BE Ellis and 50 Shades film

[PennLady]

Just read this on Salon.com.

http://www.salon.com/2012/06/19/bad_book_great_movie/

The article makes an interesting point that books that aren't so great can in fact make good or better movies. For me, personally, I remember thinking "Misery" wasn't a great book but that it would make a great movie -- and when the movie came out, most agreed.

Apparently Bret Easton Ellis (he of "American Psycho" authorship fame) wants to produce a 50 Shades movie, and then there's the idea of it directed by David Cronenberg.

Not bad, eh?

 

[mcguinness]

Doubt Cronenberg will do it, and I feel I can safely say it will be quite bad.

I agree with the fundamental premise that good movies can improve bad books, but I don't think anything can save 50 Shades.

I think they should cast Adam Sandler and Fran Drescher in the main roles and create the most profoundly unwatchable thing western civilization has ever produced.

 

[PennLady]

Doubt Cronenberg will do it, and I feel I can safely say it will be quite bad.

I agree with the fundamental premise that good movies can improve bad books, but I don't think anything can save 50 Shades.

I think they should cast Adam Sandler and Fran Drescher in the main roles and create the most profoundly unwatchable thing western civilization has ever produced.

Didn't they try that with an Anne Rice book? The movie starred Dan Aykroyd and Rosie O'Donnell but the name escapes me.

 

[mcguinness]

Didn't they try that with an Anne Rice book? The movie starred Dan Aykroyd and Rosie O'Donnell but the name escapes me.

Exit to Eden. Yeah, I seem to recall that being quite a disaster.

 

[PennLady]

Exit to Eden. Yeah, I seem to recall that being quite a disaster.

As I recall -- and thank you for the title -- I think they tried to go the comedic route on Exit to Eden, and perhaps that's why it didn't work. Or maybe it just wasn't going to work at all.

And for 50 Shades, perhaps Cronenberg isn't the right person to direct. Although you know, I can see Giovanni Ribisi (maybe) in the Grey role. He can be pretty sleazy. But I gather you need someone who can be both authoritative and romantic... hmmm...

I dunno. Casting would be interesting if this ever happened.

oooh, maybe Julie Taymor should direct.

 

[Cruel2BKind]

There are a few movies that were better than the books. (IMO)

The Sum of All Fears (Cuz Tom Clancy can't write worth shit)

Coraline

But that's pretty much all I can think of.

Every other movie/book combo that I've watched, the books were better.

Harry Potter
The Godfather
Misery
The Green Mile
Firestarter
Eragon
It
My Sister's Keeper
Stormchaster
Jurassic Park
Congo
The Shining
etc

 

[Stella_Omega]

The only movie I've ever seen that was better than the book-- more literate, more subtle, more plot, more humor-- was "Babe."

 

[PennLady]

The only movie I've ever seen that was better than the book-- more literate, more subtle, more plot, more humor-- was "Babe."

Ah, Babe is a great movie. I'll have to read the book.

In truth, I don't usually compare movies with their source books too much in terms of which is "better." It's so subjective, for one thing. Also, I realize that movies will need to cut, merge, and etc., and so I don't hold that against them.

For example, I enjoyed the most recent "Pride & Prejudice" movie even though a fair bit had to be cut, minimized, etc. I'm currently enjoying HBO's Game of Thrones even though they have changed and cut a LOT from GRR Martin's books. To me they are such different media that comparing them in terms of what's better is just kind of a fruitless or useless endeavor.

That's not to say, though, that a movie might not just be flat out bad (or a book) no matter how they adapted the source material.

So I do think in the right hands, 50 Shades could be a good movie (realizing opinions will diverge wildly ) -- although I wonder how much they would have to change to make it so.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Book-to-movie success depends a lot on how much internal life a book has, how much inside-the-head stuff about the characters' thoughts and feelings, how much description and exposition by the author. Books that concentrate on external action usually translate pretty well to film. But it's hard to turn internal thoughts into external dramatic action.

And then there's always the "that's-not-how-I-pictured-it" factor when you convert a book to a flick, and that can get a lot of fans' backs up.

In any case, books translate better into film than film does into books.

 

[THROBBS]

on a similar note...
did anyone see "9 and a half weeks"?
I did not read the book (saw the movie), I heard that it was "watered down" somewhat...in particular, I recall read about the book having a scene of the male protagonist removing the woman's tampon for her....erotically.

Anyway, I "kinda" liked the movie...mostly the premise.
My FAVORITE part was, the slide show masturbation scene.

I believe she was an art gallery owner and he had told her to "think about him" at 2:15 (or whenever) and she happened to be reviewing a portfolio for a possible show. Dark room, shifting light...click/flash...click/flash...as she leaned back and rubbed herself....as images of BRAD HOLLAND's work!!!! showed on the screen.

Brad fucking Holland!!! SWEEEEEEEEET. EVERYONE here has seen his work even if you never knew it. He did covers (and editorial illustrations) for Time, Newsweek and many many erotic illustrations (and editorial) for Playboy...especially illustration for the "Ribald Classic" stories. A genius who has been mimicked ad nausium since, such that his style has nearly become a cliché.

 

[lovecraft68]

Cronenberg won't touch that thing if he wants to keep his reputation.

