Romancing The Tome TEST

Pancks Resurfaces In Action-Packed Sherlock Holmes Trailer

2009-05-19T08:48:00.000-07:00

Watch the new Sherlock Holmes trailer to see Robert Downey Jr. (brilliant casting!) as Holmes, Jude Law as Watson, and Rachel McAdams as the token love interest in action. And by action, I mean explosions, fist fights, and leaping from tall buildings. Hopefully the movie is more cerebral than it appears here, but either way, I can't wait to find out. Also, watch for a Pancks (Eddie Marson/Little Dorrit) cameo! --KIM

The Hobart Shakespeareans

2009-05-18T15:29:00.000-07:00

Want to make a couple of English majors cry? Sit them down in front of this documentary about an inspiring teacher, Rafe Esquith, (think Robin Williams in Dead Poets) who teaches inner city Los Angeles school children how to get completely geeked-out about Shakespeare. Kim and I Netflixed this movie last week and went immediately bonkers watching 9-and-10-year-olds (many of whom speak English as a second language) perform Hamlet while slack-jawed Shakespearean actors like Ian McKellan and Michael York got all teary-eyed. Their end-of-the-year performance of Hamlet was awesome, but you'll also lose it watching them read Huck Finn in class and watching them say their end-of-year adieus when Rafe sends them on their way with words of wisdom they will remember for the rest of their life.

Learn more about this phenomenal teacher's program here.

Watch the trailer....

Keanu to Star in New Jekyll and Hyde

2009-05-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

Keanu Reeves is set to star in a new adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I have to admit that I am an unabashed fan of Keanu in the right role, but his wooden performance in Coppola's Dracula was one of the reasons a perfectly stunning film was spoiled for me. Maybe it's just that his style, unlike say Johnny Depp's, is out of place in a Victorian setting. Universal apparently has two adaptations of the novella in the works--the other has Guillermo del Toro directing. Details on the project here. (via @drmabuse)

Paradise Lost...Twice!

2009-04-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

As we eke out the last day of National Poetry Month, The Hollywood Reporter says that at least one classic poem is getting the film treatment...in two different versions. (Sorry, Kim, it's not The Faerie Queene or The Rape of the Lock, which I'd actually much rather see)...Instead, it's John Milton's Paradise Lost. Two unknown actors, David Dunham and Patricia Li Bryan have been cast as Adam and Eve in the indie version from Granite Entertainment and STV Networks. Meanwhile, Legendary Pictures is also supposed to be doing a big-budget version of the famous verses with a project they're calling "Paradise." Not sure we need two, frankly, but maybe the indie version will put an interesting new spin on things.

BECAUSE I LOVE HER Contest Winner

2009-04-28T15:20:00.000-07:00

Who do you love? We love Liz (of the fab blog Today's Special)! She will receive a copy of the Because I Love Her anthology, edited by Nicki Richesin and featuring essays by a host of wonderful writers, including Karen Joy Fowler, Joyce Maynard, and Jacquelyn Mitchard. Read Liz's entry and the other great entries here. --Kim

Giveaway: Win a Copy of the "Because I Love Her" Anthology

2009-04-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

Just in time for Mother's Day we're giving away a copy of Nicki Richesin's new anthology Because I Love Her: 34 Women Writers Reflect on the Mother-Daughter Bond. The collection features thought-provoking essays by Karen Joy Fowler, Joyce Maynard, and Jacquelyn Mitchard, among many other talented contributors.

To enter, simply comment and answer the question: Who is your favorite mother in literature? To get it started, Nicki, Amy, and I will share our picks. We'll choose our favorite comment by end of day Monday the 27th so we can ship you the book in time for Mother's Day.

Rumer Godden
When considering mothers in literature, the most obvious choice for Mother Superior seems to be Marmee from Little Women. She was devoted, loving, and let’s face it, too perfect. The past few years, I’ve been inspired by the work of Rume r Godden. I’ve particularly enjoyed her memoirs in which she movingly recounts her adventures living alone with her daughters Jane and Paula in Kashmir. She writes beautifully of growing her own food and creating a rich life with very little money. I couldn’t resist jotting down notes from her books like how to be happy when you are miserable: she suggests planting Japanese poppies with cornflowers and having Jane paint a really good picture. What I found most incredible is that she was able to write many, many books, care for her daughters, and live a life on her own terms during the forties and fifties. Ms. Godden was truly a woman ahead of her time. I highly recommend her memoirs A Time to Dance, No Time to Weep and A House With Four Rooms. --Nicki

***

Ma Joad
The most famous mothers in literature aren’t always the good ones: Anna Karenina, Daisy Buchanan, Edna Pontellier, Becky Sharpe... Truth be told, these depictions of motherhood are generally more intriguing than the sugary-sweet variety that’s usually a default in too many classic novels. But these desperate economic times call for a desperate economic Mama, so I’m selecting Ma Joad from Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath as the most stalwart and determined of matriarchs in seriously tragic circumstances. As the backbone of her clan, she calmly and selflessly keeps the family together during their harrowing and humiliating struggles for survival, always restoring order and somehow managing to whip up a skillet of biscuits out of seemingly thin air to feed her family. Sometimes you just do what you’ve got to do to make it through, and while I might not go so far as young Rose of Sharon’s breastfeeding feat at the end of the saga, the women in The Grapes of Wrath are a testament to those women everywhere who know the true meaning of sacrificial love. --Amy

***

Gertrude
While good mothers do exist in fiction, it's the wicked mammas that make for the best stories. After all, what would Beowulf be without Grendel's vengeful mother and Snow White without the wicked stepmother? But the queen of all notorious mothers has to be Gertrude, for without her Hamlet and his oedipal frustration wouldn't exist. She married Claudius too quickly after the death of her husband (and possibly had an adulterous relationship with Claudius before Hamlet's father was murdered). However, when Hamlet violently accuses Gertrude, her response reveals she's more complex than a one-dimensional femme fatale:

O Hamlet, speak no more:

Thou turn'st my very eyes into my soul,

And there I see such black and grained spots

As will not leave their tinct (III.iv.88-91)

...O speak to me no more;

these words like daggars enter my ears;

No more, sweet Hamlet!

By the time her lips touch the poisoned goblet during the play's tragic conclusion, she's become human and pitiable. --Kim

Historical Reality TV Poll

2009-04-22T11:31:00.000-07:00

It's been way too long since they did another installment of those PBS series where they take ordinary people and plop them down into another era for a few weeks. "1900 House," (who can forget the darling Bowler family?) "1940 House," "Colonial House," "Regency House," "Frontier House"... Maybe they're running out of ideas? Which historical era would you like to see next? (Or, if you have a better idea, let us know in Comments.)

Which "house" would you like to see next?(online surveys)

Russell Goes Medieval

2009-04-21T14:21:00.000-07:00

USA Today has a photo of Russell Crowe all bad-assed out on the set of Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, and I have to say, the ol' chap is looking good! I don't know what all that fuss was about him being too corpulent for the role. He strikes quite a dashing figure in this picture (and R.C. doesn't usually break into my Top Ten Sexpots of All Time list, either....but that's for another post.) This is definitely more "Gladiator" Russell than "State of Play" Russell, praise be to Jesus.

In Fair Chicago Where We Lay Our Scene

2009-04-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

I had to double check that it wasn't actually April 1st when I read this blurb: In honor of Shakespeare's supposed birthday (Thursday), Mayor Richard M. Daly has proclaimed the day "Talk Like Shakespeare Day" in the city.

Good Luck with That...

