Name a book that would make an excellent film.

[terrya]

For me, it would be "The Front Runner" by Patricia Nell Warren.

At one time, Paul Newman owned the film rights to this wonderful book. But, unfortunately it never got made.

Still would make a good film.

[skygazer]

1. Neil Gaiman's American Gods

In the right hands, it could be incredible.

[unpossibles]

16. Terry Gilliam would do a good job on that book

or Guillermo del Toro.

Not many others I'd trust to not ruin it.

[skygazer]

19. I was thinking Gilliam myself

It's very visual in sometimes dark but beautiful way - Gilliam has a great eye for that.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

24. While we're talking comic books...

Give Me Liberty.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

63. thats what i was gonna say when i clicked. nt

[Rhythm]

99. While we're talking about Gaiman, what about "Good Omens"?

Hypothetically casting that has been an ongoing joke around our house for years.

[SacredCow]

2. Anything by Carl Hiaasen....

"Strip Tease" was a respectable movie, but I'd like to see some others made into film. Particularly "Lucky You," "Stormy Weather," and "Sick Puppy."

[reyd reid reed]

3. They'd be funny

and with the right screenwriter and the right cast, would make a mint. So would Janet Evanovitch's Stephanie Plum books. Just plain fun.

[blondeatlast]

10. I heard somewhere that "One for the Money" has finally been picked up.

It's be great fun to speculate on who would make the best Stephanie!

[reyd reid reed]

29. Someone suggested to me once...

that Debra Messing (?) would be great...so would, oh, what's her name...she was in "My Cousin Vinnie"...

[blondeatlast]

33. Marisa Tomei--she would be good. Great comic timing! nt

[ruiner4u]

114. the grandma from the Nanny

as the grandma in the book..

[libodem]

116. No kidding

I've read 11 of them. I used to think of, who would play, the characters with a patient at work, who turned me on to the books. Very cool.

[blondeatlast]

5. Your post hit while I was typing. "Sick Puppy" would be GREAT on film. nt

[Gormy Cuss]

6. "Skinny Dip"

A natural for Hollywood because there's an athletic naked woman in the opening scene.

[NC_Nurse]

77. So true.

He's great!

[Redneck Socialist]

80. Well, Stripe Tease didn't work out so well, n/t

[SacredCow]

89. I thought it was entertaining....

Certainly it could have been MUCH better, but at no point did I want to gouge my eyes out, a-la Titanic....

[Redneck Socialist]

90. Well, if Titanic is your standard for 'eye gouging' then...

I have to agree that Strip Tease wasn't all that bad. It wasn't all that good either, though.

[SacredCow]

98. Perhaps it's a question of expectations...

and I just don't expect much from movies anymore. In truth, I didn't acutally gouge my eyes out during Titanic (which my ex wife drug me kicking and screaming to see). But I did give up about halfway into it, and went to the lobby to play video games.

[NewJeffCT]

96. Demi Moore ruined Strip Tease

While she has the body to play a stripper, she was all wrong for the role. it required somebody with a light comedic touch, not somebody that is blandly intense onscreen.

[reyd reid reed]

The Kite Runner. nt

[Gormy Cuss]

9. Your wish has been granted.

There's a film in production.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419887/

[blondeatlast]

4. "Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes" by Chris Crutcher

Excellent teen novel, often hysterically funny.

Any of Carl Hias\asen's novels--with a decent director and better casting. He wrote Strip Tease, but the movie was of course, just awful, largely due to Demi Moore, who was very unlike a Hiaasen female protagonist. She took life far more seriously than Hiaasen writes his heroines.

[EnviroBat]

7. On A Plae Horse by Piers Anthony

The story of "Zane" who accidentally kills Death, and must assume his role.

[cobalt1999]

8. I'm going to pick one nobody will think of...

Fermat's Enigma: The Epic Quest to Solve the World's Greatest Mathematical Problem by Simon Singh

I know Hollywood would never do it, but it is a great and exciting story that could be a fantastic movie.

