End of the Year Brings Bounty of Must-See Books to Film!

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Michelle Langston

I’m always a little sad to see summer come to an end. I love the time outdoors, the sunshine, the family getaways, and of course, beach reads and big summer movies! There is a little chill in the morning air right now, the kids are back and school and I find that my reading habits, as well as my movie-going habits are starting to shift. Instead of reading Charlaine Harris’ latest Sookie Stackhouse novel, I’m (again) reading Jared Diamond’s “Guns, Germs and Steal: The Fates of Human Societies.” Instead of watching “Iron Man 2″ in the local cineplex, I’ve been watching fantastic films destined for Oscar nominations, like: “Black Swan,” “127 Hours,” “Get Low,” “Never Let Me Go” and “Conviction.”

Here is a look at some noteworthy upcoming film releases, all based on great books:

TRUE GRIT

Release Date: December 25, 2010

I have to admit, when I first heard that this John Wayne classic film was being remade, I was completely and utterly against the idea. I am one of those film purists that believe some films simply shouldn’t be remade. Then came the next part, the part that changed my mind. The incredibly talented Coen Brothers would helm the remake, and had brought on board Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin. All I can say is that if remake ever stood a chance of being worth a damn, this one solidly has everything it needs on front end to make that happen. Unfortunately, there is no trailer to show you, but here’s a publicity shot from this Christmas release.

IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY

Release Date: October 8, 2010

Based on the young-adult novel by Ned Vizzini, the film stars Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts,

Aasif Mandvi, Lauren Graham, and Viola Davis. What’s a 16-year-old boy doing playing music and table tennis with adult psychiatric patients – on a school day? It’s kind of a funny story… It’s @5:00 A.M. on a Sunday in Brooklyn. Craig Gilner (played by Keir Gilchrist of United States of Tara) is bicycling up to the entrance of a mental health clinic; this bright 16-year-old is stressed out from the demands of being a teenager. Before his parents (Lauren Graham [of Parenthood] and Jim Gaffigan [of Away We Go]) and younger sister are even awake, Craig checks himself into Argenon Hospital and is admitted by a psychiatrist. But the youth ward is temporarily closed – so he finds himself stuck in the adult ward. One of the patients, Bobby (Zach Galifianakis of The Hangover), soon becomes both Craig’s mentor and protégé. Craig is also quickly drawn to another 16-year-old displaced to the adult ward, the sensitive Noelle (Emma Roberts), who just might make him forget his longtime unrequited crush Nia (Zoë Kravitz of the upcoming Mad Max). With a minimum five days’ stay imposed on him by the adult ward’s staff psychiatrist Dr. Eden Minerva (Academy Award nominee Viola Davis), Craig is sustained by friendships on both the inside and the outside as he learns more about life, love, and the pressures of growing up.

LET ME IN

Release Date: October 1, 2010

Chloe Moretz (Hit Girl in Kick-Ass) stars as Abby, a mysterious 12-year-old who moves next door to Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Road), a social outcast who is viciously bullied at school. In his loneliness, Owen forms a profound bond with his new neighbor, but he can’t help noticing that Abby is like no one he has ever met before. As a string of grisly murders grips his wintry New Mexico town, Owen has to confront the reality that this seemingly innocent girl is actually a savage vampire. Don’t confuse this book, or the film as a straight out horror story. There are much deeper themes running through both, about innocence, the horrors of childhood and love.

Let Me In is based on the haunting and provocative Swedish book Låt den Rätte Komma In (Let The Right One In) by John Ajvide Lindqvist, and the highly-acclaimed Swedish film of the same name. The film stars Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass), Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road), Oscar nominee Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Elias Koteas (Shutter Island) and Cara Buono (“The Sopranos”) and will be released by legendary British horror brand Hammer Films.

I am interested to hear what end of the year films you are most looking forward to seeing. Is it “Harry Potter,” “True Grit,” “or something else? What books are on your must read list for Fall and Winter? Leave me a comment…love to hear your thoughts!

Books to Screen

Posted on June 9, 2010 by Michelle Langston

The summer movie season is in full swing, yet regardless of what time of year it is, you can always find films on the big screen that got their start on the pages of a book. Book lovers can certainly agree that the success of adaptation from book to television or film varies wildly, ranging from brilliant (“To Kill a Mockingbird” or “Lord of the Rings” trilogy) to unbelievably bad (“The Leagues of Extraordinary Gentlemen” or the 1995 version of “The Scarlet Letter”).

I am a lover of both books and film, but given a choice, I always prefer to read the book first and then see the film. So if you also enjoy reading the book first, then seeing the project evolve to the small screen or the big screen, here are a few books you might want to catch-up on:

EAT PRAY LOVE
Cast: Julia Roberts, James Franco, Richard Jenkins, Viola Davis, Billy Crudup
Director: Ryan Murphy (“Nip/Tuck,” “Glee”)
Category: Theatrical Film
Release Date: In movie theaters nationwide on August 13th
Based on: EAT, PRAY, LOVE by Elizabeth Gilbert

This film has all the right elements to be a phenomenal success at the box office — Julia Roberts in the type of role audiences love to see her in, combined with Elizabeth Gilbert’s wildly successful memoir. The story chronicles’ one woman’s quest to find what she really wants out of life. In her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India; and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali.