2009-04-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

Eighty-eight year old Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens is just a little obsessed with proving that Shakespeare's work was really written by the 17th earl of Oxford, Edward de Vere. Read the full story here.

In other news, researchers look into the "connection between storytelling and the evolved human mind" as they try to understand the popularity of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. You too can become a Literary Darwinist. Find out how. --Kim

Tomb Raiders

2009-04-20T10:40:00.000-07:00

She hath pursued conclusions infinite
Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed,
And bear her women from the monument.
She shall be buried by her Antony.
No grave upon the earth shall clip in it
A pair so famous.
-- Antony and Cleopatra, William Shakespeare

In what's predicted to be an even bigger find than the discovery of King Tut's tomb in the 1970s (cue the Steve Martin skit), archaeologists believe they are on the verge of excavating the graves of Cleopatra and her lover, Mark Antony, who committed suicide after their defeat in the battle of Actium in 31 B.C.

See story in L.A. Times

The Complete Austen, Dickens, ---?

2009-04-17T13:37:00.000-07:00

So if Masterpiece Theater continues its recent tradition of devoting an entire season to one author exclusively, I'm wondering who they'll opt to focus on next? I'm assuming next year we'll get to see the new BBC production of Emma in the works, but at some point, the Jane Austen well is going to run dry.

That said, which author do you think they should devote a season to next?

Which author deserves a "Masterpiece" season? ( surveys)

The REAL Shakespeare?

2009-04-10T11:22:00.000-07:00

Scholars have come across this portrait they think might be the only accurate rendering of the Bard, painted during his lifetime. Check out the story.

Pacino Does Aging Napoleon

2009-04-09T17:27:00.000-07:00

Al Pacino's set to star in an adaptation of the Staton Rabin children's book Betsy and the Emperor, about a 14-year-old girl who meets the aging Little Corporal after his exile on the island of St. Helena.

Source: Variety

They Did Dickens?

2009-04-09T11:44:00.000-07:00

Recently pondering all the Dickens adaptations I've seen in my lifetime, I thought I'd post about some of the bigger-name celebs who have tried their hand at portraying one of Boz's beloved characters. Here are a few who immediately come to mind, for better or for worse.

Michael Richards (Mr. Micawber: David Copperfield)
If anyone was born to play a Dickens character, it's the guy who brought us Cosmo Kramer. (This was back before his caught-on-tape racist rant which sort of spelled his stardom's demise.) Sally Field was also in this 2000 adaptation for the TNT network playing Aunt Betsy Trotwood. Hugh Dancy was David.

GOOP (Estella, Great Expectations)
I know Estella is supposed to be kind of hateable, and in that case, Gwyneth succeeeded ten-fold. I can never block this terrible move poster from my memory, but fortunately, I have mostly banished from my mind her cold-fish performance in this film. I think this marks the moment Gywnnie first started to bug (as I actually tolerated her in Emma — I know many others didn't.) Robert DeNiro and Anne Bancroft played Magwitch and Havisham types, but even with hottie Ethan Hawke as Pip, this one was pretty bad. For a far superior telling, you must see the version with Ioan Gruffudd and Justine Waddell. Watch the clip:

Christopher Plummer (Ralph Nickleby: Nicholas Nickleby,)
So perfect as mean Uncle Ralph, although I will always love him as my Georg. Anne Hathaway was in this one (I'd completely forgotten!) as Madeline Bray.

Gillian Anderson (Lady Dedlock: Bleak House)
I'm still not convinced she can offer up more than two facial expressions, but for this portrayal, it really worked. This might be my favorite Dickens adaptation to date, and Scully nailed it. No offense to Laura Linney, but I still kind of wish Gillian was doing the intros to Masterpiece Theater (if we can't have Russell Baker, that is.)

Alec Guinness (William Dorrit: Little Dorrit; Fagan: Oliver Twist; Magwitch: Great Expectations)
I've not seen any of these, but Obi-Wan got nominated for an Oscar for his performance in Little Dorrit (1988). Take a good look at the clip below and tell me we aren't lucky to get Matthew Macfadyen as Arthur Clennam? (Spoiler alert in case you haven't figured out what happens this Sunday on LD.)

Three Imaginary Poem-to-Film Adaptations

2009-04-06T17:47:00.000-07:00

In honor of National Poetry Month, I'm proposing the following poems be adapted for the big screen:

Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven, directed by Tim Burton with Johnny Depp as the narrator, Amy Adams as the ghost of Lenore, and Dave Navarro as the voice of the raven.

Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock, directed by Woody Allen and starring Louis Garrel as the Baron and Scarlett Johansson as Belinda.

Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queen, directed by Peter Jackson with James Franco as Knight Red Crosse, Cate Blanchett as Gloriana, Michelle Williams as Una, and Emily Blunt as Duessa.

What poems would you like to see adapted for film?

Much Ado About Shakespeare Adaptations

2009-04-02T13:05:00.000-07:00

I started to title this "My 5 Favorite Shakespeare Adaptations," but soon discovered there was no way I could narrow it down that much--even ten was too difficult. I still have this sneaking suspicion I'm missing a few. As for the plays, Romeo and Juliet was my Rosaline and then I read Hamlet and that was it for me. I was head over heels--I've even dated a few Hamlets, unfortunately. Henry V and Macbeth take third place. If I'm forgetting any or you disagree with my choices, take me to task in the comments. --Kim

12. The Taming of the Shrew dir. Franco Zeffirelli with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton

11. Tempest (1982) with John Cassavetes, Susan Sarandon, Gena Rowlands, Raul Julia, and Molly Ringwald

10. Henry V (1989) with Kenneth Branagh (Love the St. Crispin's Day speech in the video below.)

9. The Merchant of Venice (2004) with Al Pacino and Joseph Fiennes

8. Hamlet (1948) with Laurence Olivier

7. Hamlet (1996) with Kenneth Branagh and Kate Winslet

6. Romeo + Juliet (1996) dir. Baz Luhrmann, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes

5. Throne of Blood (1957) dir. Akira Kurosawa

4. Shakespeare In Love (1998) with Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth (meh) Paltrow, co-written by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, which is a combination of Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night

3. Much Ado About Nothing (1993) with Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Kate Beckinsale, Keanu Reeves, and Denzel Washington

1. Romeo and Juliet (1968) dir. Franco Zeffirelli

And I have to add Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1990) written and dir. by Tom Stoppard, starring Gary Oldman and Tim Roth, which is more of a spin-off than an adaptation, although the play Hamlet co-exists within the movie and drives the plot.

Long Live the King

2009-04-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

First off, how HOT is this trailer for Season 3 of The Tudors, premiering Sunday? I so wish I had Showtime.

Second off, if you're in New York, you should check out this Vivat Rex! exhibit on Henry VIII's literary artifacts at the Grolier Club of New York, now through May 2. (It travels to Washington's Folger Shakespeare Library next fall, FYI.)

And Speaking of "Alice..."

2009-04-01T09:58:00.000-07:00

...Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland (featuring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, sweet Jesus!) will get an IMAX 3D release next March 5th! I'm already tripping out.

Alice & Louisa

2009-04-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

Today's Publishers Lunch announces two books centered around two famous literary women: one an author, and one a muse.