[Bullwinkle925]

37. My picks:

Both by Margaret Atwood ....

"Alias Grace" & "Cat's Eye".


Another ...

"Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides.

[Dr. Strange]

110. I agree, I don't see Hollywood doing it....

But if they did, I would love to be an extra.
Maybe I could play one of the elliptic curves. Or a Galois representation.
I could be a star!

[anarch]

11. Iain M. Banks' "Culture" stories

although I really don't know how they would translate to film. I'd go see those movies, though.

[Az]

12. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman n/t

[MorningGlow]

26. That's got my vote

Been waiting for years...and years...sigh...

[MysticalChicken]

51. YES.

One of my favorite books.

[Rhythm]

102. i mentioned the same thing above, before i got this far in the thread...

Note to self: RTWFTTP
(read the whole f*cking thread... THEN post!)

[mitchum]

13. Richard Price's "Samaritan" was a literary step down for him, but it...

would make a good movie. It's one of those novels that is essentially a first draft of the screenplay.

[likesmountains 52]

14. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

15. "The Man in the High Castle" by Philip K Dick. (nt)

[unpossibles]

17. Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates

or perhaps Skinny Legs and All.

Both would need the right director though, and good acting.

[Hugin]

18. Either the "Academy Series" or the "Alex Benedict" Series by Jack McDevitt

They both have great roles for Female leads and are downright excellent Science Fiction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_McDevitt

[InternalDialogue]

20. I was going to say "Shantaram" by Gregory David Roberts

But then I checked IMDB and learned it's in production, written by Eric Roth and starring Johnny Depp.

The book was an epic masterpiece, in my opinion. Now I really look forward to the movie.

[Rob H.]

21. "A Fine Dark Line" by Joe R. Lansdale

The good news is, he's currently at work on the screenplay. :D

[coffeenap]

22. Devil in the White City.

Just went to IMDb and found it is in development for 2009.

[SaveElmer]

38. Good Book...

I read somewhere Tom Cruise was involved somehow...

[AwakeAtLast]

111. Absolutely!

Chilling book. :scared:

[Richardo]

23. 'Lincoln Lawyer' by Michael Connelly

+ most if not all of the Harry Bosch books.

'Blood Work' starring Clint Eastwood is the only Connelly book I'm aware of that has made the big screen. I liked it (and saw it before I was aware of Connelly or had read any of this books.)

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

25. The Greater New Haven Yellow Pages

Ah, if only....

[terrya]

27. Get Helen Mirren to do it and dust off the mantel for those Oscars.

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

28. Just try to hold back the tears when she reads the L's.

You can't do it!

[terrya]

30. I'll try.

But she adds such class in any film...and the L's are my favorite part of the phone book.

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

32. My favorite part of the phone book

is the blue pages. Maybe that's more befitting her earlier work.

[AllegroRondo]

31. "The Road" by Cormack McCarthy

[EstimatedProphet]

34. The World Phone Book

Picture the cast! EVERYONE would be in it!

[AllegroRondo]

36. but by the time they finish filming, its no longer accurate.

:shrug:

[EstimatedProphet]

39. Make it into a series!

[Twillig]

42. It could be a good documentary!

pick up a random phone book, flip it open put your finger down on somebody's name and go find them, camera and crew in hand.

"Navin R. Johnson...."

Gotta be some interesting people with stories out there. Or boring people with boring stories.

[femmocrat]

35. "The Secret Life of Bees"

Are there any plans for that one?

[MonkeyFunk]

44. Yep!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416212/

[jobycom]

48. It was originally going to star Dakota Fanning, but they've removed her name

so I guess the whole thing is in limbo. They better hurry before Annasophia Robb gets too old. She's one of the best female child actors in a long time, IMHO.

[mentalsolstice]

61. I hope they don't cast either of the Fannings...

Someone new, please! Especially for such a wonderful story! What a wonderful opportunity for African-American female actors!

