Has your favourite book bee adapted for the big screen this year? We have seen so many book adaptation movies released over the last twelve months and it really has been a very strong genre of film.
Brooklyn
Of course, some may not have quite lived up to our expectations or left us a little disappointed, but there are some that have been wonderful film versions of some great novels.
We take a look back over the last twelve months and pick out some of the best book adaptation movies of 2015.
- Brooklyn
Ever since Brooklyn premiered at the Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of the year, it has been one of the most talked about and acclaimed movies.
Brooklyn is based on the novel of the same name by Colm Tóibín, has been adapted for the big screen by Nick Hornby, and marks the return of John Crowley to the director's chair. This is the first feature for Crowley since Closed Circuit and sees him team up with Saoirse Ronan for their first film project together.
Ronan takes on the central role of Eilis, a young Irish immigrant in New York, who must choose between her new life and the life and people that she left behind.
Crowley really has delivered a gem of a movie that mix drama, humour and emotion, while having a big heart and packed with bucket loads of charm. He has captured the 1950s beautifully and wonderfully contrasts Ireland with the glitz and glamour of New York. There's something crisp, clean and incredibly classic about the look of the film - it really is a beautiful looking movie.
Ronan has also been winning rave reviews for her central performance; she has won the Best Actress Awards and the British Independent Film Awards and is tipped to be in the Oscar race when the nominations are announced later this year. She really does give a very powerful performance as a young woman who is just trying to find her place in the world.
Ronan is no stranger to the big screen and we have always known that she is an actress of immense talent, but her work in Brooklyn will send her star rocketing even higher and the next couple of years are going to be very exciting for her.
- Carol
Another movie that has been drowning in acclaim and Oscar buzz this year is Carol, which sees Oscar winner Cate Blanchett reunite with filmmaker Todd Haynes for the first time since I'm Not There.
Carol is based on the novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith and has been adapted for the big screen by Phyllis Nagy. It really is one of the best romance movies of the year and it is not hard to see why critics and audiences are falling hard and fast for this film.
Set in the 1950s, Carol follows the blossoming relationship between department-store clerk,
Therese and Carol, an older married woman.
There has been a whole host of movies that have been released this year that have been female driven and Carol is a fine example of that. Blanchett is just wonderful in the title role and she could get her hands on her second Best Actress Oscar for her performance. Rooney Mara is also terrific and I love the chemistry between the two actresses.
Carol is a touching, powerful, devastating, and intelligent love story that is very reminiscent of movies such as Brief Encounter; it really is a truly wonderful watch.
Carol has been met with acclaim by the critics and was named Best Film by the New York Film Critics Circle. The film, Blanchett, and Mara have been picking up nominations left, right, and centre and Carol looks set to be a major play as he heads into the awards season. Don't be surprised if it is a major frontrunner come the Oscars.
- Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl was another film that whipped up a storm when it played at the Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of the year and it was one of the unmissable September movies that did not disappoint.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is based on the book of the same name by Jesse Andrews and was adapted into a screenplay by the author himself. The movie saw Alfonso Gomez-Rejon back in the director's chair for only the second feature film of his career to date.
The movie follows high schooler Greg, who spends most of his time making parodies of classic movies with his co-worker Earl. However, his outlook forever altered after befriending a classmate who has just been diagnosed with cancer.
What I love about Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is that this is not your typical and average teen/high school movie. Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon has delivered a movie that has something to say about loss and, at times, that message is incredibly powerful and poignant.
It is this main theme of loss and that of unconventional friendship that really does set it apart from any other movie in this genre so far this year. However, this is not a movie that is all doom and gloom - far from it - Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a movie that is charming and funny and there's something about it that is just so full of life.
Thomas Mann, R.J. Cyler, and Olivia Cooke take on the central roles of Greg, Earl, and Rachel and they really do deliver a trio of excellent performances. they are touching, witty, and emotional turns that will send all three star rocketing - I really cannot wait to see what they all do next.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic and the Audience Award for U.S. Drama at Sundance is one of the best and most profound coming of age movies that I have seen this year.
- Far From The Madding Crowd
Carey Mulligan is a big favourite here at FemaleFirst and she has had a very busy and successful 2015. Back in May, the actress took on the role of literary heroine Bathsheba Everdene as a new adaptation of Far From The Madding Crowd hit the big screen.
The movie is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Thomas Hardy; the screenplay was penned by David Nicholls. The movie saw Thomas Vinterberg back in the director's chair as he teamed up with Mulligan for the first time.
There is a strength and a vulnerability to Bathsheba and Mulligan captures this two conflicting personality traits beautifully. She wants to be taken seriously after taking over her father's farm but loses her heart quickly to Sergeant Frank Troy - something that she comes to regret.
This may be a movie that is based on 1874 novel, but there is something fresh and modern about the way Mulligan has portrayed the central character - I just loved her performance and thought she was the perfect choice for this role.
Vinterberg has brought together a terrific supporting cast as Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen, Tom Sturridge, and Juno Temple all star. However, it is Schoenaerts who shines as Gabriel Oak and his chemistry with Mulligan is just wonderful.
The backdrop to the film is also stunning as Vinterberg has captured the beauty and the harshness of the world and environment that they are living in.
This is the fourth time that Far from The Madding Crowd has been adapted and Vinterberg's interpretation is one of the best.
- Beasts of No Nation
Beasts of No Nation is another movie that has whipped up a storm this year as it was the first time that Netflix has developed their own film project.
The movie is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Uzodinma Iweala and saw Cary Fukunaga return to the director's chair for his first feature film since the fantastic Jane Eyre back in 2011.
Beasts of No Nation follows Agu, a child soldier fighting a civil war in an unnamed African country. The movie introduced us to the acting talents of Abraham Attah - who took on the role of Agu - and his performance is a terrific and utterly heartbreaking one.
Beasts of No Nation is a powerful and unflinching movie that explores the war, children who fight wars, and the human cost that comes as a result. It really is a brutal watch, but it is a compelling one none the less.
Idris Elba is also on board. We are no used to seeing him take on a villainous role and he truly is terrifying as the commandant; who abuses the boys and sends them out to fight. Elba has picked up a Best Supporting Oscar nomination at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards for his performance. We could see him in the Oscar mix when the nominations are announced later this month.
Beasts of No Nation is one of the most hard-hitting movies of the year, but it is filmmaking at its most powerful. If Netflix is going to continue to churn out this type of quality movie, I can't wait to see what they do next.
Other great book adaptations include The Martian, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, Z For Zachariah, The Scorch Trials, and Still Alice.