Movie Tie-Ins Archives - Page 4 of 4

What is a Traditional family?…”A Home at the End of the World”, by Michael Cunningham

Pulitzer prize-winning, American author Michael Cunningham wrote “A Home at The End of the World”. The book is written with narrating by different characters for each chapter. The story is a very complicated one, with themes of living in a drug using, dysfunctional family where a central character, Bobby, loses everyone who is close to him. Their demise came through excess partying and drug use in the 1960s and 1970’s in suburban Cleveland, Ohio.

Bobby becomes friends with Jonathan, whose family took him in after Bobby’s family all died. They are physically attracted to each other, but through various reasons, they eventually part ways. In 1980s New York, they meet up again when they are in their 20s. By then, Jonathan has a roommate Clare who is eccentric to say the least. The three of them become an unusual family, causing them to question the definition of traditional family and love. A question made even more complicated by their love triangle.

Director, Michael Mayer adapted Cunningham’s novel and screenplay into a movie by the same name. The main three characters are played by: Bobby, Colin Farrell; Jonathan, Dallas Roberts; Clare, Robin Wright.

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Ideal World Turned Contrived Society…”The Giver”, by Lois Lowry

“The Giver” written in 1993 by Lois Lowry, covers the “ideal” world where well-matched couples marry, give birth, and raise exactly two offspring, one boy and one girl. As the offspring reach adolescence, drugs are given to stifle any sexual feelings, and by age 12 their elders have given each child an appropriate career path. The elderly live in group homes, and are “released” at the proper time with great celebration.
All “citizens” of this “perfect” world are very complacent until they are weighed down by the responsibilities of their assignments. They begin to be aware of and realize the hypocrisy that rules their world. What we as readers, think would be a perfect world in the beginning, quickly shows itself to be a contrived society.
“The Giver” is the first in the series of “The Giver Quartet” by the author. Other books in the series are…….The Giver 2 – Gathering Blue; The Giver 3 – Messenger; The Giver 4 – Son.

A motion picture is to be released August 15th, 2014. It will have a very impressive cast, including: Meryl Streep, Jeff Bridges, Katie Holmes, Alexander Skarsgård and Taylor Swift.

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Just In Time For Easter…”Heaven Is For Real”, by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent

“Heaven is for Real” is about the four year old son of a Nebraska minister, Colton, who requires emergency surgery, and describes being able to look down to see the doctors performing the surgery, and also could see his Dad praying in the hospital waiting room. There were many doubters who attributed the reason for the stories to various causes. But soon even the doubters were convinced and became believers. The central message of the inspirational book is to live each day with the hope of heaven and eternal life.
This incredible true story has been adapted to film. The movie will be in theaters this Easter weekend, April 16. It is a TriStar Pictures Production, under the direction of Randall Wallace. The inspirational characters are played by Greg Kinnear, Kelly Reilly, Connor Corum as Colton, Jacob Vargas, Nancy Sorel, and Lane Styles as Colton’s sister.

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Justice System Gone Wrong…”Devil’s Knot”, by Mara Leveritt

This non-fiction novel is based on the 1993 murders of three eight year old children and the three teenagers who stood trial for their murders. The children went missing from their homes on May 5th and on May 6th their bodies were found in the woods near their homes. The murders were savagely executed, giving the community the evidence they thought they needed to claim it to be Satanic ritual.
The story follows the process of finding those who were thought to have perpetrated the crime and all the mishandling of the evidence and trial by the detectives, lawyers, and what the author perceived to be a prosecution biased judge. All three were convicted with poor representation and nothing more than circumstantial evidence. Two received life sentences without parole, and one a death sentence. Eventually, they were released from prison. This novel uncovers the blatant abuses of the criminal justice system in a horrific case.

A movie is soon to be released adapted from the novel starring Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth (directed by Atom Egoyan)

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Fighting for the Factionless…”Allegiant”, by Veronica Roth.

This is the final novel in the Divergent trilogy by author Veronica Roth. Since Tris tested with equal aptitude for three of the five factions she is deemed “Divergent”. She is warned never to share information with anyone, and is considered simply not strong enough, and factionless….a category that could cost her her life.
Tris continues her journey in fighting for the factionless. She is put through much torture and many trials. In the end, she dies to be once again embraced by her mother. Eventually, Chicago is finally at peace with normalcy back in the city. The central characters still living accept all that they have been through, and realize people can still be healed.

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Insurgent (2nd novel in the Divergent trilogy), by Veronica Roth

Every choice has consequences. Tris Pryor continues to try to save those she loves while unrest surges all around her. Tris initiation day should have been celebrated, but instead ends in unspeakable horrors. She must totally embrace her Divergence even though it could cause her to lose everything.