[libodem]

117. I just finished that

I was going through to see if anyone already posted it. A movie?

[Rabrrrrrr]

40. Volume 14 of the Kinsley Manual

[RedStateShame]

41. A few Chuck Pahlaniuk book...

Of course, they'd all have their snags. "Choke" deals with a recovering sex addict, "Survivor" centers around a hijacked airplane, "Haunted" would make people vomit in the theaters, "Lullaby" would make people squeamish with the whole children dying thing, and "Diary" and "Rant: An Oral History of Buster Casey" may be hard to follow. That having been said, I'd be thrilled in seeing any of those on the big screen.

I can't comment on his other books, as I haven't read them yet.

[pitohui]

71. like, i dunno, "fight club" :-) EOM

,

[Aristus]

43. I recently read Libby Riddle's "Race Across Alaska". Her account of the first

woman to win the Iditarod.

It'd make a good indie film, I think.

[baldguy]

45. Stranger In A Strange Land

with Johnny Depp?

Umberto Eco's "The Island Of The Day Before"

[MonkeyFunk]

46. A Confederacy of Dunces

I think there have been many attempts to make it, but none has ever gotten off the ground.

The ohter one I'd love is "Geek Love"

[mentalsolstice]

62. Needs to be on HBO

...as a miniseries. HBO would do it the justice it deserves.

[cobalt1999]

106. I agree, it can't be condensed down to 2 hours

and do it any justice.

[libodem]

118. I love that one

Ignatius, was that his name?

[taterguy]

47. The Cheese Chronicles by Tommy Womack

It's about a punk rock band from Kentucky in the 1980s that didn't exactly set the woods on fire. Nevertheless, the tales of debauchery, incompetence and music biz slime balls make for a very entertaining read.

It'd be just like Almost Famous, except the subjects never got close to being famous.

[lost-in-nj]

49. GO DOG GO

by Dr. Seuss.....

HER: Do you like my hat?
HIM: No I do not like your hat
HER: Goodbye then
HIM: Goodbye

Genius......


sorry
in a silly mood



:silly:


lost

[bluethruandthru]

65. I love Go Dog Go!

It's the one that really made me think Suess had gone around the bend!

[mzteris]

112. Ve perro ve

is even better.

:rofl:

[triguy46]

50. Riding the Rap, Elmore Leonard

[triguy46]

52. self delete, sorry.

[MysticalChicken]

53. Franny and Zooey by JD Salinger

My favorite book. Yes, I liked it better than Catcher in the Rye, although I loved that one too. Every time I read Franny and Zooey I can see everything that's happening in my head.

[MonkeyFunk]

58. I've probably read Franny and Zooey

more often than any other book in my life. I used to just adore it when I was younger.

I'm not sure it would make a great movie, though.

[MysticalChicken]

93. when I read the title of your post

... I seriously thought the rest of the message was going to be "...but I don't remember."

I usually say "There you are, you little bastard" when I find something I'm looking for.

[JVS]

54. The book of mormon

I'd love to know what they have to say without engaging in conversation or reading their book

[MrsMatt]

64. Off topic, but I think the Mountain Meadow Massacre story

would make a GREAT opera.

Death, trechery and tragedy.

[Brigid]

55. "The Street Lawyer" by John Grisham.

But only if Samuel L. Jackson plays the small but important role of "Mister."

[My Good Babushka]

56. Foucault's Pendulum

[baldguy]

57. The Impressionist by Hari Kunzru

Couldn't think of the title before

[RiffRandell]

59. "The Secret History"

by Donna Tartt.

I heard rumors years ago it was supposed to be made into a movie.

I could see Michael Pitt starring as the the main character, Richard.

[InternalDialogue]

74. I read Tartt's book in my senior year of college.

Made me wish I were a great young writer like her.

Over the years, I've seen films come that had elements of her story, but they were all slightly different. I always wondered if her narrative leaked into others' scripts, and if her story would ever be put on film as it was in the book.

