J.D. Salinger: Franny And Zooey
The Book: Initially published as a series in the New Yorker magazine, Franny and Zooey was released as a book in 1961, when it became an instant bestseller.
It explores the intricacies of the Glasses, a family of seven former child prodigies, and their relationships and internal angst. Apart from shedding light on the inner torment of over-analytical academics, it is primarily a philosophical tale of ennui and enlightenment.
The Movie: Kristen Stewart is Franny, a pallid, swooning student who flits between decadent malaise and Zen awakenings.
The film is aesthetically beautiful, set amongst the ‘50s East-Coast intellectual elite. The screen is awash with fur, rouge, chrome and nicotine.
There’s some wonderfully complex and wordy dialogue, which is almost as confusing as a conversation in Dawson’s Creek. Almost.
Wes Anderson directs with his eyes closed.
Sample Dialogue:
Franny: “I’m sick of not having the courage to be an absolute nobody. I’m sick of myself and everybody else that wants to make some kind of a splash.”
Next: Voice Of The Fire
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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