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| a weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves |
The Thursday Movie Picks series is once again television-themed as July too has come to an end and this week it features one of my favourite themes, book adaptations. It's quite embarrassing that I keep picking the same series every year though. But what can I do if I absolutely adore these and can't really say the same about other adaptations (either because I haven't read the source material or because I didn't like the series as much).
Big Little Lies (2017-2019)
I still haven't watched the second season (boohoo, same on me!) I thought the first season was an excellent adaptation of a novel I loved. The cast was just perfect, there's plenty of tension and suspense, and it keeps you guessing and engaged the whole time, and the storylines are all equally compelling.
The Handmaid's Tale (2017- )
I still haven't started season four because I don't have a lot of time lately but I've really, really "enjoyed" it so far. There are some differences between this and Atwood's novel but it's nevertheless a great adaptation. It is intense, overwhelming and quite draining but the performances are terrific.
Sharp Objects (2018)
I actually read Flynn's novel after watching the series and still kind of saw the ending twist coming (I wasn't that sure she was the killer, but there was something about her that made me think so) but I loved it. I was glued to the screen the whole time as it was tense and suspenseful, the acting in this one is also great, and I really think they did an excellent job bringing the novel to the small screen.
I like all three of your picks! I'm glad I waited to watch S4 of The Handmaid's Tale so I could binge it all. I think I would've been a little annoyed with it week to week.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to know I did the right thing by waiting :) even though I only waited because I don't have the time.
DeleteI know of all these, but haven't watched any of them. Well, I think I've seen like 10 or 15 minutes of The Handmaid's Tale, somewhere in the middle because either my daughter or wife decided to give it a go. They didn't stick with it and that was that. I keep saying I'm going to go back to it, but we'll see. Honestly, most shows I wind up watching is because someone else in the house either asked me to watch with them, or started themselves and I wandered in and sat down.
ReplyDeleteI totally get you. I do that sometimes too.
DeleteI have heard of all of these but have not seen any...hahahaa. The Handmaid's Tale just doesn't interest me and there is something about Elizabeth Moss I don't like. I would like to see the other 2 but I don't have Netflix.
ReplyDeleteI think they all are on HBO actually.
DeleteI don't get HBO either...oh well.
DeleteI'm 0 for 3 for seeing these actual series though I saw the feature film of The Handmaid's Tale which was terrible despite an awesome cast.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about Big Little Lies despite my indifference to Kidman because of Reese's involvement but I don't have access to it at the moment. The same goes for Sharp Objects since I don't have HBO. Maybe some day if I find a way to see it.
I came up with a theme within the theme this week; all biographical adaptations starring Lee Remick, a huge favorite of mine. 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.
If you like Witherspoon, you're going to love Big Little Lies.
DeleteLoved Sharp Objects and Big Little Lies. I watched 2 seasons of The Handmaid's Tale and had to take a break from it considering the political climate of the US. It was just SO bleak. I may go back and watch when the series ends if it ends on a high note.
ReplyDeleteI struggled to watch the third season and I don't even live in the States so, yeah, I totally get you.
DeleteI still haven't read The Handmaid's Tale, but I love the show. It is so jarring to watch and makes me feel really uncomfortable at times, but the performances are so brilliant. Hope you'll like the latest seasons.
ReplyDeleteThe book is a bit different from the series but it's great.
DeleteI don't know what's stopping me from watching S2 of Big Little Lies, I loved S1! I really want to see Sharp Objects too but I'm not sure whether I should read the book first.
ReplyDeleteI watched the series and then read the book and it worked best for me because I usually struggle to watch series (or movies) when I already know every single twist. If you're not like me, I guess it's the same whether you read the novel or watch the series first.
DeleteThe Handmaid's Tale is one of the rare cases where I enjoyed the adaptation so much more than the book. While reading I appreciated the idea but wasn't over the moon with the execution whereas the show managed to improve exactly on that front.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I thought Atwood's novel was great but the series is on another level.
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