The holidays are behind us and now it's time to look forward to "awards season." It starts out with the Golden Globes this coming Sunday, January 11, followed by the SAG awards on January 25, and the grand finale is the Academy Awards on February 22.
I always try to see as many of the nominated films as possible, so I have a good idea of who the front-runners will be. One year the only nominated movie I hadn't seen was No Country for Old Men so I dragged my 16-year-old daughter to see it with me at 10 o'clock on a Saturday morning—she still hasn't recovered. Take my word for it, a villain with a bowl haircut and portable oxygen tank can scare the life out of you.
But getting to see all the movies can be difficult for many reasons; the movie times don't suit your schedule, it's darned expensive and unless you enjoy seeing movies by yourself it can be problematic finding a companion who shares your addiction.
This year many of the movies nominated for Golden Globes are based on books that just happen to be available for FREE at your local Chicago Public Library. I love to read the book before I see the movie to see how good or bad the adaptation is. The book is almost always better. So get ahead of the curve and start checking out the books that have been adapted to film this awards season. Listed below are a few options:
Foxcatcher by Mark Schultz is the true story of the murder of the author's brother, Olympic wrestling gold medal winner Dave Schultz, by du Pont family heir John du Pont.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed recounts the author's personal journey of discovery and enlightenment as she hikes the Pacific Crest Trail after the death of her mother.
The Imitation Game: Alan Turing, The Enigma by Andrew Hodges is the acclaimed biography of British mathematician Alan Turing, who played an integral part in breaking the German Enigma ciphers in World War II.
Still Alice by Lisa Genova is the heartbreaking story of an accomplished middle-aged woman who is confronted with the diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon is the story of stoner private eye Larry "Doc" Sportello as he investigates a case in late 1960s, drug-infused sunny Southern California.
Add a comment to: And the Award Goes to….