"Anna Karenina" but with Less Farming
Movie adaptations that accurately capture the essence of their original source material.
There is truly nothing more satisfying than a successful book-to-tv/movie adaptation. While “the book is always better than the movie” and of course pieces of the original are omitted or altered, I have decided to focus on adaptations that are able to explicitly capture “the essence” of their original source material. These adaptations I would dare to even say are favorites of mine.
While some of these might seem obvious considering their mass appeal, I must point out that many popular movie/tv adaptations, while entertaining, still do not capture the same feeling of their original novels.
Some failed adaptations (in my personal opinion) include the 2009 “Dorian Gray”, Ben Barnes adapt that does not allot enough attention to the queerness of the original novel. While it might not even be worth mentioning, Dakota Johnson’s questionable “Persuasion” adaptation must be included on this list of fails due to the many successful Jane Austen adapts out there, some of which I mention here. Then of course there’s movies like “After” and “The Idea of You” that hail from Harry Styles, or other, fanfiction and are accurately cringey just like their source, and I love ironically with all my heart. Lastly, you have the adaptations like Timmy Chalamet’s “Dune”, the “Outlander” and “Game of Thrones” serieses, in which I love the adaptations but will most likely never crack open the spines of the originals. Don’t ask me why–I just won’t
You may disagree with this list, but as your resident girl-with-a-Bachelor’s Degree in TV/Film and self-proclaimed book-blogger, who isn’t actually a good writer just loves to read, I believe I have some credibility.
“Anna Karenina”, 2012:
The 2012 film directed by one of my all-time favorites, Joe Wright, and adapted by Tom Stoppard from Leo Tolstoy's famous novel, Anna Karenina tells the story of St. Petersburg and Moscow society, focusing on Anna and her infidelity with Count Vronsky.
Joe Wright’s direction in this film is imaginative, transformative and thankfully omits much of Tolstoy’s substantial chapters on Russian agriculture. The film captures scenes from the book in a moving play with one-of-a-kind scene transitions, beautiful costume/set design, and a heart-wrenching score by Dario Marianelli. This movie is of course more dramaticized than the novel and focuses more heavily on Anna and Count Vronsky than many of the other relationships from the original, but it accurately captures the essence of Anna’s fall from grace and downward spiral as she questions Vronsky’s love for her.
I would argue the only thing that lowers this film in my eyes, is casting Jude Law as the husband Anna leaves. I mean, who leaves Jude Law? Mr Napkin Head? Never–Anna you are just inherently wrong for that one.
If this wasn’t recommendation enough to go watch this film, I can tell you that there is a dance scene, in full Joe Wright fashion, that rivals his in Pride and Prejudice, 2005.
“Anne with an E”, 2017-2019:
If you know the first thing about me, it is that this is my favorite show of all time. “Anne with an E”, adapted from the 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, premiered on the CBC in 2017 and was then deemed a “Netflix original”, garnering more international success. The show boasts an incredible cast and beautiful writing/direction by Moira Walley-Beckett.
“Anne with an E” follows a young orphan, Anne (with an E) who is mistakenly placed with the prickly yet loving brother and sister, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. While the television series takes great leaps with transforming the storyline, especially in the second two seasons, introducing themes of women’s and Native Americans rights/narratives, the storyline remains true to the characters’ identities. Anne is ever wild but caring, Gilbert, troubled but courageous, and the siblings, grumpy but not without development. Furthermore, Walley-Beckett’s transformations only add to what is so good about this show–its themes about growth, love, and being seen.
The CBC show took a classic children’s book and turned it into something fresh and thought-provoking. My friend came over every week to stream the show from my VPN set to Canada so we wouldn’t have to wait until it went on Netflix–we were obsessed. This show holds a very special place in my heart, and I hope this is an adequate enough recommendation for you to fall in love with it too.
“Emma”, 2020:
Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, you are so accurately depicted in the 2020 film “Emma” directed by Autumn De Wilde and starring Anya Taylor-Joy (no, not the adaptation with the goop woman). Emma, published by Jane Austen in 1815 is funny, awkward, and might just be her best work in my opinion. It follows Emma, naturally, as she embarks on romantically setting up people in her community only to find herself in love with the person who was right next to her all along.
The writing is perfect, the sets and costumes are perfect and from Anya, to Mia Goth, to Josh O’Connor, to Johnny Flynn, to Bill Nighy, so is the casting. Of this list so far, this 2020 film is the most faithful to its source and to its own benefit. Yes, “Pride and Prejudice” 2005 is perfection and might get a spot on a “Part 2” list, I would still argue that this adaptation is grossly underrated and underappreciated. I do not have much more to say than this: if you haven’t seen this movie, watch it. If you have, watch it again.
“Sharp Objects”, 2018:
I am changing up the tone a bit with this one, as it is clear by the rest of this list, I read too many classics and watch too many period dramas. Sharp Objects is a 2006 novel by Gillian Flynn, also author of Gone Girl (this is another great book-to-movie adaptation), adapted into the 2018 HBO miniseries by the same name, created by Marti-Noxon. Starring the lovely, talented, beautiful Amy Adams, this miniseries is well-cast (because who is better at playing a strange mother than Patricia Clarkson?) and as haunting as the original novel. The miniseries is very faithful to Flynn's work, changing small details like the FMC’s home city or names, but maintaining the plotline and character motivations, aka the important stuff.
While I found the book’s plot twist to be predictable, as is the shows’, I reaffirm that that was the reveal I wanted, so I have accepted and enjoyed it all the same. The show is dark and twisted, the novel even moreso, and this is a recommendation to approach both if you love female-focused thrillers.
“Bridget Jones’s Diary”, 2001:
Within this list I wanted to include some variation, and the adaptation of the 1996 novel Bridget Jones’s Diary to the 2001 movie, directed by Sharon Maguire, is the movie on this list that I believe might actually be better than the book. Like Candace Bushnell’s Sex and the City, this screenplay by Richard Curtis, Andrew Davies and Helen Fielding takes an entertaining rom-com and turns it into such a timeless movie. This movie came out a year before I was born, and yet it is my favorite “chick flick” to date. In my brain, Renee Zellweger IS Bridget Jones. She embodies the quirky and eccentric character so well, I will never picture Bridget as anyone else.
Like the rest of the films on this list, this movie is perfectly-cast, has amazing music and great on-screen chemistry. Unlike many recent romantic comedies, this movie accurately translates cheeky British humor onto the screen and stands the test of time, with Zellweger, at least in my eyes, remaining a British cultural icon. There is nothing quite like this film. It makes every woman feel seen and beautiful and it is the most fun ninety-seven minutes you are going to have on the couch with a pint of ice-cream. So sit down, and close the windows because there is a forecast of raining men outside.
I have so many other great adaptation recommendations, so subscribe if you like this series because there is most definitely going to be a part two! And yes, they will probably also be women-centered, period dramas, or romances because that is simply what I enjoy.
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