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Not to sound ungrateful, but did this
Thanksgiving creep up on us? It
pounced like Aunt Mildred’s “surprise
savory pie.” Now, the entertainment
industry wants our attention
as we have a little time to spend watching
together on big and little screens. Let’s see
what’s out there!
This year, there’s a parade of titles based
on familiar books! There’s one reimagining
pulled from a legendary classic. There are
animated creations for all ages, and concerts
to catch if you weren’t able to buy tickets. And
yep, best believe there’s a superhero or two
thrown in for good measure. Oh and there’s
enough Oscar buzzworthiness to go around.
Since my favorite book (published in
1960) is also my favorite movie (released
1962), you know I’m an adaptation fiend! Gift
card to the first person who emails me the
title at flixyoumissed@gmail.com! There’s a
recent favorite just released on Netflix. All
the Light We Cannot See is a four-part limited
series. Critics say it’s cringeworthy, but I say
The Movie Column
By arts columnist Tom Sims
bingeworthy! More on that next week.
There are so many adaptations! Alice
Walker’s The Color Purple is reimagined.
American Fiction is based on Percival Everett’s
“Erasure,” about a Black novelist frustrated
with racist stereotypes. Other adaptations
include The Boys in the Boat, Leave the World
Behind, Poor Things and Strangers.
How about biopics? Napoleon stars
Joaquin Phoenix, Maestro features Bradley
Cooper playing Leonard Bernstein, and Adam
Driver plays the auto legend Enzo Ferrari in
Ferrari. And you know there’s a writer’s strike
when concert movies become big releases.
Renaissance is the new documentary from
megastar Beyoncé, and earlier this year was
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. Beys and Swifties
unite… at least to save theaters!
Well, dip me in chocolate! Wonka looks like
a winner! The movie comes out in December
and tells the origin story of the legendary
candy maker. People may be tired of Wilder’s
Wonka or critical of Depp’s reimagining — but
I say they’re all good! Bring on a third helping!
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and The
Marvels are our superhero entries. Wish is
a new animated feature from Disney, and
Migration is a duck road-trip movie from
Illumination studios.
As for Oscar Buzz— any one of these could
get a nom! And it’s not even in December!
Tom H. Sims is an award-winning indie filmmaker.
His latest book is an adaptation of his short
films. Visit YouTube.com/tomhsims.
November 23, 2023 EXIT ZERO Page 37