Hello there and welcome to Thursday Movie Picks a weekly series where you share three movie picks each Thursday. The rules are simple simple: Each week there is a topic for you to create a list of three movies. Your picks can either be favourites/best, worst, hidden gems, or if you're up to it one of each.For further details visit the series main page here.
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This week's Thursday Movie Picks
is Adaptations of Classic Literature (No Poems or Plays)
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As usual this week's topic has a few caveats. No plays meaning no Shakespeare adaptations and most of Wilde's work too. I can't really think of anything that was adapted from a poem other than Homer's work....so yeah nothing Homer related. Now I don't know what you'll consider as classic literature, I'm sure its something that's debated a lot, for my picks I'm limiting to nothing written beyond 19th century. Anything 20th century and after just seems too recent. It's too bad too that this is a movie blog series because the UK TV networks produces some wonderful adaptations which I love so I'm gonna go ahead and cheat, and recommend the TV mini-series when possible.
Jane Eyre (2011)
I think I've mentioned my love for Jane Eyre here before; last count I've watched 6 adaptations and this 2011 movie is somewhat tied with the 2006 BBC mini-series. If you still haven't seen this, there are two good reasons to do so among many: Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender. It's also told in a slightly different way which makes it refreshing especially if you've seen a few of its other adaptations. So my TV recommendation is of course the 2006 adaptation; Ruth Wilson was just as great as Jane.
Mansfield Park (1999)
Not the most faithful adaptation but I just love this movie. From what I understand it's not just based on the book but also Jane Austen's personal letters. Having read Mansfield Park I'd say it made the movie better; more alive and colourful especially with what they did to the Fanny Price's character. In the book Fanny is this mousy dull person and in the movie with a little Jane Austen infused into her Fanny has more wit and agency, and is just a whole lot more interesting character to watch. Now if you want something a little more faithful try the 2007 TV adaptation; it kept the brother and Fanny mousiness but unfortunately it was just so boring and I did not enjoy it at all.
Tess (1979)
Can anyone make a bad adaptation out of Tess of the d'Urbervilles? I don't know about them being faithful since I haven't read the book but it seems all of the ones I've seen are just so beautifully made including this one. I really like Tess but I have to say my favourite and also the TV recommendation is the 2008 BBC mini-series Tess of the D'Urbervilles. It just feels more authentic especially since it was shot in England which Tess wasn't. I also absolutely love Gemma Arterton as Tess especially her accent in this; I have no idea if its a true rural Wessex accent, but it sounds rural-ish and also has a very girlish, adorable and naive sound to it which just fits Tess. The series looks gorgeous too but despite the beauty it is still a wrenching tale of a young woman used and abandoned by the people in her life.
So that's it...my three picks. What three movies made your list today?
Thursday Movie Picks #28: Movies with Colour in the Title
Thursday Movie Picks #11: Nautical Movies
Thursday Movie Picks #25: Bank Robberies
Thursday Movie Picks #14: Found Footage Movies
Thursday Movie Picks #21: Movies Adapted from a Play (non-Shakespeare and non-musical)
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Participating Blogs/Bloggers
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So that's it...my three picks. What three movies made your list today?
Thursday Movie Picks #28: Movies with Colour in the Title
Thursday Movie Picks #11: Nautical Movies
Thursday Movie Picks #25: Bank Robberies
Thursday Movie Picks #14: Found Footage Movies
Thursday Movie Picks #21: Movies Adapted from a Play (non-Shakespeare and non-musical)
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spread the word about this meme, and also link back to my blog on your
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Participating Blogs/Bloggers
CRAP! I read 'no plays' and yet still put in Shakespeare...so now I have to fix that! Love these picks, by the way!!!
ReplyDelete:) exactly the reason why I stated no plays; there's just a lot Shakespeare's work being adapted and it'll just be too easy. Plus I think we've already had Shakespeare and Plays as a theme.
DeleteGreat choice! I need to see Tess again.
ReplyDeleteI've not seen any of these. I've never even heard of Tess, the movie or book. I am so out of this loop. Great job finding stuff I need to seek out! Though, to be honest, I think I've passed on Mansfield Park several times in favor of something else. Need to correct that.
ReplyDeleteMansfield Park is great, expect some fun Austen dialogue and it's quite a sexy movie as well.
DeleteI've only seen the Mia Wasikowska Jane Eyre, and I really enjoyed it. I've heard of the other two though. Nice picks!
ReplyDeleteTess is one of those movies I've always wanted to see but could never find! The only one of your picks I've seen is Jane EyreI must confess that I've never read the book so I probably wasn't the target audience but I do like Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassebender (although possibly not enough to spell their names right) so the movie worked for me.
