Latest news with #FilmAdaptation
The Guardian
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
To Kill a Mockingbird: a call to compassion that's more urgent than ever
It's impossible to watch Robert Mulligan's 1962 adaptation of Harper Lee's great novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, and not be moved by Gregory Peck's performance as Atticus Finch, a small-town American lawyer with an unfailing moral compass. Light years from the archetypal legal eagle, he radiates good old-fashioned decency, espousing tolerance and compassion that sadly feels almost passe amid the Sturm und Drang of the current world. 'You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view,' goes one of Finch's great lines, sourced from Lee's book. In perhaps the film's most memorable scene, Peck deliverers a grand courtroom monologue, declaring that 'all men are created equal', imploring the jury to 'in the name of god, believe Tom Robinson,' the black man accused raping a white woman – a crime he didn't commit. When I think about this film, my mind recalls that monologue in vivid colour – even though it's shot in monochrome. I've watched To Kill a Mockingbird several times but still have to gird my loins for the moment Finch (spoilers to follow) breaks the news to Robinson's family that he was killed while attempting to escape. Finch's wisdom gives the film (and book) its title. Earlier, around the breakfast table, he recalls that when his father gave him his first gun, he told him he could 'shoot all the bluejays you want … but remember, it's a sin to kill a mockingbird' because these creatures 'don't do one thing except make music for us to enjoy'. Ergo, the metaphor about destroying the innocent and harmless. Peck won a best actor Oscar, but the protagonist is actually Finch's young daughter Scout (Mary Badham), whose adult self recounts the story. Her narration is everything to the book, though it's sparingly used in the film and does little beyond lacing some moments with Harper's lovely prose. Scout famously describes Maycomb – where the story takes place in 1932 – as a 'tired old town' where 'the rhythms of life are slow,' men's collars 'wilted by nine in the morning' and 'ladies bathed before noon'. In the book, Scout's reflections have a thoughtfulness and maturity beyond the ken of her childhood self. The film's relationship with time is different. Instead of an older person looking back, it's mostly a present tense narrative evoking a child's perspective – Scout's, but also that of her older brother Jem (Phillip Alford) and their friend Dill (John Megna). In both versions, this focus on the children makes it unusual. How many legal dramas spend so little time in the courtroom, and so much time following children who aren't directly related to the case? Before we learn about Robinson's plight, we're introduced to the mystery surrounding a reclusive local character named Boo Radley (Robert Duvall, in his first film performance). The children repeat terrible rumours about him very early in the film, which we eventually learn are entirely unfounded. It's only at the very end that we discover the clever bookend device deployed by Lee, and retained in the film. Radley saves Scout and Jem from a potentially lethal attack by a man seeking revenge on Finch, and kills the offender in the process. The sheriff decides to spare Radley from the inevitable fallout, officially reporting that the other man fell on his knife. Atticus is surprised that Scout agrees with this decision; as she puts it, 'it would be sort of like shooting a mockingbird, wouldn't it?' We assumed, all this time, that the metaphor applied to the innocent, downtrodden Robinson. But here we see it broaden out, extending to others who are mistreated and powerless. The ending is optimistic in some senses, emphasising compassion and humanity. But it's also deeply melancholic – a rich tapestry of emotions. This terrific film has lost none of its power. To Kill a Mockingbird is streaming on Binge in Australia and available to rent in the UK and US. For more recommendations of what to stream in Australia, click here
The Verge
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Can't keep runnin' away.
Posted Jun 30, 2025 at 2:06 PM UTC Not long after the first trailer for The Long Walk , we're getting a look at another adaptation of a Stephen King dystopia about forward momentum, this time with Edgar Wright's take on The Running Man . The movie hits theaters in November, but the trailer drops tomorrow.
