not, Daniel Radcliff will always be Harry Potter in the eyes of film watchers. And casting him as the main character in a dark, edgy horror film based on a book that has achieved near cult status is probably not the best choice for the filmmakers.
The End…More Quick Lists!
Roll Credits: Where Credit Is Due; Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn, The Outsiders – S.E. Hinton, The Help – Kathryn Stockett, Fight Club – Chuck Palahniuk, The Handmaids Tale – Margaret Atwood, Princess Bride –William Goldman, Mindhunter – John Douglas, Jurassic Park – Michael Crichton, Winters Bone – Daniel Woodrell
Don’t F*ck It Up!; Daisy Jones & The Six – Taylor Jenkins Reid, The Shining Girls – Lauren Beukes, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret – Judy Blume, Underground Railroad – Colson Whitehead, The Southern Book Clubs Guide To Slaying Vampires – Grady Hendrix, Gentleman In Moscow – Amor Towles, Dark Matter – Blake Crouch, Severance – Ling Ma, The Diabolic – S.J Kincaid
Please Don’t…You Won’t Get It Right; The Echo Wife – Sarah Gailey, Harriet The Spy – Louise Fitzhugh, Book Of Lost Things – John Connolly, The Eight – Katherine Neville, Killing Circle – Andrew Pyper, Magic For Liars – Sarah Gailey, Unbury Carol – Josh Malerman, Outlawed – Anna North, Klara & The Sun – Kazuo Ishiguro