Regardless, fantastic novel.

[steelemagnolia]

60. My Favorite Book of all time: The Crying Heart Tatoo by David L. Martin

a rare treasure that I don't think a lot of people know about. I read it in the early 80's and it blew me away and has stayed with me all these years. It's not in print anymore but you can find it second-hand and it's a good, good read.

[HughBeaumont]

66. House of Leaves.

Too bad it's never going to happen . . .

[pitohui]

72. why not, that seems very filmic

many of the images are things we've seen in dreams, seems perfect for film, no?

[HughBeaumont]

85. The author has said many times he would never sign off on it.

And yes, it'd be PERFECT for a film. How could it not be? The complex plot, the labyrinthine house that expands on the inside, the feeling of hopelessness while trying to find your way back and survive . . . Cronenberg or Craven would have a field day with something like this.

[Ahpook]

67. I remember reading a book years ago called...

Splatterpunks thinking it would make a good flick of shorts:)

Sort of reminded me of Tales From the Crypt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16Xn6B4_srI

[nickgutierrez]

68. Blindness, by Jose Saramago

I think you could do some really interesting things with the flash of white blindness.

[likesmountains 52]

78. Oh yes...I have to agree with you..

[Bjornsdotter]

69. Any of Janet Evanovich's

....Stephanie Plum series. They are always funny and I'm dying to see Ranger on the big screen.

Cheers

[pitohui]

70. tough to pick a book that will be a great movie

"total recall" was made from one of phil k. dick's shittiest books, "do androids dream of electric sheep?", where as some of his fine stuff, such as the story "second variety" made a rather average movie "screamers," a fine novel like "a scanner darkly" made an okay movie "a scanner darkly," a truly SHITTY novelette "minority report" actually made an interesting movie by the same name...

i just don't know any more

i think you have to have a special eye to know what book will make a good movie, sometimes the best books are real let downs as movies

[Dr. Strange]

126. Shittiest book?!

It was a great book! I'm giving you a serious frowning right now bub!

I just watched "Paycheck." It was interesting, but nothing great.

I'm curious to see how Nickolas Cage does in "Next."

I would love to see "The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch" turned into a movie. The book was pretty decent, but could have been so much more.

Sincerely yours,
DuStrange (Dickhead)

[Oeditpus Rex]

73. 'If I Never Get Back'

by Darryl Brock.

I've encountered only one other person who's read it — two, counting the one to whom I lent my copy. But, trust me — it's a screenplay in waiting.

[JanMichael]

75. Kingsblood Royal

It may already be a movie?

[KeepItReal]

76. Armed Madhouse by Greg Palast....oh wait...it's REAL LIFE

This is some really intriguing reading.

Cheers, y'all

[MysticalChicken]

95. Oh man

...you have just pushed my jealousy button. I don't have any of Palast's books yet and I need to go to the mall so I can buy that one and The Best Democracy Money can Buy. (Is Armed Madhouse a direct sequel to TBDMCB, or can I read it as a stand-alone book?)

[KeepItReal]

121. I'm reading it as a standalone.

<eom>

[WildEyedLiberal]

79. "Shutter Island" by Dennis Lehane

That would make such a kickass movie I can't believe no one's snatched up the rights to it yet.

[Redneck Socialist]

81. Blood Meridian by Comac McCarthy...

just screams out to be made into a film.

Though it would probable get an "X" rating for the violence.

[cemaphonic]

86. Not unless they can dig up and reanimate Sam Peckinpaugh

That would be something though.

[Wetzelbill]

88. yeah it is being made, Ridley Scott is going to direct it

It's scheduled to be out in 2009.

[Redneck Socialist]

91. Reeeaaaalllyy...

Very interesting.

That terrifies me and excites me all at the same time. Terrified that it will suck and excited that it is being made at all.