First, Kelly O'Connor McNees' The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott supposes a romance that might have tempted the writer in the summer of 1855 when her family moved to a New Hampshire Village. (to Amy Einhorn Books)

Next, Melanie Benjamin's Alice Have I Been will see an 80-year-old Alice Liddell reflecting on her life, including her childhood days spent with Charles Dodson, a.k.a., Lewis Carroll, who was inspired by the little girl to write Alice In Wonderland. I'm extra intrigued by this one, since there are so many theories as to whether Dodson's interest in the girl was innocent or not. (to Bantam Dell)

In a Drood Mood

2009-03-31T08:47:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to my co-blogger, Kim, for sweetly gifting me a copy of Dan Simmons' Drood. I have to admit the book's heft intimidated me, but I devoured the first chapter last night and am hooked! The book paints a fascinating portrait of Charles Dickens (so timely this spring) and is cleverly and cuttingly narrated by the author's onetime collaborator, Wilkie Collins (The Woman in White). So far it's funny and suspense-filled and a little bit horrifiying, and I'm sure I'll tear through all seven hundred-odd pages in no time before passing it back to Kim.

The book's set to be adapted by none other than director Guillermo del Toro, of Pan's Labyrinth fame.

Debt, Little Dorrit, and You

2009-03-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

Amy and I were thrilled to post our thoughts on the first episode of Masterpiece Theatre's Little Dorrit on one of our very favorite blogs, The Egalitarian Bookworm.

Blame It On Shakespeare

2009-03-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

I've always thought it I ever bumped into Ben Kingsley in public I would probably meekly cower in the corner or scream and run away. Maybe it was his badassity in Sexy Beast... Maybe it was because he played such an a-hole when he cameo'd as himself on "Entourage..." And as someone who has interviewed less than cooperative actors in my day, I can sympathize with how the Guardian's Rachel Cooke was a little freaked by the prospect of interviewing Mr. Ghandi himself. So it was with great pleasure that I read her interview and discovered that, contrary to both of our preconceived notions, he's actually something of a teddy bear! The image of him with a ziplock bag of Fisherman's Friends took the scary away, just like that!

He gives some props to Shakespeare, and I was hoping he'd talk about his role in Christopher Rush's "Will," (a fictional account of the Bard's deathbed meeting with his lawyer to discuss his last will and testament) but no such luck. We'll just have to wait for more news on that one.

Guest Blogging for Little Dorrit

2009-03-26T08:41:00.000-07:00

Finally! The long-awaited production of Little Dorrit begins on Sunday night. Amy and I will be contributing a guest post on the first episode at The Egalitarian Bookworm. Go here for details. --Kim

Titus Pullo Lives!

2009-03-18T14:47:00.000-07:00

This news of a film version of the HBO Rome series is music to my ears. Too bad, presumably, no Ciaran Hinds, since Caesar got eighty-sixed already in the series.

Ramona Quimby

2009-03-04T16:27:00.000-08:00

I loved Beverly Cleary books when I was a second grader, and it's about damn time Ramona the Pest got some screen time. That said, I never imagined, when I was reading the books, that she had a couple of hotties for parents. Corbett and Moynahan? Seriously?

Titanic on Ice

2009-02-20T17:08:00.000-08:00

No...not a figure skating extravaganza (I could only hope to dream....) But this one's for you, Meg.

Portman's Out For Regency Blood

2009-02-19T09:38:00.000-08:00

Natalie Portman's name is being bandied about in connection with the Pride & Prejudice and Zombies project.

Tyger! Tyger! Burning Bright

2009-02-19T08:35:00.000-08:00

It looks like Yann Martel's survival tale, Life of Pi, is finally getting its sea legs...with no less than Ang Lee in talks to direct! Great pairing. (M. Night Shyamalan was previously attached.) Still don't know how they're gonna pull off Richard Parker. CGI animals never seem to work for me.

In the meantime, I still love watching the amateur versions on YouTube.

Source: Variety

Elton John Scores Zombie Austen Pic!

2009-02-17T12:12:00.000-08:00

It just gets more and more intriguing...see the deets at Variety.

Okay...further, more careful perusing has brought to light that this is not in fact, the zombie film, but something else entirely: Austen and aliens. In my rush of excitement, I wrongly assumed this was the zombie one...which leads me to believe perhaps there are getting to be a few too many campy spin-offs of Jane? The first time around it's clever. The second time around it's "enough, already." -- Amy

Dickens Mania Commences!

2009-02-16T21:36:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Amy's birthday in true Romancing the Tome style on Sunday by attending a Bollywood performance, dining exquisitely at Comme Ça, and watching the first episode of 2007's BBC production of Oliver Twist on Masterpiece Theatre. The casting is fantastic, although we both agreed that Tom Hardy (Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights) is almost too attractive as psychopathic scoundrel Bill Sikes (let's call it the Willoughby Effect). The little boy who plays Oliver is adorable and Timothy Spall as Fagin is utterly creepy. Unfortunately, the Artful Dodger's accent was so thick that we could barely understand a word he said. Following next week's conclusion of Oliver will be David Copperfield starring Daniel Radcliffe. Of course, I'm eagerly awaiting the five episodes of the brand new Little Dorrit, which begins on March 29. --Kim

More Unorthodox Austen...

2009-02-13T13:31:00.000-08:00

...This time it involves time travel, with Sam Mendes directing. It's based on a Brit miniseries that starred Tess of the d'Urbervilles' Gemma Arterton and Jemima Rooper.

Source: Variety

Stiller & Cruise: Hardy Boys?

2009-02-13T13:25:00.000-08:00

I have to grin at the idea of Tom Cruise and Ben Stiller starring as the boy detectives all grown up...who knows how it'll pan out. I found Tom Cruise slightly annoying in Tropic Thunder, but I give him credit, I guess, for making an ass out of himself for comedy's sake.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

How Did I Not Know About This?!

2009-02-11T15:47:00.000-08:00

Pride & Prejudice and Zombies. Apparently there's a bidding war for the movie rights.

Brilliant.

Existentially Speaking

2009-02-11T13:08:00.000-08:00

Albert Camus' The First Man gets its celluloid shot. Get the deets.

Pickpocket Alert!

2009-02-11T11:32:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to set those DVRs to record Part I of Oliver Twist on Masterpiece Classics on Sunday. No DVR? Watch it online stating Monday, the 16th.

Whoever would have thought that Fagin might be a campy, Yiddish German Jew? His portrayer, for one. Watch Timothy Spall's interview about how he approached the iconic villain. (Where have you seen him before? He's Peter Pettigrew of Harry Potter fame, and he played Mr. Emerson in the 2007 adaptation of A Room With a View.)

Casting Upgrade

2009-02-10T09:04:00.000-08:00

Sienna Miller's ousting as Maid Marian from Ridley Scott's Nottingham movie (allegedly because she was too young/thin to credibly star opposite a paunchy Russel Crowe) just took a turn for the intriguing.

The Telegraph is reporting (via Mark Strong) that the equally svelte Cate Blanchett is now taking up where Miller left off.

Crowe and Blanchett? I'd pony up some dough to see that Aussie pairing, fo sho'.

Shakespeare, Shaken

2009-02-06T09:01:00.000-08:00

The Wall Street Journal today interviewed Christopher Moore, author of Fool, which retells "King Lear" through the eyes of Lear's quick-witted impudent sidekick. What an original twist! Can't wait to check it out. Speaking of Bard-inspired books, I'm halfway through The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, (David Wroblewski's canine-centric take on "Hamlet") which I'm enjoying immensely.

Sense & Sensibility

2009-02-05T10:45:00.000-08:00

Mr. Bingley is swell and all, but when it comes to Pride & Prejudice, it's all about the Darcy. Sense & Sensibility, on the other hand, presents us with two very different (but equally worthy) gentlemen to root for. I, myself, am a "Colonel Brandon" girl. Who are you partial to? Vote here, and don't forget to catch Part II of Sense & Sensibility on Masterpiece Classics Sunday!

