And the Oscar Goes to . . .

There was a time (I think) when movies were movies and books were books and only occasionally the tween shall meet. . . like in 1938s Academy Award winning Gone With the Wind, based on the Margaret Mitchell epic novel. These days, it seems more and more movies are based on books. As a writer, I think this is pleasing, since there really are so many wonderful stories written. Though we do always then subject ourselves to the refrain: "the book was better."

This year, there were some wonderful films out there. And quite a few have been based on a book. Mazel Tov literature; you've been nominated for an Oscar.

Life of Pi
Yann Martel's dreamy story about an Indian boy, who, with his family emigrate to Canada. Though they do not travel alone. They travel with a menagerie. When things go wrong, Pi Patel ends up adrift on the ocean with a select group of animals. I have yet to see the film, though for how beautiful it looked, I would like to. What a difficult piece of literature to put to the screen!

Argo: How the CIA Pulled off the Most Audacious Rescue in History
I saw the film and loved it. Very current, despite it being a story from 1979. Very Ben Affleck. . . in a good way. What I mean by "current" is probably obvious. Iran is again at the forefront (or should be) of our news. Nuclear arms, yes or no? Imminent threat to Israel? Insanely hateful dictator. It is (still?) Arab Spring, you know. The year was 1979 and things in Iran were not going well. Hatred for America, who helped put Ayatollah Khomeini (the guy who called for a fatwa against Salman Rushdie, for only one of his great legacies) into power and then provided asylum for him, grew to such a level that numerous employees of the American embassy were kidnapped. THIS, you have probably heard of. What was only recently declassified was the story of six who escaped and were then shuttled out by an, as the title reads "audacious rescue." The film was wonderful and I suspect the book would be even more interesting since it will be more grounded in facts, with less liberty taken for dramatic purposes. No offense Affleck; you make a good movie.

 Les Miserables
In seventh grade we were taken to see this musical on Broadway. It's been a favorite ever since. I have read the novel by Victor Hugo, when I was in early high school, fancied myself a fan and plunged through the many many pages of French history. I am fairly certain I understood not a whit. The film, seen just the other day made everything more clear. I, at age twelve couldn't have possibly understood the story line (knowing me). I, surprisingly, didn't grow too attached to any of the characters in the movie. However, since I spent early high school belting out A Little Fall of Rain  and Master of the House, I particularly enjoyed the film. It's worth seeing on the big screen and I was impressed with most of the voices, though Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert? Not so sure.

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
I saw Lincoln, and was not happy about it. It was terribly heavy-handed, overacted, and pedantic. I should have read the book by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Silver Linings Playbook
A woman in my writing class talked about the story arc and characters in the movie. The fullness and truth of the characters were apparently quite poignant. I want to see the film. But first I'll read the book. Nancy Pearl said Aawww shucks! I know that’s hardly a usual way to begin a book review, but it was my immediate response to finishing Matthew Quick’s heartwarming, humorous and soul-satisfying first novel . . . This book makes me smile. And so far, every book I've read that the famed librarian has recommended, has been worth it.

because sometimes translations make me chuckle.