A rule of thumb for many bookworms when it comes to adaptations is to always read the book before seeing the movie. This year, several highly anticipated movies premiering at festivals over the next few months are based on books, which may be worth checking out before seeing them on the big screen.
Oct. 3: “Gone Girl”
Since its release in June 2012, Gillian Flynn’s suspense novel Gone Girl has taken the literary world by storm. A constant presence on the New York Times bestseller list and critically acclaimed for its twists and structure upon its release, it was no surprise when 20th Century Fox bought the rights to the movie adaptation. Since then, the anticipation for the film – written by Flynn herself and directed by David Fincher (“Se7en,” “The Social Network”) – has grown. In the film, Ben Affleck plays Nick Dunne, a man who comes under the suspicious media’s microscope when his wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike, “Pride and Prejudice”) mysteriously disappears on their anniversary. With several intense trailers and rumored changes to the story, “Gone Girl” – which opens the New York Film Festival on Sept. 26 – should be a surefire hit at the box office.
Oct. 17: “Men, Women & Children”
Released in June 2011, Chad Kultgen’s “Men, Women and Children” has had a generally positive reception. Examining the intimate frustrations and pressures on teenagers and parents in today’s technology-heavy world, the novel serves as the latest directorial effort from Jason Reitman, who is known for directing the acclaimed “Juno,” “Up in the Air” and “Young Adult.” Featuring an intriguing ensemble cast including Adam Sandler, Emma Thompson, Ansel Elgort (“The Fault in Our Stars”) and Kaitlyn Dever (“Short Term 12”), “Men, Women & Children” is an intriguing, potentially thought-provoking choice for audiences come mid-October.
Nov. 7: “Rosewater”
Serving as “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart’s directorial debut, this drama is an adaptation of Canadian-Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari’s “Then They Came For Me.” Bahari, played in the film by Gael García Bernal (“Y Tú Mamá También”), was imprisoned for nearly four months in Tehran during the 2009 Iranian presidential election on suspicions of being a spy. The book chronicles his ordeal, as well as Bahari’s family history. With the personal connection to Stewart, “Rosewater” looks to be a harrowing, powerful story that has received stellar reviews following its first screenings at the Venice and Telluride festivals.
Nov. 17: “The Imitation Game”
One of several high-profile films that premiered with a bang at Telluride was “The Imitation Game,” which tells the story of British mathematician Alan Turing, who helped crack the Enigma code during the darker days of World War II. Adapted from the biography “Alan Turing: The Enigma” by Andrew Hodges, the film stars recent Emmy winner Benedict Cumberbatch (“Sherlock”) as Turing, alongside Keira Knightley and Mark Strong. Also screening at the Toronto Film Festival, Cumberbatch and the film itself have already received significant Oscar buzz, making this film’s November release even more anticipated.
Dec. 12: “Inherent Vice”
For the centerpiece screening at this year’s New York Film Festival director Paul Thomas Anderson (“There Will Be Blood”) reunites with his “The Master” star Joaquin Phoenix for this adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s trippy detective novel about a private eye (Phoenix) investigating the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend (Katherine Waterston) in 1960s Los Angeles. Featuring a gigantic cast that includes Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Benicio Del Toro, Reese Witherspoon and Jena Malone, it’ll be interesting to see how Anderson approaches Pynchon’s wacky plot, eclectic cast of characters and strange, yet hilarious sense of humor.
