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I’ll start this week’s question thread by saying I find this question impossible to conclusively answer about myself.
What's the best film you've ever seen about writers (and why)?
My heart tells me it’s Wonder Boys (2000). After all, the film is adapted from the novel that probably changed my life more than any other, which you can read about in an older weekly question thread from 5AM StoryTalk (here).
But my head tells me it’s Adaptation (2002), a film so achingly true I’ve only been able to make myself watch it a few times.
This all said, another part of me — maybe the part of me that will never get over seeing Brigitte Bardot in it when I was only fifteen, or maybe the part of me who has spent years trying to reconcile my artistic ambitions with commercial/professional realities — says it’s Contempt(1963).
What say you?
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AMERICAN SPLENDOR. Just the humanity of it all. The loneliness of creation. In contrast to Harvey Pekar's life as fictionalized in film, it is super hard to go past FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS. I'd read most of Thompson's books before that and Johnny Depp was just so perfectly cast. That manic chaos of creation...
This is one of those occasions where my mind largely goes blank so I’m bound to forget something brilliant. I actually only saw Adaptation for the first time last month and it is an excellent film but my favourite would probably be Greta Gerwig’s Little Women which I utterly adored.
Past Lives should be on the list. Though the film is not explicitly about writers, Celine Song certainly chases the idea of identity through narrative with Nora’s character.
Barton Fink. Just quoted it yesterday. Brillant screenwriting is like genius copywriting; can’t prevent it to pop in your mind at the most random times.
I'm with you on Adaptation, especially in relation to screenwriting. I show that film to my students every term. I also agree that Barton Fink is pretty amazing. Woody Allen's Deconstructing Harry is also worth mentioning.
Was going to add Barton Fink, too. (The story of my experience in Hollywood working with a famous director and going insane in the process. So much so that friends joked about it!)
My favorite is Jim Jarmusch' Paterson (2016), where Adam Driver is playing a bus driver (sic!) and poet who contemplates on the everyday details of life and the subtle beauty that can be found in the mundane.
Barton Fink!
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas 🤘
American Fiction was pretty damned good.
Top 3:
World According To Garp - loved the book, an underrated movie with a great Robin Williams performance, the humanity!
The Shining - ‘all work and no play…’
All The President’s Men - what journalism can be, made up deep throat and all
AMERICAN SPLENDOR. Just the humanity of it all. The loneliness of creation. In contrast to Harvey Pekar's life as fictionalized in film, it is super hard to go past FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS. I'd read most of Thompson's books before that and Johnny Depp was just so perfectly cast. That manic chaos of creation...
This is one of those occasions where my mind largely goes blank so I’m bound to forget something brilliant. I actually only saw Adaptation for the first time last month and it is an excellent film but my favourite would probably be Greta Gerwig’s Little Women which I utterly adored.
Can You Ever Forgive Me
I know I'm cheating here, because this isn't a film, but the "Backstory!" episode of Mythic Quest (written by Craig Mazin) was so good.
I love stranger than fiction !
There’s one with Sean Connery but I can’t remember the title
Past Lives should be on the list. Though the film is not explicitly about writers, Celine Song certainly chases the idea of identity through narrative with Nora’s character.
I'm amazed that no one has commented my two favorites:
Finding Forrester: It has Sean Connery in it... how could it not be great?
Stranger Than Fiction: amazing cast all the way around. I don't want to spoil it. "Little did he know..."
Magic of Belle Isle - the redemption and romance combines well.
Barton Fink. Just quoted it yesterday. Brillant screenwriting is like genius copywriting; can’t prevent it to pop in your mind at the most random times.
Capote .. have watched it 3 times.
I’m going to go lace-forward (lol) and say Bright Star and Miss Potter ✍🏼 Great question!!
I was also going to go for Barton Fink. Not a film as such, but Dennis Potter's The Singing Detective is also up there for me.
I'm with you on Adaptation, especially in relation to screenwriting. I show that film to my students every term. I also agree that Barton Fink is pretty amazing. Woody Allen's Deconstructing Harry is also worth mentioning.
Was going to add Barton Fink, too. (The story of my experience in Hollywood working with a famous director and going insane in the process. So much so that friends joked about it!)
My favorite is Jim Jarmusch' Paterson (2016), where Adam Driver is playing a bus driver (sic!) and poet who contemplates on the everyday details of life and the subtle beauty that can be found in the mundane.