8 Movies About Writers (T-Minus 8 Days)
/
0 Comments
Countdown to NaNoWriMo: 8 Days
There are a good hundred or so movies about writers. But in honor of my countdown, I narrowed the selection to 8. 8 somewhat inspirational movies that romanticize writing just enough, lie just enough to make it glamorous again. Well, bend the truth at least.
1) Finding Neverland:
J.M. Barrie:
[gives him a journal] Here you go.
Peter Llewelyn Davies: What's this?
J.M. Barrie: All great writers begin with a good leather binding and a respectable title. Open it.
Peter Llewelyn Davies: [reads] "The Boy Castaways: Being a record of the terrible adventures of the brothers Davies, faithfully set forth by Peter Llewelyn Davies."
J.M. Barrie: Kipling would swallow his own ear for a title like that!
Peter Llewelyn Davies: I still have no idea what to write.
J.M. Barrie: Write about anything. Write about your family, write about the talking whale!
Peter Llewelyn Davies: What whale?
J.M. Barrie: The one that's trapped in your imagination and desperate to get out.
(text via: IMDB)
2) Little Women:
Jo:
Friedrich, this is what I write. My apologies if it fails to live up to your high standards.
Friedrich Bhaer: Jo, there is more to you than this. If you have the courage to write it.
(text via: IMDB)
3) Midnight in Paris:
Man Ray:
A man in love with a woman from a different era. I see a photograph!
Luis Buñuel: I see a film!
Gil: I see insurmountable problem!
Salvador Dalí: I see rhinoceros!
(text via: IMDB)
4) Stranger Than Fiction:
Dr. Jules Hilbert:
Are you the king of anything?
Harold Crick: Like what?
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Anything. King of the lanes at the local bowling alley.
Harold Crick: King of the lanes?
Dr. Jules Hilbert: King of the lanes, king of the trolls,
Harold Crick: King of the Trolls?
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Yes, uh uh uh a clandestine land found underneath your floor boards.
Harold Crick: No.
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Huh?
Harold Crick: No. That's ridiculous.
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Agreed. Let's start with ridiculous and move backwards. Now, was any part of you at one time part of something else?
Harold Crick: Like do I have someone else's arms?
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Well is it possible at one time that you were made of stone, wood, lye, varied corpse parts? Or, earth made holy by rabbinical elders?
Harold Crick: No. Look, look. I'm sorry, but what do these questions have to do with anything?
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Nothing. The only way to find out what story you're in is to determine what stories you're not in. Odd as it may seem, I've just ruled out half of Greek literature, seven fairy tales, ten Chinese fables, and determined conclusively that you are not King Hamlet, Scout Finch, Miss Marple, Frankenstein's Monster, or a golem. Hmm? Aren't you relieved to know you're not a golem?
Harold Crick: Yes. I am relieved to know that I am not a golem.
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Good. Do you have magical powers?
(text via: IMDB)
5) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly:
Jean-Dominique Bauby:
I decided to stop pitying myself. Other than my eye, two things aren't paralyzed, my imagination and my memory.
(text via: IMDB)
6) Sideways:
Maya:
Why are you so in to Pinot?
Miles Raymond: [laughs softly]
Maya: I mean, it's like a thing with you.
Miles Raymond: [continues laughing softly]
Miles Raymond: Uh, I don't know, I don't know. Um, it's a hard grape to grow, as you know. Right? It's uh, it's thin-skinned, temperamental, ripens early. It's, you know, it's not a survivor like Cabernet, which can just grow anywhere and uh, thrive even when it's neglected. No, Pinot needs constant care and attention. You know? And in fact it can only grow in these really specific, little, tucked away corners of the world. And, and only the most patient and nurturing of growers can do it, really. Only somebody who really takes the time to understand Pinot's potential can then coax it into its fullest expression. Then, I mean, oh its flavors, they're just the most haunting and brilliant and thrilling and subtle and... ancient on the planet.
(text via: IMDB)
7) Moulin Rouge:
Christian:
Then I'll write a song and we'll put it in the show and whenever you
sing it or hear it. Or whistle or hum it then you'll know. It'll mean
that we love one another.
(text via: IMDB)
8) Almost Famous:
Lester Bangs:
So, you're the one who's been sending me those articles from your school newspaper.
William Miller: I've been doing some stuff for a local underground paper, too.
Lester Bangs: What, are you like the star of your school?
William Miller: They hate me.
Lester Bangs: You'll meet them all again on their long journey to the middle.