Online Surveys & Market Research

Pacino to Play King Lear

2009-02-04T08:29:00.000-08:00

Last year we reported that Anthony Hopkins, Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts, and Keira Knightley would be starring in Joshua Michael Stern's adaptation of King Lear (and it's still listed as in pre-production on IMDB). Meanwhile, Al Pacino is set to star as King Lear in an adaptation written and directed by Michael Radford who also worked with Pacino on Merchant of Venice. Variety reveals that "the film will be true to its period, very similar to the classical look of 'Merchant of Venice.'" --Kim

Whereabouts: Ioan Gruffudd

2009-02-03T09:04:00.000-08:00

Our favorite sailor in the British navy, Horatio Hornblower (a.k.a. Ioan Gruffudd) will join Rupert Friend and Natascha McElhone in "The Kid," reports Variety. It's an adaptation of the true life story of Kevin Lewis, who grew up an abused child only to get mired in London's criminal underworld.

Baker Street Boys (And Girls)

2009-01-30T09:02:00.000-08:00

The Wall Street Journal today had an article about Holmes-and-Watson geeks, a.k.a. The Baker Street Irregulars, and a mention of forthcoming Sherlock flicks.

Stormin' Normans

2009-01-29T13:11:00.000-08:00

Crack open your history books: A film called "1066" is in the works to offer an account of the Battle of Hastings. The movie will focus on the rivalry between King Harold and William the Conquerer. Gladiator scribe William Nicholson is penning the screenplay.

Source: Variety

New Emma Adaption Coming from the BBC!

2009-01-29T11:07:00.000-08:00

Good news: The new adaptation of Emma will be four episodes long and will air in the fall, according to a BBC press release. It was last adapted in 1996, as a less-than-stellar film starring Gwyneth Paltrow and an ITV miniseries with Kate Beckinsale. Good thinking, BBC! Drop your cast picks in the comments. (via Fellow-ette)

Wuthering Depths

2009-01-22T13:15:00.000-08:00

I'm not really in the position to turn my nose up at even a half-rate installment of Masterpiece Classics, but after watching my TiVo'd Part I of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights last night with Kim, I have to confess we were underwhelmed.

1) Where the heck was Mr. Lockwood? The best part about the novel is how eerily it begins, with this traveler showing up at W.H. on a cold dark night and discovering both the motley crew residing within as well as the curious graffiti marks on the bed panels in Cathy's former room. Instead of that intriguing start, we got to meet the second-generation upstarts in some random supplemental scenes...an immediate snooze.

2) Tom Hardy was not my Heathcliff. Sorry, he just wasn't sexy-swarthy enough. Granted, we DID start to warm up to him once he returned with the spiffy haircut and the raging dose of 'tude, but that doesn't make up for the fifty-or-so minutes we spent feeling weirded-out by him and wondering why Cathy was even attracted to him in the first place.

3) Cathy could have been a bit more of a spitfire, but all-told, Charlotte Riley was acceptable, albeit a little too modern-looking. (Especially in the one scene where she was lying on the ground with him wearing a knit cap that made her look like a hipster Brooklynite circa 2006.)

I could continue my list of gripes, but I'm not even inspired enough to do so. Let us know what you loved (or loathed) about it.

Once More With Feeling: East of Eden

2009-01-15T13:43:00.000-08:00

Happy news!

Let me start with a story. I loved, loved, LOVED John Steinbeck's East of Eden when I first read it about three years ago. Loved it so much that I immediately rented the film classic with James Dean a la Elia Kazan...which horribly disappointed me. (I guess I'm in the minority on that, but so be it. As adaptations go, it stunk.)

Now comes the fantastic news that the duo behind the incredible John Adams series on HBO are doing their own take on the Steinbeck classic! Can't wait to see who they cast!

Source: Variety

My Big Fat Nottingham Debacle?

2009-01-13T11:00:00.000-08:00

The Guardian's got rumors as to why Sienna Miller has been dropped from Ridley Scott's Nottingham movie. Here's a hint: Too many Twinkies for the film's Robin Hood, Russell Crowe?

First Look: The Young Victoria

2009-01-12T09:30:00.000-08:00

Watch the trailer

Adaptation Hotties

2009-01-09T10:18:00.000-08:00

The Egalitarian Bookworm lists her Top Five Period Literary Adaptation Hotties. I applaud her choice of Greg Wise for the #2 spot. I fell in love with him in The Buccaneers and he IS the perfect Willoughby! Can you guess who takes the #1 spot? --Kim

"Desire. Passion. Scandal." Thorn Birds, the Musical

2009-01-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

I'm trying really hard to wrap my brain around this and am failing. The Thorn Birds is reportedly being adapted as a musical. Imagine the possible numbers: You Can't Make Love for Toffee (You Complacent, Conceited, Self-Centered Bastard!"); Girl, You'll be a Woman Soon; Son of a Preacher Man; Father de Bricassart's Lament; Livin' In Dragheda; Ashes of Rose; I Love You (But I Love God More)... --Kim

"There Is a Time to Embrace and a Time to Refrain from Embracing"

2009-01-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

Our favorite scene from the first episode of Tess of the d'Urbervilles had to be when Angel Clare carries each of the besotted milk maids across a gigantic puddle. Finally, sweeping up an embarrassed Tess, whom he compares to gossamer, he confesses "I didn't expect an event like this today." Lovely. You can watch the scene again here. --Kim

Tess of the D'Urbervilles: A Limerick

2009-01-07T09:17:00.000-08:00

Kim and I greatly enjoyed watching Masterpiece Theater on Sunday. We are now longing for a minor flooding situation that will require some hot dude to carry us each across a marsh.

I've written a limerick summing up Part I:

There was a poor girl named Tess
Her life was a tragic hot mess.
Her "cuz" did assault her (Will Angel now fault her?)
Stay tuned, and bring Kleenex, I guess.

Part II continues Sunday.

Set Pix from Tim Burton's ALICE IN WONDERLAND

2009-01-07T08:57:00.000-08:00

More pix, including some of Helena Bonham Carter en déshabillé, here. --Kim

Baz's GREAT GATSBY, The Birth of BENJAMIN BUTTON, etc.

2008-12-30T13:10:00.000-08:00

Xan Brooks argues that The Great Gatsby may be the great unfilmable novel of the 20th century (I know some of you agree with this assessment) and he's a tad ambivalent about whether Baz Luhrmann can make something of it. Brooks also asks a great question: Who would you cast as Jay Gatsby? (Read the article.)

Speaking of Fitzgerald, you probably heard that THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON is loosely based on a short story by F. Scott. Not knowing about the short story when I first saw the trailer, I immediately thought of Andrew Sean Greer's marvelous The Confessions of Max Tivoli and wondered if it was at all related. Here's the scoop from Greer.

Stephen Fry, aka Jeeves, (listen to his latest podcast, this one on language, here), is set to play Mr. Bennet in JANE AUSTEN HANDHELD. According to IMDB that project will "[re-tell] the story of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice through the lens of a fly-on-the-wall documentary crew."

Tivo Alert! Masterpiece Classics

2008-12-29T09:40:00.000-08:00

What's the best thing about ringing in 2009? Knowing that PBS Masterpiece Classics are imminent!

