The Shadow of the Wind
discussion
If they were to make a film, who should play...
date
newest »
newest »
Well, this ought to bring out a storm... but here goes: The ending of Zafron's book was a HUGE disappointment for me- very contrived and melodramatic. I thought it positively ruined the rest of the novel. And I thought as I read the book, "Jeez, this is just like a Hollywood movie!" It's interesting to read the Zafron is opposed to making a film of his book- the whole thing read like a screenplay to me. An interesting companion piece to read with Shadow of the Wind is Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier- a far more intriguing and complex treatment of similar material.
Interesting that you say that Scott. My Mrs did not like Night Train to Lisbon in the slightest but loves Shadow of the Wind.Did you read Night Train to Lisbon before Shadow of the Wind?
Rula wrote: "daniel sempere - rupert grintfermin romero de torres - bruce willis
beatriz aguilar - emma watson
clara barcelo - maggie smith
julian carax - hugh grant
francisco javier fumero - robbie coltrane
n..."
I'm thinking more of a Spanish Jeffery Rush for Fermin.
Scott wrote: "Well, this ought to bring out a storm... but here goes: The ending of Zafron's book was a HUGE disappointment for me- very contrived and melodramatic. I thought it positively ruined the rest of t..."I thought the ending was contrived too, but I loved Fermin and his lyrical, emotional writing -- so that saved the book for me.
Eliseo wrote: "I'd probably enjoy it more if it were a foreign film and did not include American actors. I just can't see those actors being any of the characters. It wouldn't feel right.The novel was originally..."
I completely agree.
Rula wrote: "daniel sempere - rupert grintfermin romero de torres - bruce willis
beatriz aguilar - emma watson
clara barcelo - maggie smith
julian carax - hugh grant
francisco javier fumero - robbie coltrane
n..."
I'm sorry, but this is the worst dreamcast I think I've ever seen.
firstly, if this should be made into a film it must be in Spanish!!!! (yes...i don't mind reading subtitles!)second, actors that are fluent in Spanish!... i just hate it when actors are performing the roles that they just aren't believable in, take for example, Anne Hathaway as Jane Austen in the movie Becoming Jane, her British Accent just made it unbearable to watch!!!!
Rachel wrote: "Daniel Sempere - Mark RuffaloFermin Romero de Torez - I was thinking Johnny Depp, but Antonio Banderes sounds good too. He should definitely be in there somewhere."
i agree! johnny depp would be an interesting fermin. adrian brody comes to mind too for that role :-)
javier bardem will be a good actor for julian carax. benicio del toro or john malkovich for fumero.
salma hayek for nuria, mina kunis for beatriz and amanda seyfried for clara
I am clearly seeing Fermin differently than everyone else. The only actor I picture for him is Roberto benigni
I would prefer it to have Spanish actors, etc, but for some reason I always saw Julian as looking like Benedict Cumberbatch...
Licha wrote: "Mike wrote: "Sorry to burst your dreams but on an interview for Pagina 2 a program on Radio & Televison Espanola, Carlos Ruiz Zafon said he will never sell the rights to make a movie :("Thanks fo..."
No movie could do the book justice, zafon knows best!
Eliseo wrote: "I'd probably enjoy it more if it were a foreign film and did not include American actors. I just can't see those actors being any of the characters. It wouldn't feel right.The novel was originally..."
I agree completely. I think they should be fresh new actors that much of the audience would not recognize, it would add greatly to the story and not distract.
Ben Barnes should play Julian
Eliseo wrote: "I'd probably enjoy it more if it were a foreign film and did not include American actors. I just can't see those actors being any of the characters. It wouldn't feel right.The novel was originally..."
i agree with you
Alex wrote: "Fermin - John malkovich"Definitely!
Lacey wrote: "Alex wrote: "Fermin - John malkovich"Definitely!"
He would be a great match. unfortunately he is too old for the character as described in the books!
True. But I can't think of anyone eccentric and good enough besides John malkovich. I'd probably dislike any movie made anyway because I generally feel movies just don't do justice to the book.
Daniel Sempere - Gael Garcia BernalDaniel Sempere Senior - Alfred Molina
Fermin - Adrian Brody (or Benicio del Toro, or Ben Kingsley)
Fumero - Javier Bardem
Bea Aguilar - Nathalie Portman
Clara Barcelo - Scarlett Johansson (or Mila Kunis)
Penelope Aldaya - Penelope Cruz
Nuria Monfort - Eva Mendez (or Selma Hayek)
Gustavo Barcelo - Antonio Banderas
Julian Carax - Leonardo di Caprio
"If they were to make a film, "... I would like it to be Spanish and with Spanish actors.
Americans will make it "Vanilla Sky" instead of "Abre los ojos".
Rehina wrote: "Daniel- Elijah WoodsJulian- Leonardo DiCaprio
Miquel- Mark Ruffalo
Fermin- Russell Brand
:)"
Oh! I just cast Ruffalo as Miguel too. :)
I agree, Leo works well as Julian. He has that brooding potential.
My cast here:
http://teranga-and-sun.blogspot.com.a...