(text via: IMDB)
Okay, they're all tragi-mances. Romadramas? There is a strong romantic relationship. Bonus points if you know (without cheating) which of those 8 movies share a common director. So some less glamorous, but still excellent (and probably more accurate):
- Adaptation
- Barton Fink
- Capote
- 8 1/2
Favorite fictional writer from the silver screen? Must you ask: Macaulay Connor. I have yet to see (or read) Wonder Boys and most of the Woody Allen canon, so I know there are a million other movies about writers but I can only speak from experience.
P.S. Have you joined NaNoWriMo yet?
There are a good hundred or so movies about writers. But in honor of my countdown, I narrowed the selection to 8. 8 somewhat inspirational movies that romanticize writing just enough, lie just enough to make it glamorous again. Well, bend the truth at least.
1) Finding Neverland:
 |
| via |
Peter Llewelyn Davies: What's this?
J.M. Barrie: All great writers begin with a good leather binding and a respectable title. Open it.
Peter Llewelyn Davies: [reads] "The Boy Castaways: Being a record of the terrible adventures of the brothers Davies, faithfully set forth by Peter Llewelyn Davies."
J.M. Barrie: Kipling would swallow his own ear for a title like that!
Peter Llewelyn Davies: I still have no idea what to write.
J.M. Barrie: Write about anything. Write about your family, write about the talking whale!
Peter Llewelyn Davies: What whale?
J.M. Barrie: The one that's trapped in your imagination and desperate to get out.
(text via: IMDB)
2) Little Women:
 |
| via |
Friedrich Bhaer: Jo, there is more to you than this. If you have the courage to write it.
(text via: IMDB)
3) Midnight in Paris:
 |
| via |
Luis Buñuel: I see a film!
Gil: I see insurmountable problem!
Salvador Dalí: I see rhinoceros!
(text via: IMDB)
4) Stranger Than Fiction:
 |
| via |
Harold Crick: Like what?
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Anything. King of the lanes at the local bowling alley.
Harold Crick: King of the lanes?
Dr. Jules Hilbert: King of the lanes, king of the trolls,
Harold Crick: King of the Trolls?
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Yes, uh uh uh a clandestine land found underneath your floor boards.
Harold Crick: No.
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Huh?
Harold Crick: No. That's ridiculous.
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Agreed. Let's start with ridiculous and move backwards. Now, was any part of you at one time part of something else?
Harold Crick: Like do I have someone else's arms?
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Well is it possible at one time that you were made of stone, wood, lye, varied corpse parts? Or, earth made holy by rabbinical elders?
Harold Crick: No. Look, look. I'm sorry, but what do these questions have to do with anything?
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Nothing. The only way to find out what story you're in is to determine what stories you're not in. Odd as it may seem, I've just ruled out half of Greek literature, seven fairy tales, ten Chinese fables, and determined conclusively that you are not King Hamlet, Scout Finch, Miss Marple, Frankenstein's Monster, or a golem. Hmm? Aren't you relieved to know you're not a golem?
Harold Crick: Yes. I am relieved to know that I am not a golem.
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Good. Do you have magical powers?
(text via: IMDB)
5) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly:
 |
| via |
(text via: IMDB)
6) Sideways:
 |
| via |
Miles Raymond: [laughs softly]
Maya: I mean, it's like a thing with you.
Miles Raymond: [continues laughing softly]
Miles Raymond: Uh, I don't know, I don't know. Um, it's a hard grape to grow, as you know. Right? It's uh, it's thin-skinned, temperamental, ripens early. It's, you know, it's not a survivor like Cabernet, which can just grow anywhere and uh, thrive even when it's neglected. No, Pinot needs constant care and attention. You know? And in fact it can only grow in these really specific, little, tucked away corners of the world. And, and only the most patient and nurturing of growers can do it, really. Only somebody who really takes the time to understand Pinot's potential can then coax it into its fullest expression. Then, I mean, oh its flavors, they're just the most haunting and brilliant and thrilling and subtle and... ancient on the planet.
(text via: IMDB)
7) Moulin Rouge:
 |
| via |
(text via: IMDB)
8) Almost Famous:
 |
| via |
William Miller: I've been doing some stuff for a local underground paper, too.
Lester Bangs: What, are you like the star of your school?
William Miller: They hate me.
Lester Bangs: You'll meet them all again on their long journey to the middle.
(text via: IMDB)
Okay, they're all tragi-mances. Romadramas? There is a strong romantic relationship. Bonus points if you know (without cheating) which of those 8 movies share a common director. So some less glamorous, but still excellent (and probably more accurate):
- Adaptation
- Barton Fink
- Capote
- 8 1/2
Favorite fictional writer from the silver screen? Must you ask: Macaulay Connor. I have yet to see (or read) Wonder Boys and most of the Woody Allen canon, so I know there are a million other movies about writers but I can only speak from experience.
P.S. Have you joined NaNoWriMo yet?
Posts
