TMP Television Edition: Book Adaptations: Wandering through the Shelves hosts a weekly movie challenge in which you choose 3-5 movies based on that Thursday’s theme and explain why you chose those movies. Today’s theme is Book Adaptations.
the leftovers (2014-2017)
After the “Sudden Departure”, where 140 million people simply disappeared from Earth, the remaining population has to adjust to the new normal without their loved ones. This was an adaptation of Tom Perrotta’s novel of the same name and was a criminally underrated drama. Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon shine as Kevin Garvey and Nora Durst, two people who find one another in the midst of the remaining chaos. It’s a surreal, profound series that deserves a watch if you haven’t already!
big little lies (2017-2019)
Full disclosure: I’ve not yet watched season two of Big Little Lies, and I’m unsure if I will. I loved the novel by Liane Moriarty, and I felt like season one of Big Little Lies did the novel justice. Stretching it out to multiple seasons seemed pointless to me, so I am on the fence about watching more of it. That being said, I loved season one! The cast and writing were just fabulous. Nicole Kidman and Alexander Skarsgard were both worthy of the awards they won for their brutal portrayal of an abusive marriage, and I felt like it had the perfect ending.
the stand (2020)
The Stand by Stephen King is my favorite novel of all time. I was thrilled when they were finally putting the novel to the small screen for a limited series on CBS All Access (yes, I do enjoy the 1994 ABC miniseries, but I felt like it was very watered down due to network television restrictions). Ultimately, the characters were very true to the book, but what about the rest? They deviated so much that I had to accept that they took The Stand’s foundation and created their own story for it, which was interesting but also disappointing. I think I have just to accept this is an un-filmable novel.
Katy
July 29, 2021I haven’t seen The Stand or The Leftovers, but like you I watched Big Little Lies. The first season was great, but the second one felt unnecessary and almost over-the-top.
Sara
July 29, 2021Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard! I though they were talking about a third season too but Idk.
Brittani
July 30, 2021I’ve seen Big Little Lies but not your other two picks. I keep meaning to start The Leftovers. The Stand I’ve always meant to read but it’s such an undertaking lol
Sara
August 5, 2021The Stand is definitely a commitment lol. But I have always loved it so I will say it’s worth it. The Leftovers is so underrated!
Sonia
July 31, 2021I’m so glad to know I’m not the only one who hasn’t seen season 2 of Big Little Lies yet. I’m planning on watching it but I’m not sure when it will happen.
Sara
August 5, 2021Let me know if you do watch it! I’d be interested to hear if it’s worth it or not. I haven’t seen many favorable reviews.
Allie
July 31, 2021I haven’t seen S2 of Big Little Lies yet either and I just don’t know what’s stopping me! I guess I always thought it was a one-off mini-series and was happy with the conclusion? I’ll get round to it eventually!
Sara
August 5, 2021I agree that BLL worked so well as a one shot miniseries. But it was popular so I wasn’t surprised they pushed for another season.
ThePunkTheory
August 2, 2021The only one of your picks I have seen is The Leftovers. I remember that I wanted to read the book but it wasn’t available at my local library – and then I kind of forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder! 😂
Sara
August 5, 2021You’re so welcome! lol I hope you enjoy it! It’s a great novel and the show was so amazing.
Joel
August 2, 2021Hmm, I commented a few days ago but it did some funky thing when I hit post comment and I guess it was lost. Be that as it may I haven’t seen any of these specific picks mostly due to not having access to the various platforms they play on but I do want to see Big Little Lies since I’m a Reese Witherspoon fan.
While The Stand isn’t my favorite novel, that’s Steinbeck’s East of Eden, it is one of the few books I’ve read more than once. I did see the Gary Sinise miniseries back in the 90’s which had some good elements (Sinise, Laura San Giacomo as Nadine, Ray Walston as Glen, Miguel Ferrer as Lloyd and Ruby Dee as Mother Abigail) but some equally bad casting (Jamey Sheridan was all wrong as Flagg and Molly Ringwald was bland as Frannie) but overall it was okay. I’ve heard varying opinions on the new version but I’m still curious.
Lots of ways to go with this but I did a theme within the theme to help me narrow down and also to offer a tribute to a performer I admire. I went with all biographical adaptations that starred Lee Remick. A major film star in the 60’s (The Days of Wine and Roses, Anatomy of a Murder) she moved between film (The Omen, The Europeans) and TV in the 70’s then focused almost exclusively on television in the 80’s becoming one of the queens of the miniseries genre until her 1991 death from cancer at only 55. She was Emmy nominated for this trio.
Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (1974)-Seven-part miniseries adaptation of the Ralph G. Martin biography of the same name. Following the life of American heiress Jennie Jerome (Lee) from her first teenage meeting with British aristocrat Randolph Churchill, their often rocky marriage, her rise in political circles both as Randolph’s wife and later the strong influence she exerted over son Winston while living a colorful and complicated life of her own.
Haywire (1980)-Based on eldest daughter Brooke’s memoir this two-part miniseries details the complex, troubled and dysfunctional marriage and home life of stage and film star Margaret Sullavan (Lee) and super-agent Leland Hayward (Jason Robards Jr.) and their three children. Powerfully told but not a happy tale-between the couple they had 9 marriages (ironically Leland’s last wife (of 5) was the ex-wife of Winston Churchill’s son.) Margaret Sullavan and her two younger children died by their own hand. Henry Fonda was Maggie Sullavan’s first husband and the pair (and their children) remained close throughout her life-actress Bridget Fonda is named in memory of youngest daughter Bridget Hayward who was romantically involved with Peter Fonda at the time of her death.
Nutcracker: Money, Murder, Madness (1987)-Three-part miniseries adapted from Shana Alexander’s true crime book about Frances Schreuder (Lee), an amoral and rapacious New York socialite who manipulated and dominated her sons, ultimately pushing one into madness and the other to murder her own father, multi-millionaire industrialist Franklin Bradshaw, for financial gain.
Sara
August 5, 2021I agree with you on The Stand (94). I thought Ruby Dee and Gary Sinise were outstanding but some of the casting left a bad taste in my mouth. I have never heard of your choices but you can bet that I’m looking up Frances Schreuder!! I love true crime and this sounds so intriguing!
Birgit
August 3, 2021I think I saw the ’94 version of The Stand but would have to read up on it to jar my memory. I would like to see Big Little Lies one day…
Birgit
August 3, 2021oh wait…now I remember The Stand, I really liked it and Ray Walston stood out for me.
Sara
August 4, 2021Ray Walston was fantastic! 🙂