The fun (well, I'll use that term lightly given that it's Thomas Hardy first up) starts on Sunday, January 4th for Part 1 of Tess of the d'Urbervilles. I really loved the 1998 version starring Justine Waddell, so we'll see how this one measures up. Gemma Arterton and Eddie Redmayne star as Tess and Angel.

Check out a preview here.

January 18 kicks off Part 1 of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights! Woo-hoo! I don't think I've ever seen a decent adaptation of this novel. The actor playing Heathcliff might have been better cast in Tess: His name's Tom Hardy. Not too familiar with him, but based on this picture, I'm skeptical. Will reserve judgment and hope for the best. If this version fails, there's still a feature-film version supposedly in the works starring Abbie Cornish and Michael Fassbender.

I'm trying to finish Little Dorrit as we speak in order to be ready for the "Incomplete" Charles Dickens beginning in February!

RomTome Hall of Fame: The Thornbirds

2008-12-10T16:21:00.000-08:00

This adaptation of Colleen McCullough's novel about forbidden love is an oldie, but goodie. Kim and I started re-watching it last night and were reduced to fits of laughter. Needless to say, not all of it withstands the test of time. Still, it's good stuff.

Classic Moments:

1) Every single completely inappropriate moment between Father Ralph deBricassart and young Meggie, including his setting her up in a bedroom right next to his, as well as this tormented line, "OH WHY DO YOU TUG SO AT MY HEART?!?" These scenes would not fly today. Watch the scene and you will laugh but simultaneously be creeped out.

2) Richard Chamberlain, buck naked, being hit on (and groped) by a white-haired Barbara Stanwyck. Watch the scene and you will laugh but simultaneously be creeped out.

Aside: I found this Richard Chamberlain quote about that scene:
Richard: We had this scene where Father Ralph comes to the big verandah at Drogeda in a huge rainstorm and there’s nobody around. He’s soaking wet and so he strips, there on the veranda thinking there’s nobody around. But, I’m standing there totally naked and um, Stanwyk comes out, she said a couple of lines and I said a couple of lines and she dried and she had never, ever had any trouble with her lines, ever before. And there was a shocked pause on everybody’s part and the kind of moment of silence and then she said ‘I’m sorry. It’s just been so long since I’ve stood next to a naked man.’ And I thought that was a really great compliment. And I thought, ‘oh, wow, I turned her on a little bit!’

3) The delicious overacting of John Friederich, who played Meggie's big brother, Frank. This guy made sure EVERY scene was his Emmy reel. Fabulous. There is lots of Oedipal stuff going on with this character and his martyr of a mom.

4) I have no beef with Sydney Penny, who played the young Meggie, but only want to point out that she went on to play Julia Santos on "All My Children" and Samantha Kelly on "The Bold & the Beautiful."

5) Father Ralph thinking that telling a story about a bird that IMPALES itself on a thorn bush is going to cheer up a sad little girl. Next time, stick with the Brothers Grimm, dude.

We will be savoring the movie in slow increments....stay tuned!

Counterpoint/Soft Skull Books that Would Make Great Movies, 2009 Edition

2008-11-25T11:10:00.000-08:00

It's time once again for our annual review of the Winter 2009 catalog from Counterpoint/Soft Skull Press. We poured over the latest offerings from their always stimulating selections and the following are the books we think would make great reads and that we'd love to see as films one day. (Frankly, with a catalog this good, you'd be hard-pressed to find a book that wouldn't make a decent film adaptation.) --Kim

Sex, Death & Oysters by Robb Walsh
Aside from the sex and death, Robb Walsh's non-fiction book about oysters might not seem at first glance a match made in movie heaven. But consider Charlie Kaufman's film Adaptation--which was an adaptation about trying to write a screenplay based on a Susan Orleans book about orchids--then get back to us.

Darwin's Garden by Michael Boulter
Johnny Depp was born to play the role of Charles Darwin. Imagine him in period costume puttering around the grounds at Down House, including the heated greenhouse where the father of evolution "conducted experiments on orchids and primulas" while having to deal with the ordinary sturm und drang of family life. Andrew Davies (Bleak House, etc.) would direct.

I Wouldn't Start from Here by Andrew Mueller
Last King of Scotland director Kevin Macdonald could probably handle the uber-tense moments brought on by clashing ideologies, landmines, and mercenaries in this non-fiction road trip ("it's like a Bond film but with much, much less sex"), but could he do it with a sense of humor? That we don't know... we do know that we're intrigued by this "gonzo recounting of disaster in the modern world."

Milk, Sulfate, and Alby Starvation by Martin Millar
Guy Ritchie? Alfonso Cuaron? Edgar Wright? Your guess is as good as ours, but more importantly, the Milk Marketing Board has taken out a contract on Brixtonite Alby Starvation's life and we want to know what happens next! Apparently Neil Gaiman is a fan of Martin Millar and List calls Milk... "a work of rare genius and truly cult."

New "Heights" for Masterpiece Theatre

2008-11-18T18:07:00.000-08:00

Laura Linney will host the new season of Masterpiece Theatre Classics (Gillian Anderson hosted last season), which includes Wuthering Heights. Watch a video promo here. Other classics to be adapted in the upcoming season include Tess of the d'Ubervilles, Oliver Twist, and Little Dorrit, adapted by Andrew Davies and starring Matthew Mcfayden. --Kim

Confederacy of Dunces: The Curse

2008-11-17T15:46:00.000-08:00

My husband came across this article recently after we wondered why John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces has never found its way to the big screen. The article's a few years old, but I assume there's still been no headway since. Let me know if you've heard differently.

Interesting stuff, anyway.

Tempest With a Twist

2008-11-13T09:08:00.000-08:00

Helen Mirren will play the unfairly banished sorceress, Prospera, in a new film adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest, which will be filmed in Hawaii and directed by Julie Taymor of Broadways The Lion King fame.

Here's the rest of the star-studded cast:
Jeremy Irons: Alonso, King of Naples
Chris Cooper: The sinister Antonio
Russell Brand: jester Trinculo
Alfred Molina: Stephano, the drunken butler
Ben Wishaw: Ariel (great choice)
Felicity Jones: Miranda
Djimon Hounsou: Caliban
Reeve Carney: Ferdinand, Miranda's love interest

The Incomplete Charles Dickens

2008-11-12T11:20:00.000-08:00

Will the Jane Austen fans who flocked to PBS last winter/spring for "The Complete Jane Austen" tune in for "The Incomplete Charles Dickens?" Masterpiece Classic has yet to set the schedule for when they'll air the author's adaptations, but here's a preview of what they're planning for Little Dorrit, The Old Curiosity Shop, Oliver Twist and David Copperfield.

Also in 2009: Wuthering Heights and Tess of the D'Urbervilles!

Whereabouts: Matthew Goode

2008-11-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

I never watch Masterpiece Contemporary (I'm sure it's wonderful, but to steal from Johnny Cochran, If there's no corset, you must acquit.) However, I might have to start watching now that I know Matthew Goode is the new announcer for the series. (Maybe I'll just watch the first five minutes.) I've bitched in the past about Russell Baker getting the axe...I'll stop complaining now.

Speaking of Masterpiece Theater vets, set your TiVo for November 23 for The Unseen Alistair Cooke, when the one-time host gets a "This is Your Life"-type special, posthumously.

Meet Bella

2008-11-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

Read why Kristen Stewart almost didn't sign on to play Twilight's vampire-crushin' Bella in the Stephanie Meyers adaptation at Dark Horizons.

