Favorite Books into Movies

She's Come Undone is a classic tale of a girl becoming a woman. The main character, Dolores Price, captures your heart and attention from page one. Dolores Price is filled with angst, yet joyful. She is smart, yet naïve. An angry, abusive father and a weak, ineffective mother form the base of Dolores's existence.

From grade school to womanhood during the 50s and 60s, Dolores Price's story is compelling. Even though she experienced many cruelties, including abusive boyfriends, Dolores Price prevails. Readers are sad when this book ends.

Casting for She's Come Undone

Interestingly, the writer discovered a rumor She's Come Undone is being made into a movie starring Reese Witherspoon as Dolores Price. Witherspoon will be great but this writer thinks Scarlett Johansson would be a perfect Dolores in the movie.

Less than ideal men in Dolores Price's life would be well-played in the movie by Justin Timberlake and Mark Wahlberg. Sometimes abusive, often insensitive, these roles are gritty. Timberlake could showcase his drama skills. Wahlberg, on the other hand, has experience in such movie roles.

Proposed Director for She's Come Undone

Robert Zemeckis is an excellent choice due to his direction of the movie, Forrest Gump among others. A winding epic story, Gump became an iconic character in movie goers' minds. Zemeckis would definitely do justice to the movie, She's Come Undone. And this story so richly deserves it.

Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich

Another book recommended to be made into a movie is Janet Evanovich's book, Three to Get Deadly. The main character, Stephanie Plum is, well, plucky. Plum works for her bail bondsman cousin, Vinnie, who doesn't pay much. Trying to locate and take wayward criminals to jail are Stephanie Plum's jobs.

Stephanie Plum doesn't have great luck with men, although she's tempted by the mysterious investigator in black, Ranger. She's also attracted to straight-laced Morelli, a policeman.

Plum's side-kick, Lula, is a burnt-out prostitute-turned file clerk. Being just, ahem, a little overweight, Lula is a bleached blonde who tends toward spandex miniskirts and tops. Lula loves to help Plum catch riff-raff who are jumping bail, although her style of "assistance" is a little unconventional. She sits on criminals. Lula is hilarious and a movie portrayal of her would be fun to watch.

Casting for Three to Get Deadly

After much deliberation, Sandra Bullock should play Stephanie Plum in the movie, Three to Get Deadly. Bullock could definitely pull off Plum's character as a sassy, not quite confident gal.

And who better to play Lula's part than Mo'Nique? Need one say more?

Nicholas Cage has just the "tall, dark, cool, and quiet" going for him that the "movie" Ranger needs.

Down-to-earth Morelli would be best-played by Sam Neil.

Proposed Director for Three to Get Deadly

John McTiernan is a great choice for movie director of Three to Get Deadly. After all, he directed two of the Die Hard films. A suspenseful edge with an occasional dose of comedy is the winning combination for this movie.

A Season in Purgatory by Dominick Dunne

Although this story was filmed as a mini-series, A Season in Purgatory would make a great theater movie. Mystery, murder, an ostentatiously rich Catholic family-it's all there. The main character, Harrison Burns, hails from a more modest existence. Only Aunt Gert is left after a plane crash claimed his parents early in his life.

The wealthy Catholic Bradley family is led by a power-hungry, not quite law-abiding Gerald Bradley. One of his sons, Constant, seems to be following in daddy's footsteps. Gerald's wife and Constant's mother, Grace, is clueless about pretty much everything. Her days are spent contacting her "friends"--Catholic bishops and cardinals to come for tea/dinner.

Casting for A Season in Purgatory

Harrison Burns must be played by Matt Damon in the movie. Damon could easily portray this somewhat shy, young man intoxicated by the wealth and material trappings of the Bradleys. So much so that he is willing to sell his soul.

Harrison Burns' best friend, Constant Bradley--a handsome, overindulged egomaniac-- would be well-portrayed by Ben Affleck. With fantastic looks and a dark side, Constant shows just how low someone with wealth and power can go.

Gerald Bradley, the patriarch of the Bradley family must be played by Mel Gibson in the movie. This character has grit, a criminal edge, and a fierce love for his family. Even more fierce loves of money and the power it brings drive Gerald and his beloved, incredibly flawed son, Constant. With a penchant for extramarital affairs, "Mr. Bradley" somehow manages to still respect his wife, Grace.

Grace Bradley is oblivious to the faults of her husband and children. Susan Sarandon could provide a dynamic movie portrayal of Grace.

Proposed Director For A Season in Purgatory

Ron Howard is the dream movie director for this book. The edgy drama he brought to the movies, Ransom and Backdraft, combined with the poignancy of A Beautiful Mind will produce a wonderful movie version of Season.

Sources

Dunne, Dominick. 1993. A Season in Purgatory. Bantam Books/Crown: New York.

Evanovich, Janet. 1997. Three to Get Deadly. Scribner: New York.

Lamb, Wally. 1992. She's Come Undone. Simon and Schuster: New York.

The Internet Movie Database website.