I can't imagine non-Spanish speaking actors in any of these roles. Hollywood would just spoil the project. It would have to be a Spanish language film but I'm not familiar enough of international actors to make suggestions.
As Margaret said, a 2-hour film wouldn't do this 1 book justice. It would have to be a mini-series. That said, this is all fantasy land because the author has said that he is not going to sell the movie rights because "there are some books that should remain books only" or something like that. He could change his mind though. I curious as I would be, I have to agree with him.
I'm all for the mini-series. On the other hand, look what Jackson did with the Trilogy. It all depends on the budget and the director. I think Scorsese could pull it off. The most crucial role in the film would have to be Fermin. Casting him would require a genius. In my view he's the most delightful character ever conceived. Benicio Del Torro?Okay, so I don't get hired as casting director :)
Could an American production company do it justice? Without a doubt.
Some books should just be books. No film could do it justice and I'd be upset if I heard they were going to try.
John wrote: "Some books should just be books. No film could do it justice and I'd be upset if I heard they were going to try."Agreed. The book is complex in the best way possible, and whenever they try to cram a novel into a 2-hour movie, it ends up not nearly doing the book justice and leaving out a lot of important details. Like, when I watched The Thirteenth Tale, as an experiment, I realized that people who didn't read the book would probably like the movie and became sad that they wouldn't experience the narrative of the book as it should be.
For Fermin I always picture Kevin J. O'Connor (pitiful Beni from The Mummy) for some reason. The rest don't really remind me of any actors I can think of. I agree with John though because I tend not to like most movies made out of books.
I want to cast a younger Tom Waits as Fermin.
If they are going to make a movie, they ought to make it good .. No! very good . . The Cemetery of Forgotten Books is to precious to be depicted in some shabby mediocre movie!
Personally I'd like the rights to stay in Zafon's hands. The Book Thief has been ruined by adaptation, I want this to stay sacred. But, can you imagine it as a Wes Anderson film...Daniel Sempere - David Henrie
Fermin Romero de Torres - Adrian Brody
Beatriz - Abigail Breslin
Clara Barcelo - Tilda Swinton
Julian Carax - Jude Law
Fumero - Ralph Fiennes
I think Joaquin Phoenix would make a good Fermin
I couldn't suggest actors, but as a Spanish story by a Spanish author, it has to be a Spanish film. Sorry, but an American production would ruin the atmospherics for me. The film of this book would have a more low-key feel and a gentler pace, giving more time for thought. it couldn't be sensational or simply lean towards entertainment.
Mena wrote: "I couldn't suggest actors, but as a Spanish story by a Spanish author, it has to be a Spanish film. Sorry, but an American production would ruin the atmospherics for me. The film of this book would..."I was just going to say this ^^^
Scarlet Johansson was always Clara for me, too!Miles Teller as Daniel
Andy Garcia as Mr. Sempere
Bobby Cannavale as Fermin
Michael Fassbender as Julian Carax
James McAvoy as Miquel
Adele Exarchopoulos as Beatriz
Stanley Tucci as Barcelo
Kate Winslet as Nuria
Just for fun - Daniel Sempere - difficult to pick a current under 25 actor at the moment. I'm visualising a really young Josh Hartnett. Troye Sivan is close but he looks too young. Ewan Archer?
Rade Serbedzija as Fermín Romero de Torres
Vika Levina as Beatriz Aguilar
Eva Green as Clara Barceló
Benicio De Toro as Julián Carax
Javier Bardem as Francisco Javier Fumero
Sophie Marceau as Nuria Monfort
Mike wrote: "Sorry to burst your dreams but on an interview for Pagina 2 a program on Radio & Televison Espanola, Carlos Ruiz Zafon said he will never sell the rights to make a movie :("Interesting, and respectable, but... Did he say why?
Rula wrote: "daniel sempere - rupert grintfermin romero de torres - bruce willis
beatriz aguilar - emma watson
clara barcelo - maggie smith
julian carax - hugh grant
francisco javier fumero - robbie coltrane
n..."
Why in the world would Clara Barcelo be played by Maggie Smith? Is there another Maggie Smith I don't know about?
Eliseo wrote: "I'd probably enjoy it more if it were a foreign film and did not include American actors. I just can't see those actors being any of the characters. It wouldn't feel right.The novel was originally..."
I completely agree it is the same arguement I made for some talking about an adaptation of One Hundred Years of Solitude, it has so be actors from that country and who speak the language and those who can properly identify with the history and expirence of the story.
It couldn't be made by an American company with any American actors. And the script would have to be in it's original language. With subtitles, naturally. Otherwise the heart and soul of this story would be lost. If an American company did make this, then it should definitely star Richard Gere, Maddona and Julia what's her face; with the big teeth.
If I may ask, why is everybody forgetting Adrian Brody as Fermin? Lanky build, nose you could land an airplane on and a deep sense of sorrow and fear in his expressions (Go watch the pianist!!) .
all discussions on this book
|
post a new topic
Fermin Romero de Torez - I was thinking Johnny Depp, but Antonio Banderes sounds good too. He should definitely be in there somewhere.