Geek Tyrant
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Hideo Kojima Says He'll 'Guide' the DEATH STRANDING Movie, but Knows When to Step Back: 'I Have to Trust These People' — GeekTyrant
As the live-action film adaptation of Hideo Kojima's wildly unique game Death Stranding moves forward at A24, the legendary developer made it clear he's not looking to hover over every creative decision. Instead, he's choosing a more measured, collaborative role. Kojima told Variety: 'I think I will help produce it – I need to kind of guide the project – but I can't direct it myself, schedule-wise. I made Death Stranding as a game, so in order to turn it into a movie, it'll be something totally different.' That creative distance doesn't mean he's uninvolved. He's still keeping an eye on things, but with respect for the talent he's brought on board. 'But it's my baby, so I would like to overlook the project. I'm teaming up with A24 and Michael Sarnoski, so he will be writing and directing. 'I'll let them work on it without too much of my input, because that might get in their way. I don't want to go in and ask them to make a bunch of changes; that's not cool. I have to trust these people, and I trust A24 and Michael.' That trust is likely well-placed. Sarnoski, who directed Pig , has not only shown he can handle emotionally rich, unconventional stories, but he's also reportedly played Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid 1 , though Kojima deliberately asked him not to touch the MGS sequels. Why? Likely to keep his vision for the adaptation untainted by deeper lore or unnecessary comparisons. This isn't the only Death Stranding adaptation in the works either. An anime film is also in development, with Prisoners and Raised by Wolves writer Aaron Guzikowski onboard. Guzikowski said: 'I love the world of Death Stranding, it's so creatively freeing, so beautifully dark and yet hopeful; I'm so excited and honored that Hideo Kojima, whose work I've long admired, has invited me to dwell within his creation, to birth new stories into this fertile, mind-bending universe. Drawing and animation have always been near and dear to my heart, so to finally get to play in this space is a dream come true.' There's no release date yet for the movie, but if Kojima's history tells us anything, it's that we're in for something unorthodox and very human. Whether through anime or live-action, Death Stranding is finding new ways to connect.
Geek Girl Authority
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
SUNRISE ON THE REAPING: Glenn Close and Billy Porter Latest Additions to Expansive Cast
Highlights Glenn Close and Billy Porter are the latest additions to The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping . The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping Close will take on the role of Drusilla Sickle, while Porter will portray her husband, Magno Stift. The film will take the theater circuit by storm next November. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping We've got our Drusilla Sickle and Magno Stift. Acting titans Glenn Close and Billy Porter have boarded The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping , Lionsgate's adaptation of Suzanne Collins' bestselling novel of the same name. RELATED: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping Finds Its Effie Trinket in Elle Fanning Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle Close's Drusilla is the escort for the District 12 tributes during the 50th Hunger Games. She will escort Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada), Maysilee Donner (Mckenna Grace), Louella McCoy (Molly McCann) and Wyatt Callow (Ben Wang). Drusilla is mean-spirited in demeanor and quite snobbish. An eight-time Academy Award nominee, Close's prolific career spans five decades. She's most known for 1987's Fatal Attraction , 2017's The Wife , 2011's Albert Nobbs and the legal thriller series Damages . She's also in the voice cast for Andy Serkis' Animal Farm , which premiered this year. RELATED: Book Review: Sunrise on the Reaping Billy Porter as Magno Stift Porter's Magno is the stylist for District 12 during the 50th Hunger Games and Drusilla's husband. Magno struggles with addiction. He also no longer pushes the boundaries of artistic innovation, often relying on looks from previous Hunger Games. A three-time Tony Award winner, Porter is an esteemed Broadway veteran. On the TV front, he's most known for playing Pray Tell in FX's Pose , for which he won an Emmy Award. His voice work includes roles on Prime Video's Fairfax and Netflix's Big Mouth . He can next be seen in Christmas Karma , debuting this year. Additional upcoming credits for Porter include an untitled James Baldwin biopic, starring as the titular writer and civil rights activist. The rest of the Sunrise on the Reaping cast includes Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Iona Bell as Lou Lou, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman and Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow. Franchise vet Francis Lawrence will direct from a screenplay by Billy Ray. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping hits theaters on November 20, 2026. THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING Has Its Wiress and Beetee Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
CNET
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
Yes, an Elden Ring Live-Action Movie Directed by Alex Garland Is Coming
Unbelievably, the rumors were true: Alex Garland is indeed set to write and direct a live-action film adaptation of Elden Ring, FromSoftware's phenomenally successful and difficult video game. Award-winning producer and distributor A24 will work with Garland on the movie. The dark fantasy Elden Ring is one of the best-selling games of all time, wowing players with its tight gameplay, expansive world and compelling yet cryptic lore, so it's no surprise that it's headed for the silver screen. Its epic storyline, written in part by A Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin, could work well for a film -- but it's also a safe bet that many owners of the 30 million Elden Ring sales would go to see it, too. X / Screenshot by CNET Rumors had swirled that Alex Garland was adapting the game to film weeks ago, per Comic Book Resources, which seemed like an odd choice. But the director's prior adaptations of nerd properties, from the gritty pulp dystopia of Dredd to the gnostic science fiction of Annihilation, could suit him to take on Elden Ring's dark fantasy world. Better still is Garland's experience with A24, which has led to several of the director's most compelling visions on celluloid. They first paired up for 2015's Ex Machina, followed by 2022's gender parable Men and the bleakly topical Civil War last year, and finally the Iraq War drama Warfare released last month. There's no release date or other details for Garland's Elden Ring. But fans of the game won't have to wait long to get another fix of their favorite game -- its multiplayer spinoff, Elden Ring Nightreign, is coming out on May 30.