Camelot Redux

2008-11-10T10:55:00.000-08:00

Showtime and the BBC are developing a contemporary series retelling of Camelot. The guys behind The Tudors will write and produce. I am destined to have tunes from the Lerner and Loewe musical in my head for the next 24 hours, at least.

Source: TV Week

He Knew He Was Right: Conclusion

2008-11-07T09:51:00.000-08:00

Last night Kim and I finally got around to watching the last hour or so of Anthony Trollope's He Knew He Was Right, as envisioned by Romancing the Tome patron saint, Andrew Davies. We have to say, in terms of his past masterpieces, this one was a bit of a letdown. (Can't win ’em all.)

We enjoyed the first part of the movie, but couldn't help but wonder if the production ran out of financing two-thirds of the way in. How else to explain why they didn't bother giving us a wedding scene when there were no less than three to choose from? It seems like they raced to tie up the storylines in very anticlimactic fashion. The dramatic injustice of Aunt Stanbury refusing to let her niece marry Matthew Goode (say it ain't so!) lasted all of five minutes before the dowager had a change of heart. The demise of the deranged Louis Trevellyan seemed to happen even more quickly. There was a good "I'm gonna stab you all through the heart with this kitchen knife" moment from one of the French sisters, but even that story arc ended with a fizzle.

We attempted to watch a bad documentary about Anthony Trollope included on the DVD which featured very amateur reenactments and a lead actor sporting an appalling fake beard. Eventually, we lost interest and were lured away by red velvet cake. So in the end, our movie-watching night was still a success.

Jack Black Joins "Swift" Boat Campaign

2008-11-06T10:29:00.000-08:00

Jack Black (whom I saw last night at a Lakers game, incidentally) will play Lemuel Gulliver in a re-imagining of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, depicting the pilgrim as a free-spirited modern day travel writer who gets an assignment in the Bermuda Triangle. This sounds cute — he's one of those guys who can crack me up without saying a word. Regardless, anything has to be better than that wretched adaptation starring Ted Danson in the late ’90s.

Clint Does Clemens

2008-11-05T09:02:00.000-08:00

I was just earlier this week thinking about how much I love Mark Twain and how I want to go back and read his classics. Now, I find out Clint Eastwood loves him, too! His new project is a biopic of the steamboat sailor-turned-author. Clint will play Twain in part of the movie, too.

By the way, if you've never seen it, check out Ken Burns' documentary about the author...it's fantastic. I think it made me bawl, but then again, all of Ken Burns' movies do.

Want to help save "Becky Thatcher's" house in Hannibal, Missouri? Donate here.

What Would Dickens Do?

2008-11-04T08:39:00.000-08:00

Today, NPR's morning edition drew parallels between our current economic angst and that of Charles Dickens' London. Listen to the story or read on a similar theme in the Telegraph.

Couldn't we all use a crazy patron like Miss Havisham right about now?

Welcome to Hell

2008-11-03T11:51:00.000-08:00

Universal Pictures has acquired the rights to Electronic Arts' video game franchise, Dante's Inferno, based on the classic Divine Comedy. That'll be one creepy-ass film.

Source: Variety

Jane Austen Unscripted

2008-10-29T12:24:00.000-07:00

Kim and I attended Jane Austen improv at Theater Asylum in Hollywood on Saturday night. I was a little skeptical to begin with, and while the first-five minutes or so seemed shaky at best, the production certainly turned to madcap frivolity. Thanks to the impromptu nature of the plot, every night's show tells a completely different story, starting with a theme suggested by the audience. The one we saw included three sisters of marrying age whose late mother died after spontaneously combusting. (Don't ask.) Remarkably, the players managed to keep an authentic Austen-esque narrative throughout and even wrapped up all the completely RANDOM loose ends into a happy ending of sorts.

The production runs through mid-November. Check it out if you're in L.A.!

Britches, Bonnets, Barouches, etc.

2008-10-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

In "The Bonnets are Back," The Guardian's Sarah Dempster reviews the elements of a good period drama as BBC launches the new Andrew Davies miniseries Little Dorrit. --Kim

Whereabouts: Matthew McFadyen

2008-10-25T17:43:00.000-07:00

Our second favorite incarnation of Mr. Darcy talks Dickens' Little Dorrit with the Guardian. I can't wait for it to air in the U.S.! Fifteen episodes!

He Knew He Was Right

2008-10-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, so Kim and I only completed Disc One so far from this 2004 Andrew Davies adaptation of the Anthony Trollope Novel, but let me weigh in:

The movie is a veritable Who's Who of British actors, the problem being, Kim and I kept saying, "Who is that?" every five minutes, since we couldn't immediately place them. It made for a fun guessing game during the viewing. Then there was Matthew Goode, who effectively elicited our giddy screams when he appeared in his first scene. Charming. Lovable. Swoonworthy.

The movie is a fine amalgamation of over-the-top angst mixed with superficial silliness. Kim and I preferred the latter, specifically Dr. Who's William Tennant and his pathetic gambits for finding a wife with the equally annoying French sisters. We also loved the no-nonsense Priscilla Stanbury and her cranky-pants dowager aunt.

The annoying bit tended to be Louis "I know you're a tramp" Trevelyan and his "Whatchootalkinbout,willis?" wife, Emily. Too bad "Cheaters" wasn't around when Louis needed some surveillance done. Instead, he relied on a not very reliable Mr. Bozzle to keep tabs on his missus to make sure she wasn't testing the feather bed with her godfather (played to deliciously skeevy effect by Bill Nighy.)

As an aside: We hated the "What?/There, I did it!" asides that all the characters periodically pulled with the camera. When will directors realize this is a totally lame gimmick?

More to come...

Last Week for Contest: Cast New 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'

2008-10-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

We're giving away the Breakfast at Tiffany's Special Anniversary Collection DVD to the person who submits our favorite suggestion for a modern day version of Breakfast at Tiffany's. Get the details here. --Kim

Cary Grant's Money Pit

2008-10-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

Finally getting a chance to post about our viewing last week of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, starring Cary Grant and Myrna Loy. What a treasure! This was appreciated after our previous movie night featuring A New Kind of Love, which even though it starred the incredibly handsome Paul Newman (and was, strangely, nominated for 2 Oscars and a Golden Globe), kinda sorta made our eyes bleed.

Ad exec Cary Grant (titular Mr. Blanding) is supporting his devoted, yet materialistic wife and 2.5 precocious children, plus a stereotypical maid (it's 1948), on $15,000 a year, but living in your typical shoebox New York apartment. His wife wants to pay a decorator to redesign the apartment, but Grant has a better idea: Why not buy an historic fixer-upper in the suburbs? Starry eyed over a shared vision of their dream house, the Blandings are easily hoodwinked into purchasing a lemon that they can't afford (how apropos!). Their wiseacre friend, played by Melvyn Douglas adds a wry touch as do some of the local yocals.

Who cares if seven years later Jim and Muriel Blandings metamorphose into Frank and April Wheeler from Revolutionary Road, in this movie the American dream is still a wonderful thing. --Kim

Leo and Kate Reunited in 'Revolutionary Road'

2008-10-06T11:23:00.000-07:00

Amy and I watched the trailer for the Sam Mendes film adaptation of Richard Yates' incredible novel Revolutionary Road, which I found "intoxicating" and "remarkable" when I read it in '06. As we've reported previously, the film reunites Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet. The trailer sets the mood, the casting seems to work, and the era is all the rage, thanks to Mad Men. I'm really looking forward to seeing this film, but I know someone who is probably even more anxious to see it than I. (Hint: She likes tomatoes, but not Tom Hanks.) --Kim

Reader Challenge: Cast Breakfast at Tiffany's

2008-10-06T10:43:00.000-07:00

From the mail bag: Romancing the Tome reader Peter G. needs help casting his fantasy project: an updated "darker" and "grittier" Breakfast at Tiffany's--one more like the original Truman Capote novel. Peter imagines Brad Pitt for the role played by George Peppard, Ann Margret for Patricia Neal's role, and Billy Bob Thornton taking the Buddy Epsen role. He adds that "The Henry Mancini soundtrack at the various parties could be substituted for new up and coming bands."