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Divergent, by Veronica Roth…Dividing Society Into Personality Types

The novel, the first in the Divergent Trilogy takes place in a futuristic Chicago. The citizens are divided into five factions: Candor…..the honest; Abnegation…..the selfless; Dauntless…..the brave; Amity…..the peaceful; and Erudite…..the intelligent. All sixteen year olds must decide which faction best defines them. They will spend the rest of their lives as part of that faction. Central character, Beatrice, has a conflict in wanting to stay with her family and choosing a faction…..she cannot have both. She goes through a name change, having a boyfriend she is not sure she can trust, physical and mental trials, and she still has her secret. If discovered, it could possibly mean her death.
Comparisons have been made to other novels such as The Hunger Games. Divergent is similar but with the theme of dividing society into personality types. The final novels of the trilogy are “Insurgents” and “Allegient”.
The movie “Divergent” will be released in March 2014 with a top notch cast, including Kate Winslet.
Follow Tris (Beatrice)as she learns she has been labeled a Divergent and her life is at risk for it.

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Fast-paced adventure set “Inferno” by Dan Brown

Professor Robert Langdon (The DaVinci Code, Angels and Demons, The Lost Symbol) returns in this fast-paced adventure set in Italy. Upon waking up in a Florence hospital with a bullet wound in his head and no short term memory, Langdon pairs up with Dr. Sienna Brooks to escape when a gunman enters the hospital and shoots another doctor while aiming for Langdon. A search begins to determine the events of the previous days with only flashes of memories. In true Dan Brown fashion, Langdon and Brooks evade the Italian police while trying to decipher obscure clues.. As the story unfolds, Langdon discovers that a plague is about to be released on the world in an attempt to address the imminent threat of overpopulation. Travels include Florence, Venice and Istanbul and impart many art and cultural references, most notably to Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’. Dante’s seven circles of hell is described in detail and compared to the future of the world if the population continues to expand exponentially, as projected. Unveiling clues one at a time, and divulging bits of Langdon’s returning memories keeps the reader glued to the pages and anxious to find the answers. The conclusion of the chase will leave readers both surprised and thoughtful.

A release date of December 2015 is scheduled for the motion picture starring Tom Hanks playing the role of Robert Langdon. You can get your digital audiobook copy of “Inferno” today!!!

Music fans will love “The Mayor of MacDougal Street” by Dave Van Ronk with Elijah Wald

Everyone who lived through the era of folk singers and folk music
are familiar with names of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez……..but, the”King” of them all was folk singer, Dave Van Ronk. He took over Greenwich Village, and specifically Washington Square Park. Van Ronk was a merchant marine who developed his own following and became one of the first white, urban blues singers in his own unique style.
Bob Dylan came into the picture when Dave Van Ronk had already accomplished half of his career. It was said that Bob Dylan spent the first years sleeping on Van Ronk’s sofa. Dylan, in those early days, aspired to be as popular as Dave Van Ronk. Just think of all the talented folk singers who passed through Greenwich Village…….The Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul, and Mary. Van Ronk was there and befriended them all, and set the bar high for excellence.
Whether you are a 60’s music fan, or just curious about the musical life of Dave Van Ronk, get your copy of “The Mayor of MacDougal Street”, and be entertained!
A piece of interesting trivia…..”The House of the Rising Sun” was Dave Van Ronk’s original song, but without asking permission first, Bob Dylan recorded it. Van Ronk was accused of stealing it from Bob Dylan. Then, when The Animals recorded it, Bob Dylan was accused of stealing it from them!
Also interesting will be the movie, “Inside Llewellyn Davis“, starring Justin Timberlake and directed by the Coen brothers.

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The Book Thief, A Story of Survival And The Resilience of The Human Spirit, by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief, having many complicated layers, takes place in a fictional town, but could have been in any town located in Germany, on the path to Dachau (one of the most infamous interment camps). The story is narrated by the main, nine year old character, Liesel. She has already experienced death in the loss of her brother. She is sent to live with the Huberman family where she morphs from an illiterate, unable to read child, into a young girl who is in love with books and their words. Eventually, death takes over the narration of the story and speaks of Leisle’s love for and safety in words. She learns that those words can also cause hate and sadness.

The book follows Liesel through the complicated life of struggling just to survive through the atrocities of Nazi Germany. Before her death, she ended the story of her life by saying, “I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right”.

Director Brian Percival has given his best to create a movie, out now, based on the novel. The movie, accompanied by music by John Williams, affirms the story of survival and of the resilience of the human spirit.

You can get your digital audiobook copy of “The Book Thief” today!