October: 7 Books to Watch this Month #book2movies

October 1: Our Souls at Night

Since Our Souls at Night based on the book by Kent Haruf—a small tender book I really enjoyed—made its screen debut at the very end of September, I’m including it in October’s movies based on books to watch. A Netflix original, it’s easy for us to find and really quite sweet and lovely. The screen adaptation of Haruf’s book was written by rom com maestros Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, the writing team that gave us 500 Days of Summer, The Spectacular Now, The Fault in Our Stars and the upcoming Richard Linklater-directed Where’d You Go Bernadette. While most of their work has been directed towards young love, the rom-com genre their forte, the pair works in the deeper, more nuanced territory than the rom-com label implies. Need I say Robert Redford and Jane Fonda star? The duo have a long history together; Redford told THR ‘‘I wanted to do another film with her before I died.’’ I’m so glad they did. The movie is a tender, low key, authentic story of old love that hit me in the heart. Of course, watching this pair of actors age over the years, part of the film fabric of my own baby boomer life, added to the effect. I’m not sure how much the movie will appeal to younger audiences. 

In the familiar setting of Holt, Colorado, home to all of Kent Haruf's inimitable fiction, Addie Moore pays an unexpected visit to a neighbor, Louis Waters. Her husband died years ago, as did his wife, and in such a small town they naturally have known of each other for decades; in fact, Addie was quite fond of Louis's wife. His daughter lives hours away, her son even farther, and Addie and Louis have long been living alone in empty houses, the nights so terribly lonely, especially with no one to talk with. But maybe that could change? As Addie and Louis come to know each other better--their pleasures and their difficulties--a beautiful story of second chances unfolds, making Our Souls at Night the perfect final installment to this beloved writer's enduring contribution to American literature.

Here's the trailer. 

October 5: Blade Runner

Well. This has to be one of the most anticipated movies of the year and not just by this major Ryan Gosling fan. The buzz is the film is both amazing looking thanks to cinematography by legendary Roger Deakins but that Denis Villeneuve has pulled off a masterpiece. Fans of Arrival, Prisoners (like moi) Sicario, Enemies, etc  won’t be surprised. I’m hoping that Gosling himself gets kudos for his work as well. 

Blade Runner 2049 based on the world and characters created by Philip K. Dicks in his book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? also stars the original Blade Runner Harrison Ford, Jared Leto, Ana de Armas and Robin Wright.

The official synopsis: A young blade runner’s discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former blade runner Rick Deckard, who’s been missing for thirty years. Here’s the trailer... 

October 5: The Mountain Between Us

If you read my take on the book you know I liked Charles Martin’s book a lot. It’s the tale of two strangers whose small plane crashes in the mountains, killing the pilot, miles from help. As I’ve said it really is Ben’s emotionally gripping story, and our desire to see both these people make it out alive that keeps us turning the pages. 

There will doubtless be changes from the novel that put Kate Winslet’s character in a more equal footing—not being immobilized on a makeshift stretcher for a start. 

Here’s the trailer ...

October 20: The Snowman

Based on the novel by Joe Nesbø, this thriller from director Thomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In) features Detective Harry Hole and his new partner (Rebecca Ferguson) investigating the disappearance of a woman whose pink scarf is found wrapped around a snowman. 

Here's the trailer, which you may remember from my last post on the movie, could be a bit of a spoiler ...

October 20: Wonderstruck

We’ve been watching for the adaptation of Brian Selknick’s stunning book for awhile now. Read my post for more details but it’s basically the story of ‘a young boy in the Midwest is told simultaneously with a tale about a young girl in New York from fifty years ago as they both seek the same mysterious connection.’

Wonderstruck stars young Oakes Fegley and Millicent Simmonds with Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams playing important roles.

October 20: 1922

How much darkness lives within the mind that is Stephen King’s? 1922 based on the novella by King, comes to Netflix on October 20th. To be honest, Molly Parker (House of Cards) is the only face I recognize, which doesn’t mean the other actors aren’t well known and repected by others. Anyhoo... 1922 is the story of 

‘A simple yet proud rancher in the year 1922 conspires to murder his wife for financial gain, convincing his teenage son to participate.

Parker plays Arletta James, the murdered wife with Thomas Jane as her husband Wilfred James and Dylan Schmid as their son, Henry. 

Have you read the novella? Check out the trailer. With cornfields, an isolated location, rats crawling all over the bed, an ominous cross, old timey music and a bad guy with a country drawl, it’s pure Stephen King.

October 27: Thank You for Your Service

Miles Teller (Whiplash) Amy Schumer and Haley Bennet (Girl on the Train) star in the adaptation of David Finkel’s nonfiction follow up to The Good Soldiers. 

The story:A group of U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq struggles to integrate back into family and civilian life, while living with the memory of a war that threatens to destroy them long after they've left the battlefield.

The film looks incredibly moving and topical. Here’s the trailer ... watch with hankie handy. 

Which one—or more—of these will get you into the theater?