Of the young actresses working today, I adore Amy Adams (Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day) AND she can sing.... But the part of Holly Golightly calls for someone with just the right balance of naivete and insouciance. Perhaps Natalie Portman or Scarlett Johannson?

Now If Peter wanted to go the nostalgic route instead of gritty, Wes Anderson would probably do an amazing job. It's been a while since the American Express commercial and all he's got going on right now is an animated flick. Maybe he'd give Ryan Gosling a shot at the George Peppard role....

Readers, what do you think? Our favorite answer wins the Breakfast at Tiffany's Special Anniversary Collection DVD. You can post it in the comments or send me an email at kim at kimsaid dot com.

The Duchess: Come and Knock on our Door

2008-10-01T07:54:00.000-07:00

"Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded."

Ironic that those were the words Princess Diana used to describe her marriage to Charles, when in fact, her 18th century ancestor, Georgiana Spencer, had the same damn problem!

While watching "The Duchess" last night, I couldn't help but think of the 1970s sitcom, "Three's Company," which aptly paralleled the film.

Ralph Fiennes, as the Duke, would be Jack Tripper, who spent his time stumbling over his words, as opposed to falling over sofas. He had some serious control issues, partly because try as he might, he really didn't have much couth with the ladies. I don't think his much-coddled dogs were "Regal Beagles," but they were close.

Kiera Knightley, as the Duchess, would be Cindy/Chrissy, the charismatic beauty with crazy coiffures whom all the fellows love. She was given to dimwitted mishaps like knocking her hair into flaming candelabra and having serious "blonde moments": Whoops! I married a cruel and callous a--hole!

That leaves Hayley Atwell, the Duke's mistress and the Duchess's BFF, as Janet. She's the brunette, no-nonsense one. (Last night Kim and I kept thinking "What else has she been in?" This morning I googled her: Brideshead Revisted's Julia! Duh!)

They all live together in one house and HILARIOUS (okay, maybe not) drama ensues. And yes, just as Mr. Roeper thought there might be some funny business happening in that apartment, the two girls were borderline bi-curious it seems.

Who would be crazy neighbor, Larry, you ask? Not sure. Perhaps, Keira's eyebrows, which seemed to embody a life of their own in this film, not to be overpowered by her tremendous wigs and hats.

The movie was cliche-ridden: the trepidatious deflowering of a virgin; the abhorrent husband demanding a male heir, not deigning to glance at his daughter when it's born; lots of shots of Keira walking down halls -- with a fierce purpose -- her dress train swishing the floor behind her; an imposing, over-the-top score accompanying every "dramatic" kissing scene; much wailing and gnashing of teeth during a baby hand-off moment. It was a bit much, even for Kim and I who happen to eat that melodrama up with a spoon.

Still, the costumes, sets, etc. and the soap-opera caliber storyline made it definitely worth our while. For anyone who gets caught up in the "Oh, I wish I lived two centuries ago and could find my Mr. Darcy" fantasy world, this movie will snap you back to reality. Fabulous estate aside, marriages back then weren't so great. But if you, the Mr. and his mistress can all just learn to get along, well, three's company, too!

Down the Rabbit Hole

2008-09-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

Check out some pictures from the set of Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland." I love the Victorian costumes! That's relative newcomer Mia Wasikowska as Alice, by the way. Burton's better half, Helena Bonham Carter, is supposedly in the movie, too. She'd make a killer Queen of Hearts, if that's who she's playing. I'm reading that the film's going to start out live action then switch to CGI once Alice lands in Wonderland (presumably the animals, etc.) As we reported below, Johnny Depp will play the Mad Hatter.

A Modern Day (British) deTocqueville

2008-09-29T15:23:00.000-07:00

Stephen Fry visited the 50 states (driving a black London cab) for a book and television series, which will air in England in October.

Here's an excerpt

The overwhelming majority of Americans I met on my journey were kind, courteous, honourable and hospitable beyond expectation. Such striking levels of warmth, politeness and consideration were encountered not just in those I was meeting for on-camera interview, they were to be found in the ordinary Americans I met in the filling-stations, restaurants, hotels and shops too.

Read more here and check out Stephen's blog!

Also, if you've never seen him play Mybug in the 1995 adaptation of Stella Gibbons' Cold Comfort Farm, you're missing a real treat. Add it to your Netflix queue!

The Better the Book, The Worse the Film?

2008-09-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

That's the conclusion this L.A. Times article comes to, anyway.

'It's all on account of the war'

2008-09-27T23:09:00.000-07:00

Christopher Hitchens on Brideshead Revisited the novel and the newish adaptation in The Guardian.

Higgins Hottie Showdown

2008-09-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

Brad Pitt and George Clooney both want to play Professor Henry Higgins to Keira Knightley's Eliza Doolittle in a new adaptation of My Fair Lady. Oh my God! This is like Sophie's Choice!!!!

What's your vote? I'm gonna have to go with Clooney.

Online Surveys & Market Research

Lit Lover's Ephemera

2008-09-25T09:05:00.000-07:00

For the Romancing the Tome reader who has everything:
Felted Soft-Collar Duchess
Soldiers Egg Cup
Cloche
Vintage Typewriter Keys Necklace

Cajun Queen

2008-09-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

Disney Animation will release "The Princess & the Frog" next Christmas. Oprah Winfrey will reportedly lend her voice to the lineup, which will feature Disney's first ever African-American princess. I'm digging the setting: New Orleans' French Quarter during the Jazz Age!

Welcome Back...

2008-09-25T08:48:00.000-07:00

For those of you fortunate enough to be on your way to Versailles anytime soon, The Petit Trianon is open again for business!

From the Associate Press:
The Petit Trianon, the mini-chateau at Versailles that French queen Marie Antoinette used as her refuge, reopened Wednesday after a yearlong, $7.34-million renovation funded by Swiss watchmaker Breguet, which once made a timepiece for the queen.

Among other improvements, electric wiring was fixed, more rooms were opened to the public, and a garden pavilion was refurbished.

Curators said they wanted to avoid a stuffy museum feel and instead sought to make it seem as though the 18th century French queen and her entourage had just stepped away for a moment.

Depp Goes Nutso for 'Mad Hatter'

2008-09-24T18:22:00.000-07:00

Johnny Depp is set to star in yet another Tim Burton flick--this time it's a live-action/cg-animated version of the classic Alice In Wonderland. Our scruffy friend will play the eerie Mad Hatter in the Disney production. More here.

Jeeves & Wooster

2008-09-24T08:46:00.000-07:00

Last night Kim and I watched the first three episodes of the P.G. Wodehouse series and loved it. Hugh Laurie and Stephen Frye are adorable. We both agree that we would love a shrewd and discerning valet to draw our baths, serve us breakfast in bed, tactfully let us know when our wardrobe choices are abominable and generally keep us from bungling social conundrums. Also, we wish that, like Bertie, we could "think about" working, but not actually have to work. Here's a highlight from last night's viewing:

The Most Godawful Movie Ever?

