By now, all serious bibliophiles have identified the 11 Oscar-nominated movies based on books. But which ones have something to offer the Wander-Reader?
As a dedicated follower of the literati and confirmed wanderluster, I will stay up late and watch the Oscars with my wandering eye on the movies based on books. Here’s how YOU can join the party!
1. Follow me on Twitter (@WanderLit) and use #OscarLitToGo to tweet while you watch the Oscars.
2 Visit this post for updates in real time.
3. Comment below with your Oscar picks and your reviews of the books the movies come from.
Movie: Anna Karenina
Nominations: Best Cinematography, Costume Design, Best Music (Original Score)
Won: Costume Design
Book: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstory
Wander-Rating: Tolstory’s Russia is rich and powerful to experience through his books. The movie, while also lush and expressive, is mostly shot in a theatre outside London. The very few shots of the Russian landscape are reserved for the most sincere characters and represent a context of authenticity. There is not enough of that in Anna Karenina to let the viewer see very much of Russia. So if you dream of Russia’s windblown steeps, stick with the book.
Movie: Argo
Nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay), Best Music (Original Score)
Won: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, tied for sound mixing
Book: Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History by Antonio Mendez and Matt Baglio
Wander-Rating: While politically fascinating, the book is not written as a cultural exploration. There are also some scenes shot in Istanbul, but those scenes are intended to look like Tehran so it’s probably not the best way to get a sense of Iran or Istanbul. The movie does have scenes shot in Washington D.C. at the U.S. State Department and Memorial Bridge. So if you love the District of Columbia, and an audience interested in political thrillers very well may be, there is something for you here.
Movie: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Nominations: Best Makeup
Won: none
Book: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (well… the first few chapters, anyway)
Wander-Rating: Now we’re going somewhere! New Zealand *is*Middle Earth. Even the New Zealand passport stamp says so. While The Hobbit, the book, is classic fantasy The Hobbit, the movie, is a beautiful cinematic trek across New Zealand. This a movie for wanderlust’s. I mean, which of us wouldn’t jump at the chance of “An Unexpected Journey”
Movie: Life of Pi
Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay), Best Cinematography, Best Music (Original Score), Best Music (Original Song)
Won: Best Director, Cinematography, Best Original Score
Based on the Book: Life of Pi by Yan Martel
Wander-Rating: While it’s one of my favorite books, it’s all spent on a boat in the middle of an ocean. And the movie was shot in a giant wave pool. So maybe not the best book or movie choice for a sense of place. On the other hand, what a magnificent tale of adventure. You can’t get any more exotic than a stranded at sea in an open boat with a menagerie. So if you like stories about “there” this may not be for you. If you like stories of “getting there” then you found one in Life of Pi.
Movie: Lincoln
Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay), Best Cinematography, Costume Design, Best Music (Original Score)
Won: Best Actor, Production Design
Book: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kerns Goodwin
Wander-Rating: History buffs will love how the book explores the complex political realities leading up to the Civil War. They will also enjoy how the movie Lincoln filmed at many historical locations in Virginia and Illinois. Here’s a fun game for the hard-core history enthusiast: What state capital was used for the nation’s capital in the film? (answer below)
Movie: Mirror Mirror
Nominations: Costume Design
Won: none
Book: Grimm’s Fairy Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Wander-Rating: Look, I love fairy tales and the millions of ways they are re-imagined. But this was shot entirely on a sound stage in Quebec. Don’t expect Mirror Mirror to take you outside of your imagination. When it comes to the brothers Grimm, do you need to leave it?
Movie: Les Misérables
Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Costume Design, Best Makeup, Best Music (Original Song)
Won: Best Supporting Actress, Best Makeup, Sound mixing
Book: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
Wander-Rating: Victor Hugo is a wonderful writer when it comes to describing Paris and the landscape of the human heart. The movie is not as devoted to the city of light. Francophiles are out of luck. Les Miserables is filmed in locations all over the United Kingdom.
Movie: The Sessions
Nominations: Best Supporting Actress
Won: none
Book: How I Became a Human Being by Mark O’Brien
Wander-Rating: The Sessions is only a portion of How I Became a Human Being and the locations are secondary to the powerful journey Mark O’Brien takes. The movie is set in Berkley. So alumnae and students might enjoy the familiar surroundings of the actors. But the rest of us might not notice where we are.
Movie: The Silver Linings Playbook
Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Won: Best Actress
Book: The Silver Linings Playbook by Mathew Quick
Wander-Rating: What a treat for Philly-lovers! Both the book and movie are full of Pennsylvania icons; Ridley Park, Philadelphia, and small towns. You get to know the people, the local color, and the language. This is an excellent choice for the wander-reader.
Movie: Skyfall
Nominations: Best Cinematography, Best Music (Original Score), Best Music (Original Song)
Won: Best Original Song
Book: Any of the James Bond series by Ian Fleming
Wander-Rating: Reading Ian Fleming or watching a James Bond movie, 007 is all about the location. Both books and movies give you glimpses and tastes of exotic places and luxurious settings. You never know where in the world James Bond will take you. One of my favorite Skyfall locations is the London Tube system which is celebrating it’s 100th anniversary. An unused tube station and section of track got the star treatment in a very exciting action sequence!
Movie: Snow White and the Huntsman
Nominations: Costume Design
Won: none
Book: Grimm’s Fairy Tales By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Wander-Rating: This may be the second re-telling of Snow White on the Oscars’ short list but it’s the pick for wanderlusters. Shot on several sites in England, Scotland, and Wales it gives the viewer a look at the land of medieval kingdoms, fairy tales, and castles.
(Richmond, Virginia represented Washington D.C. in the film Lincoln.)