THE DARK FIELDS
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Abbie Cornish
Director: Neil Burger (“The Illusionist”)
Category: Theatrical film
Release Date: In movie theaters 2011
Based on: THE DARK FIELDS by Alan Glynn

This thriller imagines a not-so-distant world where designer drugs are all the rage. Our lead character, Eddie Spinola is hooked on MDT-48, a designer drug that adds intelligence and personality. Think of it as Viagra for the brain. While MDT helps Eddie achieve the kind of success he’s only dreamed about, the side effects are nasty . Sanity-splitting headaches, spontaneous blackouts and violent outbursts are just a few. Hooked and with his supply is running low, Eddie must venture into the drug’s dark past to feed his habit.

A GAME OF THRONES
Cast Regulars: Sean Bean, Peter Dinklage, Harry Lloyd, Mark Addy, Jamie Campbell Bower
Director: Tom McCarthy (“The Station Agent,” “The Visitor”)
Category: Television Series
Release Date: Anticipated start date of Spring 2011 on HBO
Based On: A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE (series) by George R.R. Martin

Seven noble families engage in an epic struggle for power set in a vast and violent fantasy kingdom. Amidst war, political confusion and sexual intrigue, a brotherhood of misfits are all that stand between the realms of men and the horrors beyond. HBO has greenlit ten episodes to see how the series will fare with audiences.

JANE EYRE
Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell, Judi Dench, Sally Hawkins
Director: Cary Fukunaa (“Sin Nombre”)
Category: Theatrical film
Release Date: In select theaters Friday, March 11, 2011
Based On: JANE EYRE by Charlotte Brontë

Yes, another version of the classic Brontë work. But really, with a story this good, do you ever tire of seeing it done well on the big screen? Never read the classic? What are you waiting for? Now is the perfect time!

And finally, for great summer reading fare, make sure and catch “Dead in the Family,” book ten in Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series. Whenever I finish one of Harris’ novels, I find myself disappointed that I have to wait for the next book to come out! Lucky for me, “True Blood” is back this Saturday, June 13, for their third season on HBO! While “Dead in the Family” may not be my favorite book in the series, it is a great summer read. I stayed-up throughout the night (on a work-night no less), so I could catch-up on my favorite supes (“supernaturals” for the uninitiated).

Okay, confession, I was really just rushing through to the end hoping that Bill and Sookie finally reconcile. Yes ladies, I am a member of Team Bill. Are you a “True Blood” fan too? Leave me a message here and tell me: Team Eric, Team Bill or Team Sam!

A Touch of Dead — Sookie Stackhouse: The Complete Short Stories

Posted on December 22, 2009 by Malena Lott

by Rod Lott

51oZEXgdr7L._SL500_AA240_ A Touch of Dead — Sookie Stackhouse: The Complete Short Stories by Charlaine Harris

As someone who’s very much in tune with HBO’s TRUE BLOOD, I’m one of tens of thousands of people currently curious enough to give Charlaine Harris’ novels — which serve as the series’ source material — a try. Most will go for the first book, 2001′s DEAD UNTIL DARK, but don’t overlook A TOUCH OF DEAD — SOOKIE STACKHOUSE: THE COMPLETE STORIES.

The new collection boasts all five of Harris’ previously published short stories from her established universe, which now numbers nine novels strong. As long as you’ve seen the show, TOUCH will make a fine starting point; but if you haven’t, don’t, because it does require some familiarity with the characters, as they’re not readily reintroduced.

Sookie is a Southern waitress with mind-reading powers, and she lives in Louisana at a time when vampires have chosen to live among humans. Other supernatural happenings occur about town. In “Fairy Dust,” Sookie’s called upon to solve the disappearance of one-third of a set of triplets from a strip club; too-alike names (Claude, Claudette, Claudine) muddle an otherwise simple, straightforward read, if a minor mystery.

A vampire-only club prepares for the arrival of Prince Dracula — hopefully — for an exclusive party in “Dracula Night.” Sookie teams with a witch to determine who rifled through a real estate agent’s files in “Lucky.” Sookie (God, how I hate that name) gets news of her vampire cousin’s demise in “One Word Answer,” and helps nurse a wounded werewolf back to health — including sexually — in the Christmas Eve-set “Gift Wrap.”

Harris’ strong suit is punchy dialogue, seasoned with inoffensive good humor. Depth in plotting is not, at least judging from this quintet of tales. All in all, they’re okay, but seem to suffer from being created specifically to fit a theme, rather than being stories the author just had to tell. Even though the characters don’t always act as they do on TV (vampire Eric, primarily), it’s easy to picture them in these offshoots, which aren’t likely to be adapted for the screen. My curiosity is now sated, and while I won’t continue with Harris’ fiction, I liked it well enough not to be disappointed.

Speaking of, many of A TOUCH OF DEAD’s negative reviews online stem from consumers being pissed that this is an anthology, rather than a full novel. Don’t blame Harris for that; blame it on your own failure to read what the cover quite clearly states. —Rod Lott

Buy it at Amazon.