The Informers is out this week.
The '80s-set flick stars Mickey Rourke, Winona Ryder and an almost constantly naked Amber Heard. It's not exactly what we imagined when we read Bret Easton Ellis' searing short story collection, but it'll do.
And it's made us think about some other unlikely adaptations - the books that Hollywood probably put back on the shelf because they're a bit too difficult.
But if The Informers can make it to cinemas, surely this lot aren't too far away...
James Joyce: Dubliners
The Book: One of Joyce’s first published works, Dubliners is a collection of short stories providing an incisive illustration of Dublin at the beginning of the twentieth century.
With fifteen separate stories taking their turn, the book is driven by characters, not plots. Perfect for award-hungry actors.
The Movie: A showcase of Irish acting talent, and of non-Irish actors’ accent attempts, Dubliners will feature fifteen different storylines.
For better screen-to-audience translation, these will be linked together somehow, all threads making up one mother narrative. Think Magnolia, Amores Perros, Love Actually, etc.
Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson and Elaine Cassidy all star in grubby flat caps and tweed. It’s in black and white, set in an age before anyone could afford colour, and the streets are as grim as the expressions on the old fellers’ puckered mugs.
There will be Baftas.
Sample Dialogue:
Gabriel Byrne’s voice-over, as the camera pans over a snowy landscape:
“Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling on every part of the dark central plain, on the treeless hills, falling softly upon the Bog of Allen and, farther westward, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves.”
Cue the lone penny-whistle.
Next: The Wind Singer
Comments
minorityreport
Jul 16th 2009, 11:19
Interesting feature, but just one thing with regard to Thief Of Time: Death isn't Susan's father, he's her grandfather.
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crowbar990
Jul 16th 2009, 12:50
thanks total film, had heard of d wasp factory from a friend, had been planning on reading it, now youve saved me the bother by giving away the ending to fill up another useless top ten to flesh out your website, this site and your mag are going downhill at a rate of knots.
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Ostrich
Jul 16th 2009, 13:33
How about Necroscope? Centres around a young boy called Harry who can speak to the dead. Written waaaaaaay before Harry Potter, for adults, and very good.
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lpatterson
Jul 16th 2009, 15:23
Oops, good spot, minorityreport! Sorry about giving it away crowbar990, but we gave a synopsis for all the others. We'll be sure to put a spoiler alert on next time.
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Catchphrase
Jul 16th 2009, 16:38
I've been saying The Wind Singer would make an awesome film for ages now, THANKYOU for agreeing with me. I hope, if someone ever decides to make it a film, that it actually works :(
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somewhatfrail
Jul 16th 2009, 22:07
Absolutely YES to The Wasp Factory. It was the book that got me into Iain Banks' work and I haven't looked back since. His sci-fi would make some cracking cinema as well, in my opinon, either Consider Phlebas or Look To Windward.
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Mrmotion
Jul 17th 2009, 19:09
Oh good- another pointless article to flesh out the website. When it's not horrible speculation and 'what ifs' its terrible film reviews. Get back to delivering news on upcoming films!
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booradley
Aug 4th 2009, 1:31
Franny & Zooey should be a wonderful film but lotsa luck getting salinger to sign off on it.
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thedicewoman
Mar 28th 2011, 13:24
SECONDED. crowbar990 Jul 16th 2009, 12:50 thanks total film, had heard of d wasp factory from a friend, had been planning on reading it, now youve saved me the bother by giving away the ending to fill up another useless top ten to flesh out your website, this site and your mag are going downhill at a rate of knots. Read more: Film features: 10 Great Books That Could Be Movies | TotalFilm.com
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