Now my question is, is it one movie? If it is it might be better than the book because the limited premise can stand up for 2 hours. But if they try a trilogy?

 

[PennLady]

Cronenberg won't touch that thing if he wants to keep his reputation.

Now my question is, is it one movie? If it is it might be better than the book because the limited premise can stand up for 2 hours. But if they try a trilogy?

Reading some movie columns like I do, there's already questions of whether Cronenberg is losing his touch. But I'd see a Cronenberg movie over many others, given the choice. The article didn't say, I don't think, whether it would be one movie or three.

I think that one movie would likely be better but if there's anyway a studio thinks they can get a reasonably profitable trilogy out of it, they'll do it.

 

[Stella_Omega]

on a similar note...
did anyone see "9 and a half weeks"?
I did not read the book (saw the movie), I heard that it was "watered down" somewhat...in particular, I recall read about the book having a scene of the male protagonist removing the woman's tampon for her....erotically.

Anyway, I "kinda" liked the movie...mostly the premise.
My FAVORITE part was, the slide show masturbation scene.

I believe she was an art gallery owner and he had told her to "think about him" at 2:15 (or whenever) and she happened to be reviewing a portfolio for a possible show. Dark room, shifting light...click/flash...click/flash...as she leaned back and rubbed herself....as images of BRAD HOLLAND's work!!!! showed on the screen.

Brad fucking Holland!!! SWEEEEEEEEET. EVERYONE here has seen his work even if you never knew it. He did covers (and editorial illustrations) for Time, Newsweek and many many erotic illustrations (and editorial) for Playboy...especially illustration for the "Ribald Classic" stories. A genius who has been mimicked ad nausium since, such that his style has nearly become a cliché.

This guy? I guess erotic is in the eyes of the beholder.

But yeah, his style is the epitome of the swinging sixties.

 

[THROBBS]

This guy? I guess erotic is in the eyes of the beholder.

But yeah, his style is the epitome of the swinging sixties.

That guy.
One of my favorites on many levels.
I think he was WAY ahead of the "swinging sixties"

I can scan in some of his more erotic work.
He is a genius of juxtoposition.

maybe some of these...>
http://books-story.blogspot.com/2009/10/brad-holland-most-of-these-are-from.html

 

[BONNIEBREA]

I think they should cast Adam Sandler and Fran Drescher in the main roles and create the most profoundly unwatchable thing western civilization has ever produced.

If you want unwatchably bad how about Ben Stiller and Andie McDowell?

Other suggestions anyone?

 

[lovecraft68]

If you want unwatchably bad how about Ben Stiller and Andie McDowell?

Other suggestions anyone?

How about Jack Black and Miley Cyrus?

 

[Stella_Omega]

Why the fuck should you guys care about making it unwatchable? You won't be watching it anyway.

They're not making it for you.

 

[lovecraft68]

Why the fuck should you guys care about making it unwatchable? You won't be watching it anyway.

They're not making it for you.

How about JBJ and Stella Omega?

jeez Stella lighten up.

 

[jomar]

Why the fuck should you guys care about making it unwatchable? You won't be watching it anyway.

They're not making it for you.

Because they're playing.

 

[BONNIEBREA]

Why the fuck should you guys care about making it unwatchable? You won't be watching it anyway.

They're not making it for you.

This is simply mere conjectural pondering, if you will, for the purpose of entertainment.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Sorry guys-- I've been doing tech service on many elderly people's computers for the past three days, and it's getting to me.

 

[Cruel2BKind]

Sorry guys-- I've been doing tech service on many elderly people's computers for the past three days, and it's getting to me.

Hee!

I have the same problem with my grandma. My dad got them a computer for christmas. I spent a half hour with her on the phone when she was trying to figure out her email.

Grandma: What? I can't make the email come up?

Me: Did you click on the stamp?

G: Stamp? Is that on the side of the screen?

Me: No! At the bottom of your screen there are a bunch of icons, like the camera and calander, and there is one shaped like a stamp. You have to click on it.

G: I'm touching it and it wont start!

Me: Grandma, it isn't a touch screen!


Et cetera. Eventually, I found out that she didn't know what it means to 'click'

 

[PennLady]

Hahaha (for C2BK's post).

Possible cast for Christian Grey (keeping in mind I haven't read the book): Kevin Bacon or Michael Fassbender. I'm watching X-Men: First Class and they seem like they could pull it off.

 

[Kurokami]

You know what? I actually want this movie to turn out awesome. Because that would be a genuine goddamn surprise. I want to be reading critics saying "well, shit. We were totally wrong on this one, this is actually the shit." I want it to be the next Lord of the Rings, that level of hype and acclaim. I want it to be the movie that catapults the two lead actors into stardom. I want it to be compellingly written, acted with depth, shot with competence and marketed perfectly.

Do I think it's likely? No, not in the least. But wouldn't that be a great surprise to get?

Also? I want them to, like, cast Morgan Freeman or Malcolm Mcdowell in the role of Grey. You know, give themselves a real challenge.

 

[lovecraft68]

You know the solution here is really obvious.

Just get the cast of Twilight. They already know the parts. And if she has any say in the matter its probably who the author would want anyway.

This way the movie can be as unoriginal of a rip off as the book.