Sunday 22 March 2015

5 Film Adaptations to See in 2015

As someone who adores both cinema and literature, I do get pretty excited when the two of them collide in the form of a nice, little book-to-film adaptation. 






Unlike some geeks who cringe at the very thought that their favourite book may get destroyed by a poor script and a terrible acting from some up-and-coming movie star (let’s be honest here: this could get very annoying very quickly), I am quite looking forward to those kind of films. Of course with the regular exception….Case in point: The Catcher in the Rye… Salinger did not want it adapted for the big screen during his lifetime, and why should we? That is a pretty easy book to mess up and I do not want to see that. Having said that, I am willing to change my mind if I see some ground-breaking, Oscar-worthy performance in it.

Anyway, in most cases the book is still waay better than the film. Naturally. I do not think I need to explain the whys and hows to this, it is just common knowledge – although there are a few exceptions. Today, I decided to talk about the film adaptations I am most excited for because 2015 looks like a pretty big year for this genre. Some old classics that have already graced the screens a few times before are revisited, as well as some never before filmed stories. So, here are the five book to film adaptations, coming out in 2015, that both me and you, should give a watch!

1.     Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy


Starting off with a classic, Far from the Madding Crowd has been adapted for both the big and small screen a few times before. However, this new version already looks quite good for a few reasons. Firstly, it is directed by Thomas Vinterberg who also did The Hunt with Mads Mikkelsen – a very good Danish drama that I highly recommend. Secondly, it stars the lovely Carey Mulligan as Bathsheba Everdene. Seriously, this film has no excuse to fail (it premieres on the 1st of May in the UK FYI).

For those of you unfamiliar with the story it revolves around Bathsheba Everdene, who attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts), a sheep farmer; Frank Troy (Tom Sturridge), a handsome and reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood (Michael Sheen), a prosperous and mature bachelor. A vivid story about passion and courtship, it has Hardy’s signature in-depth descriptions of English rural life and unapologetic study of sexual relationships. Hopefully all of that would be translated to the screen, too, here is the trailer for Far from the Madding Crowd.

2.     Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky


A book that has been on my to-read list for quite some time and I will really try to get my hands on it before I see the movie. Beginning in Paris on the eve of the Nazi occupation in 1940, Suite Française tells the remarkable story of men and women thrown together in circumstances beyond their control. What really makes this book a must in my eyes is the tragic story surrounding its author: Irène Némirovsky herself was a successful writer of Jewish origin. So, in 1942 she was arrested and deported to Auschwitz, where she died. As a result, Suite Française remained hidden and unknown for 64 years.

Right after I read the book, I will be amongst the first to watch the film too. Starring Michelle Wiliams, Margot Robbie, Kristin Scott Thomas and Sam Riley, Suite Française is already getting some serious critical approval. Here is the trailer.

3.     Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert


Ah, Madame Bovary! Another classic that is going to be adapted yet again for the big screen. This can go wrong in many ways, but for now we can just dreamily long for the future moment when we are going to be able to see its new film adaptation (it premiered on the London Film Festival last October, but will be released worldwide in 2015).

Starring Mia Wasikowska as the scandalous Madame, the films also stars Ezra Miller, Paul Giamatti, Rhys Ifans, Logan-Marshall Green, and Downton Abbey’s Laura Carmichael. As for the story, Madame Bovary centres on a young woman who marries a small-town doctor, Charles Bovary. However, she soon becomes bored with her married life and looks for new excitements outside of it. Here is your saucy trailer.

4.     Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith


Another book I have not read yet, but I am really looking forward to the film. Because Tom Hardy.

Source


Directed by Daniel Espinosa, Child 44 is about secret police agent Leo Demidov (Tom Hardy), who loses status, power and home when he refuses to denounce his own wife, Raisa (Noomi Rapace), as a traitor. Exiled from Moscow to a grim provincial outpost, Leo and Raisa join forces with General Mikhail Nesterov (Gary Oldman) to track down a serial killer who preys on young boys.

Apart from having a great cast, the film is based on English writer Tom Rob Smith’s debut novel that has already been translated into 17 languages, and received quite a lot of praise in the literature world. Read the book + watch the film and you’ve got yourself a winner. Trailer is right here.

5.    The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery


One of the greatest books ever written coming to the cinema near you? Obviously, the only natural reaction to that is to simply get super excited.

Set to be released some time in 2015, Le Petit Prince is an animated movie based on the beloved classic story about a little boy who travels the universe. If you have never read it, please do yourself a favour and read it now. It is so much more than a children’s book – touching on a range of profound philosophical topics, this is a book that never gets old as with each read you find new meanings to it. Not to mention, deeply touching and a truly emotional rollercoaster, Le Petit Prince is a true masterpiece.

