Casting Update: More Helpings for the "Feast"

Radha Mitchell (who played Mrs. J.M. Barrie in Finding Neverland and a seriously freaked out mom in Silent Hill) joins Greg Kinnear and Morgan Freeman in the adaptation of Charles Baxter's The Feast of Love. -- Amy

A "Period" Pause...

Ioan Gruffudd looks wholly unsure, nay, almost "wigged-out" as he and a stylist stare skeptically at the hair piece he is to wear as abolitionist Wilber Wilberforce in the forthcoming Amazing Grace. He seems to have regained his smiley composure once a cravat completes his look. -- Amy

photos courtesy of ioanonline.com

Romancing the Tomb

While not exactly a tribute site, Romancing the Tome did inspire my friend Brad to spawn his new zombie blog Romancing the Tomb. --Kim

Natalie Portman's Amazing Adventures

Natalie Portman "is a strong likelihood for the part of Rosa" in The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, reveals the book's author Michael Chabon on his blog. Also it looks like the marvelous party with Salvador Dali will make it into the movie (yay!), but the scene at the ruins of the World's Fair got the axe (ouch!). --Kim

Googling Shakespeare

"And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss." -- Two Gentlemen of Verona

After pulling that whole "censoring themselves in China" thing, it didn't take long for Google to worm their way back into my heart, especially now that I've found their Shakespeare search site. It lets you canvas the bard's plays for quotes on any subject imaginable (Forsooth, how this technology might have saved my ass 10 years ago as an undergrad English major, fumbling through the index of that honkin' Riverside Shakespeare anthology....) -- Amy

Way East of the Mark

I read John Steinbeck's East of Eden for the first time a few months ago and loved it. Great characters, terrific backdrop, enticing plot twists, wicked she-bitch from hell... So I decided to watch the movie version over the weekend. Wasn't it supposed to be a classic?

As I waited through the boring, five-minute musical overture of waves hitting against a rocky coast (not smart enough to hit fast-forward until I'd viewed most of this vast nothing-ness) I should have taken it as a sign for the boredom to come. But no...I saw "James Dean" and "directed by Elia Kazan" in the credits and waited with tingly anticipation.

Of course, I knew I wouldn't get a complete retelling of the epic novel. After all, it spans three generations and is simply too long to fit into a two-hour movie. Still, I figured that even if they began the story with Cal and Aron (generation three) there would still be enough juicy stuff to make for a good flick.

I was disappointed right away when I realized that one of my favorite characters from the novel (the Chinese cook, Lee, who is in many ways the voice of wisdom in the tale) isn't even represented in the movie. "Oh well, at least I have Cathy," I thought. But sadly, I didn't have Cathy...at least, not the way Steinbeck depicted her. Instead of being pure evil -- the book's symbol for satan, she was just sort of boring and weak and occasionally even downright tender with her grown sons. Did Kazan even read the book??!!

I'd say 80 percent of the movie has pretty much nil to do with the important elements of the novel (Where in the book did Cal climb down off a ferris wheel or swing from the rafters of a gym????). Except for James Dean (Cal), who offers the one semi-captivating portrayal, this book is trying and tedious. I am beside myself with guilt for making my boyfriend watch it with the constant disclaimers, "I think it should get more exciting...".

In the novel, there is this long-running debate between three of the characters (including the MIA Lee) about biblical semantics regarding free will in the Cain and Abel story of Genesis. The last deathbed scene of the book brings this discussion full circle. Naturally, the movie didn't even attempt to take on this level of profundity and instead ended with a really lame substitute that left me utterly aghast at its stupidity.

In summation, I feel like I could direct finger puppets to create a better adaptation than this one.

Incidentally, however, I just realized there is a 1981 miniseries version of the book starring Bruce Boxleitner, Lloyd Bridges and Jane Seymour (?!?!) as Cathy Trask. This version does include Lee and won two Golden Globes, so maybe it's worth checking out. Can anyone recommend it? -- Amy

Shadow of the Wind

Having just read Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind, I couldn't help but wonder if it's been optioned for a film yet. Surprisingly, here's what the author had to say about seeing his work adapted for the big screen in a Q&A at barnes&noble.com:

B&N.com: There is talk of a movie based on The Shadow of the Wind: rumors about whether or not the rights are up for sale, speculation about whether it will be filmed in Hollywood or in Spain, and questions as to whether you, being both an author and screenwriter, would allow others to write the screenplay. What's your view? What would your choice be?

CRZ: Since I have some experience in this area, I am especially cautious regarding the possibility of a film adaptation. If it is to happen, it will be because I feel the right elements are brought together and I'm persuaded that the adventure is worth a try. But at any rate this is not a priority for me at all. I think it is good that novels stay novels, and that there's no need at all for everything to become a movie, a TV show, a video game, a kiddie meal, or a licensed toy of the month. Nothing can tell a story, convey a world, and render characters with the intensity, depth, and magic that literature allows. The Shadow of the Wind will be always first and foremost a book, and proudly so.

Guess we shouldn't hold our breath for a movie version, however, it won't deter me from casting Diego Luna as the protagonist, Daniel -- at least in my imagination. -- Amy