From Shelf to Screen

Hollywood loves a best seller but it's a rare occasion the novel turned film are as good as the original printed word (The Great Gatsby and Bonfire of the Vanities being a perfect example and The Help is debatable). While The Godfather and Out of Africa were an exception to the rule (both book and film in my opinion were excellent), here's hoping the fall crop of movies won't disappoint:

The Wolf of Wall Street
Jordan Belfort

The book's subtitle says it all "Stock Market Multimillionaire at 26, Federal Convict at 36"and clearly a tale of the times. Martin Scorsese's adaptation stars Leo DiCaprio as the true story of a Wall Street stockbroker living the high life until securities fraud steps in. Premiering November 15th, the film also stars Matthew McConaughey, Jean Dujardin, Jonah Hill and Kyle Chandler as an FBI agent.

DiCaprio as a high flying trader in the 90s

Gone Girl
Gillian Flynn

This book literally kept me up until 3 a.m. for two nights in a row as it's a very compelling thriller. Author Gillian Flynn's tale of married out of work writers who leave Manhattan for Missouri is filled with all sorts of psychological plot twists and will make a great movie starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike (Bond girl Miranda Frost) as Nick and Amy (and possibly Neil Patrick Harris as her ex). Can't wait.

Rosamund Pike

Therese Raquin
Emile Zola


The Emile Zola classic weaves the tale of a young woman forced into a miserable marriage to her first cousin by her aunt. She finds happiness through an affair with her husband's childhood friend.
The film version stars Elizabeth Olsen (sister of the Olsen twins), Jessica Lange and Tom Felton and debuts September 27th.

Felton and Olsen on set

Great Expectations
Charles Dickens

The beloved Dickens classic is adapted yet once again for film - this time starring Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter and Robbie Coltrane. Carter is tailor made for the over the top role of Miss Havisham. Look for Pip and company to hit theaters October 11th.

Miss Havisham 

Fiennes as Magwitch

Monuments Men
Robert M. Edsel

This has Oscar potential written all over it - George Clooney stars and directs the story of a crew of art historians and museum curators who recover works of art before Hitler destroys them. Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin and John Goodman star in the December 18th release.

Photo Credits: 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, LD Entertainment, BBC Films