In most of the book-to-movie adaptations, the filmmakers are unable to express the real essence of the storybook and you end up saying that the book was so much better. But it is not true of all books though or all celluloid adaptations, sometimes you see some movies that restore your faith in filmmaking. It does take a genius filmmaker and brilliant actors to turn a good book into a great film or a great book into a superlative film. Let’s find out about some of the films that added value to the story in more ways than one.
The Devil Wears Prada
It was based on the novel by Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 and the movie got released in 2006. The Devil Wears Prada had two of the most dynamic women characters in Hollywood, Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly, Anne Hathaway as Andrea ‘Andy’ Sachs. Of course, there were other actors such as Emily Blunt and Emily Charlton that offered great support to the protagonists. The film was praised because it looked real. Viewers could relate to the bumbling Jane character of Andy and how she finally became a confident woman coming into her own.
Meryl was hailed for her portrayal of the quintessential boss woman. She was smart, confident, and nothing short of iconic in her role. The dynamic of the two ladies was what made the film and the viewers were of the opinion the novel was more like a tabloid article while the movie was real as well as classy. It gave a great jumpstart to Anne Hathaway’s career and reiterated the fact once again how powerful of an actor is Meryl Streep.
Shutter Island
It is one of the most compelling psychological thrillers where looks are deceptive. Many viewers were of the opinion that the film was even better than the novel; written by Denise Lehane. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo Di Caprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) visit Shutter Island which is the home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane. They are here to investigate the disappearance of a patient.
All mayhem is let loose when multiple-murderess Rachel Solando is roaming somewhere on the island, despite her being locked cell under constant surveillance. As the film moves on the plot becomes murkier as it includes radical experimentation, horrifying surgeries, and clever countermoves made under the garb of a shadow war. Nobody could escape Shutter Island unscathed and it is an unsettling yet riveting watch.
The Notebook
This 2004 film written by American novelist Nicholas Sparks has been lauded for many reasons, and its screenplay is certainly one of them, it is even better than the original novel. The film in fact managed to make the romance between the two protagonists real instead of melodramatic. Whenever the film starts to hit the low notes it is Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams who manage to elevate the sagging storyline. The duo has amazing chemistry and manages to present the epic tale of love, loss, and longing with pitch-perfect emotions. The importance of human emotions and attachment has been beautifully expressed in the film.
Silence of the Lambs
The novel was written by Thomas Harris was lauded for the plot but no one can imagine how menacing the character of Dr. Hannibal Lecter can actually be without the genius of Sir Anthony Hopkins. When you see the film you realize it is Dr. Hannibal Lecter and not Sir Anthony Hopkins. Silence of the Lambs is relevant even today and heads the list of the best psychological thrillers in Hollywood.
Hopkins and Jodie Foster’s had a strong role to play in that; their performances were raw, real, and oh-so-convincing. However, the same cannot be said of the novel which was described by the viewers as tedious. The cult classic follows a killer on the loose and a trainee investigator seeks the help of Dr. Hannibal Lector to nab the criminal. Dr. Lecter is a former psychiatrist who understands the workings of the human psyche. This forms the core of the film. The journey of Clarice forging a grudging understanding with Dr.Lector and how she finally catches the criminal is what the film is all about. It has led to many sequels but somehow couldn’t match up to the first one, which was eerily scary and thrilling.
Tell us which book have you read and found that the movie version of it was invariably better? Tell us in the comments section below.
