So far, this blog has been only about books and writers. But how about we discover a bit of cinematography, too? I’ve always loved reading, but films have always been a significant part of my life as well. In this article, I’d like to connect these 2 passions of mine, so I chose 5 of my favourite movies which were based on books. It was so difficult! There are so many films in this category that I love and to choose only a few of them wasn’t easy at all. The order of these movies is completely random, and it definitely doesn’t mean that one film is better or worse. To be honest, I don’t even think that I’d be able to pick which one is the best! Anyway, how about we dive into it? Enjoy the list of my top 5 movies based on books!
1. Into the Wild (2007)
I think that Into the Wild is a great movie, to begin with. The director Sean Penn presented the film in cinemas in 2007, and since then, it was pretty successful. The soundtrack of the movie was performed by Eddie Vedder (lead singer of Pearl Jam), and he even won the Golden Globe Award for the song Guarantee. The film is based on a book by a journalist Jon Krakauer, published in 1996. In 1993, he wrote an article about a young man who was found dead in the Alaskan wilderness, and he was so intrigued by the story that he wanted to explore it more. Sean Penn turned this story into a fantastic film and a great character study, and I think that it will catch your attention.
2. Pride and Prejudice (2005)
I just had to put this movie on the list. I mean.. Is there any girl who hasn’t fallen for Mr Darcy at least for a moment? The classic romantic novel by Jane Austen was originally published in 1813, and its popularity has just grown since then. When it comes to accuracy and similarity with the book, the movie by Joe Wright isn’t doing as well as the BBC television series from 1995. I’d say that it’s quite understandable as they had more space to cover the plot to the detail in the television series. However, I think that the film version with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen did an excellent job and is that kind of movie that will always warm your heart up.
3. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Is it enough to say the name Audrey Hepburn to make you fall in love with this movie? Breakfast at Tiffany’s basically opened Audrey Hepburn the door to Hollywood, and her role of Holly Golightly gave a foundation and inspiration to characters she depicted in different movies as well. At the beginning of the film, Holly is very similar to the character we know from the novel by Truman Capote (published in 1958). The movie became legendary thanks to its soundtrack, especially the song called Moon River which you can hear in different variations during the film, and even Audrey Hepburn sang it one of the scenes. What also became very popular among generations of the audience, is the long black dress, pearls, black sunglasses and the hairstyle Audrey Hepburn wore in the opening scene.
4. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Ah, I love this movie so much! Some people even consider One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest one of the greatest movies ever made. It was directed by Miloš Forman and won all 5 major categories of Academy Awards, and several Golden Globes and BAFTA Awards as well. The original novel by Ken Kesey was published in 1962. After an argument at the very beginning of making this movie, he didn’t want to have anything to do with it. When the movie was finished, he stated that he doesn’t like the movie, however, he’s never seen it. For me, this is that kind of movie that makes me cry. It has elements of comedy, but it’s ending is truly emotional.
5. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
And last but not least is this cinematographic treasure. In general, I’m not a fan of scary movies or horrors, however, there is something about this film that kept me mesmerised. This psychological horror film was adapted from the novel written by Thomas Harris published in 1988. The film won all 5 major categories of Academy Awards and is often remembered as one of the most influential movies. In The Silence of the Lambs, Anthony Hopkins is playing the character of Dr Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist and serial killer, and Jodie Foster depicts a young FBI trainee Clarice Starling. I’d say that it’s mainly these two actors and their chemistry that makes the film truly exceptional and unforgettable. And even in the role of a serial killer, Anthony Hopkins will enchant you by his charisma.
I really hope that you liked this article. It’s the first article written only in English on this website! It’s a bit different than other articles on the blog. So if you enjoyed reading this, please, let me know down in the comment section and maybe I could come up with something similar in the future. However, next article will be about literature again. Maybe a book review? Or would you like to read a profile of some particular author? Or get a list of few reading tips? Let me know. Thank you for reading this article and can’t wait to see you all again when the new article comes up!
What are your top 5 movies based on books?
Eva
The Literature Empire 