Dream Cast Thursday! Anna Karenina

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Anna Karenina. It was originally a book by Leo Tolstoy that was first published between 1873 and 1877. I have never read the original novel, but for my remake, I looked at the four film adaptations that were released in 1935, 1948, 1997 and 2000.

The first character that I recast was Anna Karenina. She has been played by Greta Garbo, Vivien Leigh, Sophie Marceau, and Helen McCrory. For my adaptation, I cast Hayley Atwell.

The second character that I recast was Count Vronsky. He has been played by Fredric March, Kieron Moore, Sean Bean, and Kevin McKidd. For my adaptation, I cast Ewan McGregor.

The third character that I recast was Alexei Karenin. He has been played by Basil Rathbone, Ralph Richardson, James Fox, and Stephen Dillane. For my adaptation, I cast Rufus Sewell.

The fourth character that I recast was played by Alfred Molina and Douglas Henshall. For my adaptation, I recast Paul Bettany.

The last character that I recast was Kitty Scherbatsky. She has been played by Maureen O'Sullivan, Sally Ann Howes, Mia Kirshner, and Paloma Baeza. For my adaptation, I cast Natalie Portman.

So what do you all think? What adaptations have you seen? Have you read the original novel? Who would be in your recast?

Dream Cast Thursday! The Brontes

For this week's Dream Cast Thursday (technically Friday, since I have been getting these posts out later and later), I will be recasting novels by two of the Bronte sisters. Jane Eyre was published by Charlotte Bronte in 1847, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was published by Anne Bronte in 1848. When making my casting choices for Jane Eyre, I looked at several adaptations. I looked at the versions of Jane Eyre from 1983, 1996 and 2006, and I looked at adaptations of Wide Sargasso Sea from 1993 and 2006.

The first character that I recast was Jane Eyre. She has been played by Zelah Clarke, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Ruth Wilson. For my adaptation, I cast Claire Foy

The second character that I recast was Edward Fairfax Rochester. He has been played by Timothy Dalton, William Hurt, Nathaniel Parker, Toby Stephens, and Rafe Spall. For my adaptation, I cast Rufus Sewell.

The next character that I recast was Mrs. Fairfax. She has been played by Jean Harvey, Joan Plowright, and Lorraine Ashbourne. For my adaptation, I cast Susan Sarandon.

The last character that I recast was Bertha or Antoinette Cosway. She has been played by Joolia Cappleman, Maria Schneider, Karina Lombard, Claudia Coulter, and Rebecca Hall. For my adaptation, I cast Mili Avital.

When  casting The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, I looked at one adaptation from 1996. The first character that I recast was Helen. She was played by Tara Fitzgerald. For my adaptation, I cast Charlotte Riley.

The second character that I recast was Gilbert Markham. He was played by Toby Stephens. For my adaptation, I cast Henry Cavill.

The third character that I recast was Huntingdon. He was played by Rupert Graves. For my adaptation, I cast Jude Law.

The last character that I recast was Mr. Lawrence. He was played by James Purefoy. For my adaptation, I cast Alex O'Laughlin.

So what do you all think? What are are favorite Bronte novels? What are your favorite adaptations, and who would be in yours?

Downloading Nancy

Downloading Nancy (2008) is based on true events. It follows a housewife named Nancy. She was abused as a young child and lives a life of masochism. She is tired of living and hires a man that she meets online to end her life for her.

This film was very disturbing, but also very interesting. I doubt that it would be as compelling if not for the phenomenal cast. Maria Bello plays the part of Nancy. Rufus Sewell plays the part of Nancy's selfish husband, Albert. Jason Patric plays Louis, the man that Nancy meets online. Amy Brenneman plays Carol, Nancy's therapist.

The film goes back and forth in time to scenes of Nancy and Albert's marriage, Nancy and Louis' meeting, and Nancy and Carol's sessions, but it is not really the plot that unfolds. The film depicts more of a psychological unfolding.

This film probably isn't for everyone, but I would definitely recommend it.

The Woodlanders

I just saw the Woodlanders. It is based on a novel by Thomas Hardy that was originally published in 1887. It takes place in a small village called Little Hintock. It follows the lives of Grace Melbury and Giles Winterborne. They have been betrothed since childhood, but when Grace comes of age, her father decides that she is too good for Giles and decides to marry her off to a cold doctor.

The film was okay. I have always really liked the Thomas Hardy adaptations that I have seen in the past (Under the Greenwood Tree, Far From the Madding Crowd, The Return of the Native, Jude, and Tess of the d'Ubervilles). This particular adaptation fell a little short for me. All of the performances (except perhaps for Rufus Sewell) seemed to be lacking.

I probably wouldn't recommend this film. It isn't really a must-see.