ReplyDeleteHah, I can't spell their names either...just copy and paste.
DeleteTess has a Criterion Edition. I'm sure one of those paid streaming services would carry it. I got mine from the library, which is a dependable place for literary adaptations.
Love your choices even if I don't love all of the films. My favorite of all your choices is the Frances O'Connor Mansfield Park, haven't seen the TV version but it sounds skippable. I preferred this TV version of Jane Eyre to the film, I know Jane is supposed to be timorous but I found Wasikowska just too wan and boring.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen the TV version of the story but Polanski's Tess is a visual treat even if its a bit too languid in pacing. Sharon Tate had left the novel for him with a note that she thought he could make a good film of it when she returned to the States just prior to her murder. At the end of the film's credits there is a final credit that says simply "To Sharon" as a dedication to her. A very poignant gesture.
I've been looking forward to this weeks theme, I LOVE this type of film although I included a version of a book from the 20th century but the book is considered a classic of its genre. Here's my three plus an extra:
The Return of the Soldier (1982)-Powerful version of Rebecca West's first novel. A wealthy middle aged man returns from WWI shell shocked and with no memory of his life for the past twenty years. He longs to see his first love, now a dowdy housewife, which his wife, a haughty brittle woman, can't comprehend and reacts to hostilely. Standing by on the sidelines is his cousin Jenny who has complicated feelings for him as well. Richly appointed drama is an acting showcase for Alan Bates, Julie Christie, Glenda Jackson and an almost unrecognizable Ann-Margret who are all superb.
Far From the Madding Crowd (1967)-Sweeping, gorgeously shot version of Thomas Hardy's dense novel. Julie Christie makes a beautiful Bathsheba, a young woman who has inherited a large estate and whose life becomes complicated by three men. Terence Stamp is fine as Sergeant Troy but the real acting comes from Alan Bates as the steadfast Gabriel Oak and Peter Finch as the tormented Boldwood. Deliberately paced but beautifully done.
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)-Diamond hard noir with Lana Turner white hot in both dress and sexuality and John Garfield the poor sap who falls under her spell. Excellent direction and a great supporting cast make this adaptation of the James M. Cain novel one of the classics of the noir era. Avoid the Jack Nicholson/Jessica Lange remake, its trash.
Honorable Mention-Summer Storm (1944) - Olga, a beautiful young peasant girl brings tragedy to all who surround her including herself. Set in the Russian countryside this adaption of Anton Chekov’s The Shooting Party was one of Douglas Sirk’s earliest American films. Missing some of his signature stylistic touches he still uses shadows effectively and draws excellent work from his cast, especially George Sanders, as the troubled leading man for a change and Edward Everett Horton, in a more complex role than usual, that of a dissipated count. But the real standout is Linda Darnell in the first of the bad girl roles in which she excelled. She digs deep into Olga’s conflicted nature offering a passionate performance of an impulsive girl who is ultimately her own worst enemy.
So the only one I've see is Far From the Madding Crowd (1967) plus I think it's the only one that falls within my parameter. I enjoyed the movie but I did not like Julie Christie's Bathsheba. I'm looking forward to seeing the new adaptation and Carey Mulligan's take on the character.
DeleteWhilst I haven't seen any of choices (more because I don't think they're my thing then anything but perhaps I should change that), but from what I gather the BBC do superb adaptations of classic novels. I think the BBC are probably one of best broadcasters in the World even despite my recent criticism of them.
ReplyDeleteI definitely understand. A lot of these adaptations are slow burners with a lot of repressed emotions which is why I love them and I love seeing movies recreate a world we've never been able to see on film. Yes the BBC do make some excellent adaptations especially in terms of production values. Sometimes the script and acting not as great but there are some that are all round superb. You must have at least seen one or two of their more recent adaptations?
DeleteI LOVE that you mentioned the 2006 BBC version of Jane Eyre. I LOVE Toby Stephens & Ruth Wilson, they made a perfect Rochester/Jane pairing. I also love the 1999 Mansfield Park film, I've rewatched it countless times!
ReplyDeleteOf course I try to mention all my favourites :) Period classic adaptations is one of my favourite sub genres. Me too, I've seen Mansfield Park too many times.
DeleteI absolutely despise the Billie Piper version of Mansfield Park, the other adaptations were better. I really enjoyed both versions of Jane Eyre too. Tess, I find the story just too damn depressing to enjoy or admire I'm afraid.
ReplyDelete