[Wetzelbill]

92. I was practically sexually aroused when I first heard it, haha

Great book, one of my favorite directors. But there is always that letdowns. Rarely do films ever even approach how good a book is, and there is a big risk that this movie will butcher a classic. However, Ridley is an extremely skilled guy, and his adaptation of Black Hawk Down was as good as the book, and Hannibal was another very good adaptation. We'll see what happens. I'm excited. :)

[Forkboy]

82. Still waiting for Red Mars

It was supposed to be a mini series but I haven't heard anything about it in a couple of years now. :(

[TrogL]

83. Dhalgren

Samuel R. Delaney

[EstimatedProphet]

94. That would make an incredibly weird book.

It would be really tough to do. But it would be awesome if they could pull it off!

[mzteris]

113. Awesome book -

a little weird in places, but overall.

What about Sands in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand ?

[Heidi]

84. "Kafka on the Shore" by Haruki Murakami.

:hi: T! :hug: :loveya:

[Wetzelbill]

87. I'm adapting one actually

"The Indian Lawyer" by James Welch. Last time I talked to him before he died, he said I could adapt the novel into a screenplay.

[NewJeffCT]

97. Probably better as a mini-series, but George RR Martin's "A Game of Thrones"

Great fantasy work by a good liberal.

Probably too long for a movie - it might work better as a 6-8 hour miniseries.

[bigwillq]

100. Any of the Burke Novels.

:bounce:

[Iris]

101. Donna Tartt's "The Secret History"

Read somewhere that Gwyneth Paltrow had the movie rights.

[Zavulon]

103. My Pet Goat

It had a sitting pResident mesmerized during a huge disaster, so it must be a good book.

[_testify_]

104. Neuromancer

:thumbsup:

[hellbound-liberal]

105. I'd like to see someone do "Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"

I think it would be one of those movies that people would buy so they could watch it multiple times. I read the book three times and was intrigued every time I read it.

[wain]

107. The Story of Civilization by Will and Muriel Durant

nt

:rofl:

[UrbScotty]

108. Have they made 'The Giver' into a movie? (nt)

[Throwing Stones]

109. Fiction: "God Bless Yoju, Mr. Rosewater" (only if handled by a competent director)

Nonfiction: "Assault on Reason" - a must read for everyone and an easy movie - just show stock "news" footage from the last few years.

[AndreaCG]

115. My best friend's mother-in-law's autobiography: Through The Burning Steppe: A Wartime Memoir

Elena Kozhina. It's about her childhood in WWII Soviet Union. It's very compelling. My friend's husband did the translation. If she didn't develop Alzheimers there probably would have been a sequel about her adult life as a Soviet art curator, then having to come to the US in the 80s.

Here is a reading guide summary for teachers I found online:

http://us.penguingroup.com/static/rguides/us/through_the_burning_steppe.html

[libnnc]

119. I've always thought Rita Mae Brown's first book

"Rubyfruit Jungle" would make a great movie. It's semi-autobiographical. Either that one or "Southern Discomfort"

[libodem]

120. I'm trying to think of the name of the book.

It's about twin brothers. One is mentally ill. The other one is his care taker after their mother dies. She had a cleft pallet and their stepfather was a mean SOB. The brother without Schizophrenia, is divorced and thinks about getting back with his ex-wife all the time. He gains access to a biography written by his grandfather who was from Italy. Knowing his family history helps solve his present difficulties dealing with relationships. Damn, I thought if I kept writing I'd remember. Help me.

[libodem]

122. it's either

This Much I know is True or I Know This Much is True

[dEMOK]

123. How about - The Tao of Pooh?...

By Benjamin Hoff -- http://benjaminhoffauthor.com/index.htm

[Robeson]

124. "Creation" by Gore Vidal....

...would be awesome and epic on the big screen.

[krispos42]

125. "The Mote in God's Eye"

Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle. I stopped by the used book store on Monday and picked up a copy for myself and am re-reading it again for the first time in about a decade.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mote_in_God%27s_Eye