Rickman's Rasputin

So I just finished reading a biography of Rasputin by Brian Moynahan, and (as if I didn't already know) found out that this Russian holy man wasn't just skeevy, he was SKEEVY. The book was probably a bit more detailed than any normal person would want to pour through, so if you ever want a quick account of this creep, you might want to check out the 1996 movie version starring Alan Rickman. (Hard to believe that Sense & Sensibility's sheepish and sensitive Colonel Brandon could also be Russia's scary sex fiend!) -- Amy

Touching the "Void"

The January issue of our new favorite online literary magazine, VoidMagazine.com, comes out today featuring plenty for you to chew on as relates to literary adaptations. Yours truly (that's Kim and I) even have an essay featured among the other reviews and editorial musings, including interviews with author Clara Bingham, whose Class Action was adapted into a screenplay for the film "North Country" by Michael Seitzman. Void is smart AND funny -- a sexy combo if ever there was one. I particularly enjoy the "Buy A Friend A Book" lists. They're on the lookout for submissions, too, so go check them out. -- Amy

Tivo Alert...

Sadly, I missed a recent airing of "My Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet with Baz Luhrmann" which apparently aired over the new year on PBS. My friend Devin says it's a must-see documentary following a group of amateur actors from London's inner city as they attempt to put on the show (in London's esteemed West End, no less). From a Muslim "Juliet" who can barely look Romeo in the eyes, let alone kiss him, to street thugs who know a thing or two about real violence (as opposed to stage fighting), this unlikely group of thesbians come out of the four-week experience changed men and women. From what I can tell, various public television stations will be re-airing the program, so check local listings and catch it if you can. -- Amy

Trailer Park

Two new trailers for films based on books are up, Running with Scissors (Annette Bening, Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Brian Cox) and Thank You for Smoking (Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Rob Lowe). I feel like there have been way too many trailers featuring Elton John tunes. I think I reached my limit, oh back at Moonlight Mile. Now I just feel kind of used. --Kim

The Bronte Brother

Soft Skull Press has released a fictional novel about the other Bronte, entitled Branwell: A Novel of the Bronte Brother. Branwell "traces the life of Branwell Bronte, the sole brother of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte, from childhood to his alcohol and opium induced death at the age of 31." Find out more about the book here. Sounds intriguing! This may have to be one of the 75 books I'll read this year.--Kim

Turned On/Tuned In

Mark your calendars: Here are the adaptations, etc. headed your way this month:

T.V.
*Masterpiece Theatre will rerun Henry VIII with Ray Winstone as the blood-thirsty king and Helena Bonham Carter as Anne Boleyn on January 8 and 15.
*We've been eagerly awaiting the controversial new Bleak House adaptation from the BBC which is spread out over six Sundays beginning on the 22nd. For more on this adaptation see our previous posts: Battle Over Bleak House (or Why We Love England) and Bleak House Gets Soaped. Plus: Here's the official BBC Bleak House site. The bliss of six whole Sunday nights of Bleak House to look forward to... I can hardly wait.

Movies
*James Franco (Spider-Man, The Company, Never Been Kissed, James Dean biopic), Sophia Myles (Nicholas Nickleby, Mansfield Park), and Rufus Sewell (Middlemarch, Cold Comfort Farm) will star in Tristan & Isolde. IMDB says: "A pet project of Ridley and Tony Scott, T&I is reportedly heavy on the action -- a sort-of Robin Hood/Count of Monte Cristo vibe running through it." Hmm... Opens January 13. --Kim

Your Chocolate and My Peanut Butter

It's like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup for adaptation lovers... Poets & Writers has a short piece on a new collection of classic novels packaged with a DVD of their corresponding film adaptation. A collaboration between Penguin divisions, Signet Classics and Chamberlain Bros., the titles include Anna Karenina and The Scarlet Letter. --Kim