It’s that time of year again: Award Show Season. Each year, the Hollywood Foreign Press awards Golden Globes to the best in film and television; the SAG Awards give the voting power to the actor; The Critics’ Choice Awards, the critic; the People’s Choice Awards, the people. And then, of course, there is that infamous Academy. Last year, Literary Traveler tossed our hat into the Award Show ring with the first annual Literary Fauxscars — honoring the best in literary adaptations. After all, we love a good award show, but we found that one category (“Best Adapted Screenplay”) is hardly enough literary love.
For those who didn’t participate last year, here is how it works: To be nominated, a film must be adapted from a written work. Most are books, but plays, graphic novels, magazine articles (and any other imaginable take on the written word) are also fair game. The only thing that differentiates our guidelines from those of the Academy is that sequels to original screenplays are not considered. (Otherwise, Before Midnight would have made our list, as well!)
While most of our categories are self-explanatory, this year we have added the “Best Literary Film” category for original films with a literary angle. Two nominees are original screenplays written by popular contemporary novelists and two are based-in-reality stories about well-known authors.
Be sure to stay tuned for updates, reviews, staff picks, and more Fauxscar buzz surrounding this year’s awards. And, of course, join us on March 2nd, when we announce the winners before that other award show!
So, after spirited debate among the LT team, here are the nominees for The 2014 Literary Fauxscars! [Insert drum roll here]
Best Character Portrayal by an Actor:
- Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby (The Great Gatsby)
- Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort (The Wolf of Wall Street)
- Chiwetel Ejiofer as Solomon Northup (12 Years a Slave)
- Tom Hanks as Richard Phillips (Captain Phillips)
- Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug)
Best Character Portrayal by an Actress:
- Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
- Sophie Nélisse as Liesel Meminger (The Book Thief)
- Meryl Streep as Violet Weston (August: Osage County)
- Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan (The Great Gatsby)
- Judi Dench as Philomena (Philomena)
Best Portrayal of a Literary Love Story:
- Romeo and Juliet (Romeo and Juliet)
- Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan (The Great Gatsby)
- Adele and Emma (Blue is the Warmest Color)
- Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
- Beatrice and Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing)
Best Cinematography & Production Design:
- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (production design by Philip Messina & cinematography by Jo Willems)
- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (production design by Dan Hannah & cinematography by Andrew Lesnie)
- Ender’s Game (production design by Sean Haworth and Ben Procter & cinematography by Donald McAlpine)
- The Great Gatsby (production design by Catherine Martin and Karen Murphy & cinematography by Simon Duggan)
- World War Z (production design by Nigel Phelps & cinematography by Ben Seresin)
Best “Young Adult” Adaptation:
- The Book Thief
- Ender’s Game
- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
- Warm Bodies
- The Spectacular Now
Best Adaptation of a Classic:
- Romeo and Juliet
- The Great Gatsby
- Much Ado About Nothing
- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
- As I Lay Dying
Best Non-Fiction Adaptation:
- 12 Years a Slave
- Captain Phillips
- The Wolf of Wall Street
- The Fifth Estate
- Philomena
- Lone Survivor
- Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
- The Invisible Woman
Best “Guilty Pleasure” Adaptation:
- Safe Haven
- The Host
- Austenland
- The Bling Ring
- Warm Bodies
Best “Stand Alone” Film:
- 12 Years A Slave
- The Wolf of Wall Street
- Captain Phillips
- Blue is the Warmest Color
- August: Osage County
Best Literary Film:
- The Counselor (Screenplay by Cormac McCarthy)
- Saving Mr. Banks (Story of P.L. Travers)
- The Canyons (Screenplay by Bret Easton Ellis)
- Kill Your Darlings (Story of Beat writers)
Most Anticipated Adaptation of 2014:
- Mockingjay – Part I
- The Giver
- Wild
- The Maze Runner
- The Fault in Our Stars
Join the Conversation: Don’t forget to cast your votes via Facebook, Twitter (use #Fauxscars) or in the comment section below! If you’d prefer a ‘secret ballot,’ send your picks and/or feedback by e-mail.