Based on...
Books and films are two closely-related forms of art and entertainment. Since the science of film was first established in the late 1800s filmmakers have been using it to tell stories, and they soon began utilising the existing narratives and characters of novels. These films have succeeded (or not) to varying degrees in the transition, some accurately portraying the writer's intention, some building on it and some disappointing the original readers. No matter how well the adaptation is done however, it is still nice to be reminded that yes, happily, there is more to read than Harry Potter.
For screen translations of Charles Dickens, Agatha Christie, Stephen King and many other notable authors click their links under this category, left. For adaptations of plays and Shakespeare, use the 'Alice's Playhouse' link.
Right: Kubrick's adaptation of Thackeray's novel 'Barry Lyndon'.
Shoot the Piano Player ( aka Shoot the Pianist ) (1960)
7.6/10
Director: Francois Truffaut
Starring: Charles Aznavour, Marie Dubois, Nicole Berger
This early Truffaut gem pays homage to the Hollywood gangster thrillers, combining the style of American film noir with all the mood, twists, visual j... Read more
Shoot the Piano Player ( aka Shoot the Pianist ) (Blu-ray) (1960)
7.5/10
Director: Francois Truffaut
Starring: Charles Aznavour, Marie Dubois, Nicole Berger
This early Truffaut gem pays homage to the Hollywood gangster thrillers, combining the style of American film noir with all the mood, twists, visual j... Read more
Shooter (2007)
7.2/10
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Michael Pena, Danny Glover, Kate Mara, Elias Koteas, Rhona Mitra,...
Ex-army super-sniper, Mark Walhberg, is pressured back into active duty to help prevent a top-level assassination, only to find his government have pu... Read more
Shooter ( Blu-ray ) (2007)
7.2/10
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Danny Glover, Elias Koteas, Mark Wahlberg, Ned Beatty, Rade Serbedzija, Michael...
Ex-army super-sniper, Mark Walhberg, is pressured back into active duty to help prevent a top-level assassination, only to find his government have pu... Read more
Shopgirl (2005)
6.4/10
Director: Anand Tucker
Starring: Steve Martin, Claire Danes, Jason Schwartzman, Bridgette Wilson, Sam Bottoms, Fr...
Steve Martin stars in and adapted the screenplay from his own novella about shopgirl Mirabelle (Claire Danes); she's depressed, underpaid, in debt and... Read more
Short Cuts (1993)
7.7/10
Director: Robert Altman
Starring: Matthew Modine, Tim Robbins, Lily Tomlin, Tom Waits, Andie MacDowell, Jack Lemmo...
The visions of two great American artists merge in "Short Cuts", maverick director Robert Altman's kaleidoscopic adaptation of Raymond Carver short st... Read more
Silk (2007)
5.9/10
Director: Francois Girard
Starring: Michael Pitt, Keira Knightley, Koji Yakusho, Alfred Molina, Miki Nakatani, Mark...
Adapted from the best-selling novel by Alessandro Baricco, this is an epic and lushly mounted tale of love, adultery, and the silk trade in the 19th c... Read more
Sing Sing (2023)
7.7/10
Director: Greg Kwedar
Starring: Colman Domingo
Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this st... Read more
Sinking of Japan (2006)
Director: Shinji Higuchi
Starring: Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Kou Shibasaki, Etsushi Toyokawa, Mao Daichi, Mitsuhiro Oikawa...
In the wake of a massive earthquake it is feared Japan will sink beneath the sea; estimates are it could happen within 40 years, but one scientist bel... Read more
Slaughterhouse Five (1972)
6.9/10
Director: George Roy Hill
Starring: Michael Sacks, Ron Leibman, Eugene Roche
Adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's bizarre fantasy novel follows the story of Billy Pilgrim, who becomes unstuck in time and jumps back and forth in his li... Read more