Good Films Based on Books

 

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This is a relatively simple post to follow. It's simply a brief list of films, ones that I think are worth a watch, that are based on books or short stories. Simples.

Okay, here we go . . .

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Starring, and directed by, Ben Stiller, this film takes James Thurber's dreamer character and gives us a film about how good and beautiful life can be. How hopes don't just have to be something we carry around in our heads to get us through dull days.

Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a pretty average rating of 51%, and in parts it can feel a tad slow. But, if you're a bit of a dreamer like me, I think you will like following Walter on his adventures as he goes from a world of fantasy to embracing life real. There are some really beautiful moments in this film. But then, I think I might be a bit of a Walter Mitty myself.

You can purchase The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber here from bookshop.org, who support independent bookshops.

No Country For Old Men

When this Academy award winning film came out in 2007, Javier Bardem's character, Anton Chigurh, became one of film's most chilling characters. A killer who kills without a second thought, and definitely without any feeling for his victims. And, when Llewelyn Moss stumbles across a drug deal gone wrong, and a whole lot of money, he finds Chigurh, amongst others, after him.

The Coen Brothers' film stayed pretty damn faithful to the book, so if you liked the book, I imagine you will like the film, and vice versa. I liked the film a lot, and I will be writing about the book in a future post here, on this blog.

You can purchase No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy here from bookshop.org.

The Silence of the Lambs

And, speaking of chilling characters, they don't get much more chilling than Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter. In fact, Hannibal the Cannibal is one of those characters that has developed cultural reach beyond the books/films where we first met him. And, though Mads Mikkelsen gave him a run for his money, Hopkins' turn, in my opinion, is still the best portrayal of this charming monster.

Again, as with the previous entry, the film is pretty darn faithful to the book. Though, you will find bits in the book that are missing from the film, a little more texture to the characters. But, again, with this one, if you liked either the film or the book, I think you will probably like the other.

You can purchase the book behind the Oscar winning film here from bookshop.org.

The Shawshank Redemption

This film, which went pretty much unnoticed upon cinematic release back in 1994, is a hard watch in places but is ultimately beautiful. It's based on Stephen King's novella, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, and is, in my opinion, a must see. 

Andy Dufresne (played by Tim Robbins in the film) is a mild mannered banker who is found guilty of murdering his wife and her lover, a golf pro that she was having an affair with, and is sentenced to life imprisonment. He is taken to Shawshank Prison where, at first, he doesn't make any friends, and corruption is rife. Eventually, Andy's talents as a banker come to the attention of the warden . . .

You can purchase Different Seasons, a collection of stories by Stephen King in which Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption appears, here from bookshop.org.

Well, that's my brief list of films based on books or short stories. I think they're pretty good. What do you think? Seen them? Want to?

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