2008-09-23T13:08:00.000-07:00

I love Shakespeare, and I love Bollywood...(I actually take Bollywood dance classes). So you'd think melding the two would send me into fits of rapture. Not so, after reading this Guardian review of The Last Lear. Too bad. Guess I'll have to stick with Bride & Prejudice.

Don't Call Me Ishmael

2008-09-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

A new adaptation of Melville's tome, Moby Dick, will take Ishmael's narration out of the picture and make Ahab "more charismatic." Is nothing sacred?

See full story in Variety

Brideshead Lingering

2008-09-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

"Enough with the Brideshead Revisited!" I hear you all screaming. But really, since the film doesn't open in the UK until October 3, I say that gives me carte blanche to continue blogging about it...especially when I read this delightful interview in The Guardian with Matthew Goode where he talks about his manly bits and makes fun of celebrities who attend award ceremonies when they're not even nominated.

Plus, well, he's just a looker, isn't he?

Lifetime's Coco Chanel

2008-09-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

Having my interest stirred at the news that Audrey Tatou would soon play Coco Chanel in a feature film, I thought I'd whet my appetite this weekend and watch the heavily promoted Lifetime version of the designer's life, featuring Shirley MacLaine as Coco in her later (more grumpy) years. Frankly, all the Shirley stuff bored me. Her complete lack of an accent threw me off and they kind of lost me with the Scarlett O'Hara/Maria Von Trapp (take down the curtains!) scene. Luckily, MacLaine's scenes were only a fraction of the overall movie.

Otherwise, I give Lifetime some modicum of credit for bringing a costume-film to their network, even if it was apparent they were working with a limited budget. (So much more interesting than that "She Fought Alone" crap they normally do.) I actually didn't mind Barbora Bobulova as the younger Coco, and although some of the love scenes bordered on Velveeta and the signature "bob" seemed wrong--It made her look like Kate Jackson circa Charlie's Angels or the main chick from Saturday Night Fever-- I couldn't take my eyes off her fabulous attire, including those hats. Oh my God! Those hats!

In summation: I'd say catch it in repeats when you can (God knows they'll air the hell out of it) just to see the hats.

Once More With Feeling: I, Claudius

2008-09-12T08:45:00.000-07:00

First the epic Brideshead Revisited miniseries gets a facelift. Now, the same thing's happening to the 1976 Masterpiece Theater classic, I, Claudius. (Which I never watched, incidentally, because I was two at the time...but my aunt has raved about it.) Relativity Media and director Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father) are giving the Robert Graves book a new adaptation to highlight the stuttering, handicapped Roman emperor and his ilk. Based on the production value of the BBC version (see photo, exhibit A), I'm thinking an update is long overdue. But for those of you who've seen the 10-part series, is this news welcome or woeful?

See full story from The Hollywood Reporter

"Elephant" Flies

2008-09-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

Sara Gruen's "Water For Elephants" spurred a bidding war, with Fox 2000 taking home rights. Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) is said to have signed on to direct. I'm a little stumped on who they should cast, but we'll keep you posted.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Proust Questionnaire as Answered by Jane Austen

2008-09-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

How might Jane answer the Proust Questionnaire?

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of.

What is your greatest fear?
The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love.

What historical figure do you most identify with?
We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be.

Which living person do you most admire?
My sister Cassandra.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle.

What is the trait you most despise in others?
Vanity working on a weak head, produces every sort of mischief.

What is your greatest extravagance?
For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors and laugh at them in our turn?

On what occasion do you lie?
Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised, or a little mistaken.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
To look almost pretty is an acquisition of higher delight to a girl who has been looking plain for the first fifteen years of her life than a beauty from her cradle can ever receive.

Which living person do you most despise?
The Prince Regent

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
"Love" and "money"

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
What wild imaginations one forms where dear self is concerned! How sure to be mistaken!

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
Nobody who has not been in the interior of a family can say what the difficulties of any individual of that family may be. It is better that way.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My darling child, Pride and Prejudice.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?
A single man in possession of a good fortune.

Who are your favorite writers?
Samuel Richardson, Cowper, Frances Burney, Maria Edgeworth

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
The girls... still prefer Don Juan; and I must say that I have seen nobody on the stage who has been a more interesting character than that compound of cruelty and lust.

What is your most treasured possession?
If any one faculty of our nature may be called more wonderful than the rest, I do think it is memory.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery.

Where would you like to live?
Anywhere but Bath.

What is your most marked characteristic?
My height.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
General benevolence, but not general friendship, made a man what he ought to be.

What is your greatest regret?
There will be little rubs and disappointments everywhere, and we are all apt to expect too much; but then, if one scheme of happiness fails, human nature turns to another; if the first calculation is wrong, we make a second better: we find comfort somewhere.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.

If there is a Heaven what would you like to hear God say when you arrive?
I would not presume to put words in God's mouth, but perhaps "You have delighted them long enough."

(Inspired by Lux Lotus)

Darwin Biopic Planned

2008-09-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

Real-life married couple Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly will play Mr. and Mrs. Charles Darwin in "Creation," a movie about the evolutionary revolutionary and his uber-religious missus. Jeremy Northam, Toby Jones and Benedict Cumberbatch also factor in.

Director Talks "Duchess"

2008-09-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

Video: Saul Dibb, director of Keira Knightley in The Duchess, discusses with the Guardian his hopes and fears for the movie. The intro clip from the movie looks extremely promising!

There are more video clips of the actors from the premiere discussing their experiences on the set and the celebrity culture of the 18th century.

del Toro Goes Canon Crazy

2008-09-04T08:25:00.000-07:00

According to Variety, Guillermo del Toro is apparently going to keep this blog in business for the forseeable future, what with the slew of literary adaptations he's hankering to make, including Tolkien's The Hobbit,Dan Simmons' Drood (supposing what might have prompted Charles Dickens to write The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five, among others.

The Return of Movie Night!

2008-09-03T14:13:00.000-07:00

Several years of living in separate cities brought a sad demise to the weekly "movie night" that Kim and I used to delight in, complete with ever-changing varietals of red wine and dark chocolate (usually feasted on in lieu of actual dinner because Kim had no cooking implements whatsoever in her apartment). As a result, the "film review" aspect of our blog has suffered considerably in recent years, what with our involvement with men who, though supportive, would rather not be the only dude sitting in a theater for the latest Joe Wright/Andrew Davies costume-drama-palooza.

But like Jane Eyre's eventual return to Thornfield Hall, Kim has moved back to the City of Angels, thus sparking the joyous recommencement of the official Romancing The Tome movie night.

Expect a slew of new posts on adaptations, some old-standbys and others more obscure. As we ready the Netflix queue for our endeavors, we've got a list that stretches for miles of films we can't wait to watch or re-watch. Got any suggestions for movies we MUST add to the list? By all means, drop us a line!

Coming soon: Jeeves and Wooster Season 1, starring Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry. I'm told it's fairly epic.

Regretting the War of Independence

2008-09-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

Had the American colonies not revolted from the Motherland, would we Yanks get to watch BBC1's new production of Tess of the D'Urbervilles this month along with everybody else? I hate having to wait!!!

This is probably my favorite Thomas Hardy novel, and based on the preview, it looks like it won't disappoint. Hans Matheson looks fetching indeed, even if he is the baddie. If anyone can figure out when PBS will see fit to air it here, please let us know!

Here's an article from the Guardian about a 17-year-old arsonist destroying the film's priceless period costumes. He should be flogged soundly.