Monday, November 5, 2007

Coming to the Big Screen

From Book

To Film!

I absolutely love when my favorite books are made into films. There's something about watching a story that has been so near and dear to your life, come alive on the big screen. And while many directors just don't get it right in my opinion (most notably Memoirs of a Geisha), some do, and when that happens, it's absolutely magical. Some of my favorite adaptations have included Away from Her (Sarah Polly) and Virgin Suicides (Sofia Coppola). While a film can never, never top a book and the power of written word, there is always the opportunity to vividly recreate a written story through alternative artistic mediums.

I was very excited to learn from my mom last week that my all-time favorite book, Atonement, by Ian McEwan, has been made into a film and already released in the UK. The film, detailed on IMBD, is scheduled for limited release in the US on December 7th and is already receiving rave reviews. My mom actually learned of the film when it was previewed before Into the Wild, which my parents saw last week. My mom said the preview for Atonement was incredible and she's now very excited to see the film. Here is a very brief plot synoposis from IMDB:

In the summer of 1935, 13-year-old Briony Tallis observes a flirtation between a servant's son, Robbie, and her older sister, Cecilia, that she childishly misconstrues. Briony's misunderstanding leads to a terrible crime whose consequences follow them through World War II.

It's a beautiful story. I hope you'll check it out in the theaters, or better yet, pick up a copy of Ian McEwan's masterpiece. He is a literary genius.

3 comments:

Missy said...

Hey, I have this book from my book club, but I was so busy I never read it. I was sort of hesitant. You really liked it?
Also--I agree with you on the Memoirs of a Geisha, I was sort of confused when I watched it! So far away from the book!
Are you reading anything good now? I just finished my last and am looking for a new one!
-Missy

Missy said...

h

kristinleigh said...

I loved the book...so good! Definitely give it a read if you have some time. Then you can see the movie :) Right now, I am reading "Then we came to the end," which is a very funny office space type of book.