“The book is better than the movie!” Ahh, the clichéd line everyone hears when someone sees a movie based on a book. And while that statement has a lot of truth to it, oddly enough, many readers would love to have their favorite books turned into movies, including myself. Books can’t always capture all the idiosyncrasies of a novel, but it does expose folks to the book and often times, encourages people to read the book after they’ve seen the movie. That said, here are my choices for three books I’d love to see played out on the big screen.
Under and Alone: The True Story of the Undercover Agent Who Infiltrated America’s Most Violent Outlaw Motorcycle Gang by William McQueen
True crime buffs, fans of the Donnie Brasco movie and anyone who loves motorcycles would love this book – and movie, should it ever come into fruition. William McQueen is an undercover agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, working on a case involving the Mongols-an outlaw biker gang. He goes undercover as a disheveled-looking biker named Billy St. John, looking to join the gang. Billy/William becomes a trusted gang member and rises through the ranks, witnessing plenty of criminal activity and living a double life. If this book was turned into a movie, Russell Crowe would make a great William McQueen. Mike Newell, director of 1997’s Donnie Brasco, would be the perfect director for this film. The book’s tension is so thick and gripping, this would be an edge-of-your-seat blockbuster film that would have everyone talking.
Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Single by Heather Mcelhatton
In this funny chic lit book, Jennifer Johnson is a copywriter working for a popular Minnesota department store who’s helping her little sister prepare for her upcoming wedding, decorating her apartment in Hello Kitty merchandise and going on a plethora of Internet dates. She meets Brad Keller, son of the Keller’s department store and develops a crush. They begin dating and of course, problems arise. While it might sound like a typical chic lit story, it’s witty and sharp and definitely could be a hit movie with a bunch of quotable one-liners. Jennifer Johnson could be played by Katherine Heigl and Brad could be played by How I Met Your Mother’s Josh Randor (Ted).
Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler
Maybe it’s an unconventional choice for a book to be made into a movie, but this book, which is based on events from Chelsea Handler’s life, is funny, witty and just outrageous enough to be a comedy classic movie. Of course, Ms. Handler would play herself. The book features dozens of mini stories, all divided up by chapter, making this a fast-paced movie and easily re-watchable on DVD – just skip ahead to the chapter you want to see played out on TV. Also, being that this is one of Chelsea’s three books, there could be a movie based on My Horizontal Life and Chelsea Bang Bang-movie production companies love sequels!
