Movies that got it right
I'm deadline girl. The finish line is in sight, so I'm taking a break to give a shout-out to the wonderful, beautiful, amazing Donna who shall have GG2 by 0800 hours Wednesday (as the Gallagher Girls would say).
Also, I wanted to bring you this post on writing. And movies. And movies about writing.
A lot of them get it wrong, in my opinion, but here are a few that got (at least parts of) it right:
Shakespeare in Love -- I remember hearing someone (I think one of the Weinsteins) talking about how Viola was perfect for a writer because 1. she was beautiful, 2. she was independently wealthy, and 3. she’d read everything he’d ever written. And I think there’s some truth to that.
Misery—sure, most writers don’t have a crazy woman with an axe holding us hostage, but it feel like it most of the time, so this one gets serious points in my book.
Romancing the Stone—not the “meet a handsome man and fall in love in
The Shining—don’t know. Won’t see it. I’m a wuss.
Capote—I really loved this movie, and while nothing about Truman Capote could be categorized as ordinary, I think what it shows of the writing process is probably pretty much like what other people go through. It’s hard work, and this movie shows that (although, to be fair, not much actual writing is depicted which is probably for the best—boring!)
Finding Forrester—this is a movie I love with characters I love telling a story I love. It’s actually an interesting movie about learning how to write. I didn’t think it possible, but they pulled it off. So for everyone who ever asked, “How do you write a book?” Well, that movie will get you as close as I’ve ever seen on film. The only better way to know is to do it yourself (or, like Kathy Bates, hope your favorite bestseller drives off a road in a blizzard near you.)
posted by Ally Carter at Monday, May 15, 2006
9 Comments:
Don't know if you ever saw an oldish (1981) movie called "Rich and Famous," starring Candice Bergen and Jacqueline Bisset. Jacqueline is the serious, literary writer, Candice writes romances, guess who gets to be rich and famous? It's an interesting look at writer envy. And, like Capote, it certainly makes it look like you've got to be an alcoholic to write great fiction.
Kind of sad how they hardly ever make movies about us caffeine addicts.
Oh, that sounds good. I'll have to add it to my Netflix.
Another one I just thought of--Irreconsirable Differences.
(Yes, I know I butchered the spelling.
No, I'm not going to look it up. It's my blog, darn it, I can spell how I want to!)
Ally
Speaking of movies... I'm wondering if Cheating at Solitaire might get some attention. If nothing else, I bet you get some derivative sales.
I loved Capote--definitely agreed with the Academy for a change! That movie was a feast for the analytical mind. I blogged about it after seeing it, in fact.
I have Finding Forrester sitting on the shelf of movies I've bought for cheap with no cover art and haven't watched yet, and I had no idea it was about writing! I need to watch that soon.
I browsed to your blog from PubRants. Have seen your book on the shelf (face out!) in the new arrivals for teen readers section at my local B&N. I know my 12-year-old will want to read it, and I'll sneak behind her. :)
Agreed with them on "Best Actor," that is. It didn't win Best Picture, but Crash was great, too.
Thanks, Julie. You *do* need to watch Finding Forrester. It's one of my (new) favorites.
Oh, and BIG thanks on the shelf report. It's crazy how obsessed we writers get about that stuff, so I love getting feedback from my spies!
-Ally
Which movie do you prefer - Romancing the Stone or The Jewel of the Nile?
Stephen King has said that the Annie character in MISERY represented his addictions, and the tortured writer represented himself. He believes that the only way the tortured writer within could come out was through his writing. It wasn't very long after that he got sober :o)
I know that it has very little basis in reality, but I've always loved Alex and Emma with Kate Hudson and Luke Wilson... It's ridiculous to think that could or would actually happen, but I love it all the same! Everytime I finish it, I have to sit down at my computer and write a couple pages on my book!
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