As for the film, it borrows some quite talented voices, including those of Marion Cotillard, Jeff Bridges, Rachel McAdams, James Franco, Benicio Del Toro and Paul Giamatti. Must-see? Yes. Trailer? Yes.


P.S Sorry, for my lack of posts lately. Having started a new job is catching up with me, but I am starting to get the hang of it and hopefully will keep this blog up and going :)
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Thursday 5 March 2015

Liebster Award

So, I've recently been nominated for the Liebster Award for new bloggers by two lovely ladies: Vera from The Flash Window and Megan from Books, Tea & NYC. Thank you for tagging me, and I want you to know that you both have lovely blogs!




If you don't know what the Liebster Award is, here are the rules:


* Explain the rules for the next lucky nominees.
* Answer the questions given to you.
* Nominate and link blogs with less than 200 followers.
* Post 11 questions of your own.
* Notify bloggers that they have been nominated.
* Also: you may want to display the award on your blog — by including it in your post and/or displaying it using a “widget” or a “gadget”.


And now, since I was nominated twice and I had 22 questions to answer combined...well, it is quite a lot. So, I decided to split them between the two and I am answering five questions from each blogger (hope that is okay by you girls? *making a hopeful puppy face*).

1. If you could have a superpower, which would it be?

Hmm truth be told I love X-men, especially since Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy joined it (McFassy forever). Although I love Magneto, I am going to choose something else entirely - flying...or possibly being able to read/control people's minds. But that's a bit boring, predictable and is now a cliche. Yeah, I'll stick to flying.



2. Which movie are you excited to see this 2015?

Now, as the movie-buff I am, this is a very serious and difficult to answer question! There are too many films I am excited about, but I am going to only name three: the newest James Bond Spectre; Child 44 with Tom Hardy and Gary Oldman, and A Little Chaos with Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman. Plus, I cannot wait for The Revenant with my two main men: Leonardo diCaprio and Tom Hardy but it might come out on UK screens in early 2016, so I guess it doesn't count to this question? :)

3. Which blogs do you genuinely love?

Another very difficult question! I will be brief: The Londoner is probably my most favourite at the moment, especially since I moved to London and I need more new recommendations on where to go+eat. I also adore Rachel Martino's Rach Martino - this girl has awesome style!

4. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Considering my love for Paris, I have to be predictable and boring again: simply Paris. As for places I haven't been to, I would probably just get the plane to New York right about now!

5. What annoys you the most?

A lot of things annoy me actually. But probably narrow-minded people, who are not open to change, or have very limited understanding of the world around them in general, are the worst. Having a conversation with them is not just annoying, it is also pointless.

6. What television show could you watch on repeat forever?

Friends forever and always.



7.  What is your Favorite Quote?

So many to choose from! Here is one: “I think... if it is true that there are as many minds as there are heads, then there are as many kinds of love as there are hearts.”  Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

8. Coffee or Tea?

Impossible to decide! Coffee for the morning and tea for the rest of the day? Is that an appropriate answer, question-master?


9. Where is your favorite place to travel?

Anywhere in Europe. I adore European culture, cuisine and architecture, even European climate as well, if you wish. So starting from my dear Bulgaria, going through the gorgeous Italy, sunny Spain and up to my dear British island - you cannot go wrong.

10. Who is your favorite Actor/Actress?

Leonardo diCaprio hands down. If you don't know this, you don't know me at all, for this is probably the number one fact about me, that people know! That, and the fact that I also adore Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Fassbender ;) As for actresses, I love Audrey Hepburn, Marion Cotillard, Keira Knightley, Kate Winslet, Maggie Smith...


11. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?

If it's not pancakes with bacon and maple syrup, it would be granola with yogurt :)


Thanks for the tag, I really enjoyed answering all those questions. Firstly, here are the bloggers I nominate (do check them out, you won't regret it):

* Nicole from Rose & Muse 
* Stephanie from Foxtrot Beauty Spot
* Charlotte from The Homely Chic 


And here are my questions:

1. What is your most favourite book?
2. If you could move to one city in the world, what would it be?
3. What is your favourite holiday spot?
4. Do you prefer a month skiing in the Alps or a month sunbathing in California?
5. What is the best dessert you have ever had?
6. Pizza or Pasta?
7. Who is your style icon?
8. What is your favourite reading place?
9. How do you have your eggs?
10. Chris Hemsworth or James McAvoy?
11. What do you love most about blogging?

Enjoy! 


Image sources: one, twothree

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