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Julia Stiles traps herself in The Bell JarJulia Stiles will soon be starring as the original girl, interrupted. The actress has signed on to play Esther Greenwood in a big screen adaptation of Sylvia Plath's iconic novel The Bell Jar. I have to say, I have sky-high hopes for this project.
First, you can't beat the source material. Plath's semi-autobiographical book is a lyrical look at a young woman's descent into disillusionment and depression. Both the work and its author deserve a fitting cinematic tribute beyond Gwyneth Paltrow's tepid Sylvia. (Yes, I know there was a 1979 adaptation starring Marilyn Hassett. But since I don't think you can Netflix it, I can't comment on its merits or lack thereof.)
Second, I think Julia is one of the smarter and more substantial actresses in today's crop of young stars. OK, we're just going to ignore The Omen ... and The Prince & Me. She has been working the past few years to secure the rights to The Bell Jar and will produce with Plum Pictures in association with Killer Films (out producer Christine Vachon's company). Playwright Tristine Skyler (The Moonlight Mile) will adapt the screenplay. So, really, what's not to love? Julia Stiles, mental illness, suicide attempts and stifling bell jars? Sign me up. Submitted by on April 26, 2007 - 1:30pm. |
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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
who doesn't love a suicidal writer?
What’s not to love about the Bell Jar? Or depressed, suicidal writers? Or Julia Stiles? She kicks Gwyneth’s ass, btw. (the best thing about Gwenny is her cousin Kate. And her fab mother).
Plum Pics did a movie awhile back called “Pack, Strap, Swallow” (so NOT what I thought it would be btw), but very good nonetheless.
Dear God No
Claire Danes
I agree completely. This is my second-favorite book (right after 1984), and I never imagined that it could be made into a movie. The emotional and mental devastation, as well as the sheer desperation of Esther, just can't really be conveyed on film, in my opinion. I fear it will be wimpy and whiny, as opposed to crazy and beautiful.
That being said, I really think that Claire Danes would have been a MUCH better choice.
"Out of the box is where I live." -Starbuck
Got Moxy
The Business of Strangers
astifledchance - I confess, my love of her is based at least in part on the fact that she’s a New Yorker. And she’s hot. And smart. Also, she was great in “The Business of Strangers” with Stockard Channing (has anyone seen that??) So she gets a little leeway from me!
Normally, I oppose book adaptations for the big screen, but since Gwen already fucked it up, I’m happy to let Julia take a crack at it. Course if it sucks, I’ll have no qualms about saying so!
Oh you're more than welcome
Oh you're more than welcome to love her :) Personally, I think she looks bitchy..like she'd bite your head off..not my kind of woman but hey to each their own :)
Let us never speak of the movie Sylvia ever again. Her smiling smiling smiling giggling version of Sylvia made me sick. Don't get me wrong..I'm sure she smiled and even giggled but there was no introspection, no depth to her character on Gwyneth's part..Blah.
I wish they'd stop making adaptations myself but they won't..Hollywood ran out of ideas 50 years ago..so of course they're going to steal books and ruin them. I will check this out and most likely cry at how bad it is but with my expectations so low..perhaps I'll be pleasantly surprised :)
We shall never speak of it again
Well, I doubt she'd bite anyone's head off! I don’t see her as bitchy (and I know bitchy). I think she’s a bit reserved is all, but hey, to each her own!
And I’m good with not mentioning the S movie again! Not much to mention, and she's got no introspection or depth, for sure. (but now that I think about it, and with 30 Rock still on my brain, Gwyneth looks like she could have avian bird syndrome, no? Hollow bones and all that).
Adaptations - one of my pet peeves. And I totally agree about the brain drain out of Hollywood. It’s pretty disconcerting. There are very few movies where I’d read the book but still liked the film. Some exceptions: The Shining, The Virgin Suicides, Fight Club. But I had to completely divorce them from their books and appreciate them on a cinematic and a visual level. As stand alone movies, if I never read the books, I still would've liked them all.
What about you? Any adaptations you can stand?
There are a few..such as To
There are a few..such as To Kill A Mockingbird with Gregory Peck. That was an amazing adaptation.
I loved Misery with Kathy Bates..it was different from the book in a couple of ways such as you didn't learn about Annie's past as a nurse when Paul finds her scrapbook..which I was kind of sad about since it definitely gave Annie more depth as a character. She was kind of one dimensional in the movie..but Kathy Bates is a god..she even made Dolores Claiborne watchable despite them changing the story a whole lot.
I loved the original version of The Shining even though they made it seem as though he was just crazy and that it wasn't the hotel but oh well. Like you said if you separate it from the book and watch it just as a movie it's extremely entertaining.
Mystic River followed the book word for word except for one small part. So I consider that a good adaptation. :)
Technically, The Wizard of Oz but since I've never read the book....Same with The Neverending Story...Aww good times as a kid :)
I can't think of any others but I'm sure there are some more..I'd rather read than watch movies though. You get to imagine the characters for yourself instead of having actors you may or may not like jump in and play them.
A Couple More
Didn’t read Misery but liked the movie a lot. The stuff of his that I’ve read and liked – like The Stand and It – were made into god awful movies. Oh, but both Stand By Me’s were good.
Apocalypse Now and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest - can’t believe I forgot them. The movies themselves are so good – the acting, the writing, the visuals, it makes you forget there’s a text, a blueprint for the film. Makes it easy to separate from the books, at least for me.
I’ll also throw in Slaughterhouse Five – saw the pic as a teenager, loved it, but didn’t read the book till yrs later. Seems I’m less critical of an adaptation if I see the movie before I read the book, but that doesn’t happen that often.
And I couldn’t agree more about the power of imagination when reading vs watching someone else’s interpretation up on the big screen. Still, I love movies – they just have to be well-made!
the shining
Re: The Business of Strangers
I loved The Business of Strangers! Both leads are fantastic.
I like Stiles but I'm a bit nervous about this adaptation. I really hope they're able to pull it off, but I have my doubts. I hope to be proved very, very wrong!
10 things I hate about you.
"I still maintain he kicked himself in the balls"
"smarter and more substantial"
A good way to describe Julia. I've always enjoyed her performances and am looking forward to seeing what more she can do. I haven't seen "Sylvia", so the comparison doesn't interest me. Except if I had to choose between Julia and Gwyneth, I would much rather see Julia Stiles in a movie any day. I think Gwyneth has talent and seems like a very nice person overall. But as a performer, with the exception of one film, she bores me. It's not that she can't be believable in a role; she just lacks any charisma.
I am especially excited to know that Julia will be co-producing the film as well and has fought for the rights to it. I am always glad to see smart and motivated women gaining exper. behind the scenes directing and/or producing. And I think Julia has potential to add to those fields.
i think this could be a perfect match
i think that this could be a perfect match. julia stiles clearly loves this book and i think she will do it justice. the fact that she took a break from working to finish college seems encouraging and i think that somethings that she has done are quite deep and meaninful, for example business of strangers and the play oleanna where she plays a student sueing her professor for sexual harrassment. i have high hopes for the film and cant wait for it to come to out screens. i think if done properly this could be one of the best films of the decade.
i think julia stiles is an
i met julia styles