Movie/Book: 127 Hours/Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Summary: "127 Hours" is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston's remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolate canyon in Utah. Over the next five days, Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he is finally rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers, family, and the last two people he ever had the chance to meet? A visceral thrilling story that will take an audience on a never before experienced journey and prove what we can do when we choose life.more »

I ashamed to say that I haven't read the book...I saw the movie.

Yes,I saw the movie first. Normally, I don't do this...I read the book because, let's face it, the book is always better. In this case, I had never heard of the book (arg. I'm ashamed) but was intrigued by the idea of someone...well, doing what he did to save himself. (I imagine you all know what I'm referring to but I'm attempting to keep this somewhat spoiler free). When I did learn that it was based on the book, I still threw caution to the wind and schlepped to the theater because I'm not necessarily big on reading survival stories. Call me superficial, but I like to keep my rose-colored glasses on when it comes to my books. So, while I decided to go see it first, I didn't think it was going to be that great.

Boy, was I wrong.

It's very hard an actor to be the only focal point of an ENTIRE MOVIE and keep you engaged. Especially with a subject like this, because it's very easy to play it one note...one sad, "I'm going to die", grim note. In this case, James Franco more than succeeds. He's funny, he's charming, he's CRAZY. In the first few minutes of the film, you like him. So when he gets stuck LITERALLY between a rock and a hard place, you panic for him, wondering how he's going to get out (or at least I did...OY). Then you spend an hour of some change watching him try.

This is the first time I've watched a movie & then run out to buy the book (slightly annoyed that everyone has switched to the film cover now...) but it was such a good story via film that I can't imagine disliking the book. Part of this was Franco, finding the humor in this story while still managing to convey the panic/terror. Part of it was Danny Boyle, who directs this visually stunning film. The main part, though? This guy's story is incredible and extremely moving. It's an incredibly inspirational film. (Seriously, when I left the movie I was convinced I needed to learn how to swim, to rock climb, to ride a mountain bike 50 miles...I needed to learn how to be a survivor in case I was ever stuck in a canyon!)

So the book is now sitting on my shelf, ready to be devoured. In the meantime, I highly recommend watching this movie!

Casting Call Friday -- The Hunger Games

While most of you discovered The Hunger Games when it first came out in 2008, I was apparently living under a rock. That’s the only reason I can come up with as to why I hadn’t started this series sooner. I didn’t actually decide to read the books until two weeks ago; even then that’s only because I sat at brunch lost while Erin and Daniela discussed Teem Peeta vs. Team Gale and Katniss this, Katniss that. So I finally started and HOT. DOG.

There are stronger words I’d like to use but I’ll keep this G-rated. This series is phenomenal. Of course you already know this, so let me cut to the chase. In honor of Mockingjay’s upcoming release, we at Lit Snit are casting:


THE HUNGER GAMES

Peeta Mellark: (Lucas Till) The 16-year-old male tribute from District 12. He is described as being "medium height with a stocky build“and has "ashy blond hair that falls in waves over his forehead" with blue eyes. Upon arriving in the Capitol, it is discovered that Peeta has an instinctive ability to perform on camera and manipulate public sentiment.  He is rarely moody or upset and generally takes things lightly.

Lucas would be a great Peeta with his sunny smile & disposition (not to mention the muscular build!) Peeta strikes me as the boy next door type and I think Luke, with his Disney background, would tap into that.

Gale Hawthorne (Ian Somerhalder): An 18-year-old who is Katniss's best friend and hunting partner. Like Katniss, he has dark hair and gray eyes. The pair have combined their respective talents, his at trapping and hers at archery, to become a highly effective team. Gale is in love with and fiercely devoted to Katniss, although she doesn't know it at the time.

Yep, I know that he's older than Gale should be. To me, though, Ian Somerhalder hasn't aged a day and I wanna know his secrets. He's fits the physical profile and I think he's athletic enough and talented enough to portray Gale.

Haymitch Abernathy (Hugh Laurie): A "paunchy, middle-aged man" who was the victor of the 50th Hunger Games. Since winning made him independently wealthy, he has spent almost all of his intervening leisure intoxicated to the point of embarrassment. Haymitch acts as a mentor for Peeta and Katniss before they enter the Games. He is often sarcastic and anything but sober, which Katniss finds highly irritating. However, when pushed, he emerges as the pair's greatest advocate and shows himself to be highly canny as he guides his proteges in a cleverly designed, highly unorthodox strategy aimed at securing the survival of both tributes.

Okay, Okay…I know he’s not paunchy but, man! Laurie would be a fantastic Haymitch. I mean, have you ever watched House?? He’s got the intoxicated (via pills on House), sarcastic but clever man down to a SCIENCE. Seriously, he’d be awesome.

Primrose Everdeen (Elle Fanning): Katniss' younger sister whom others call "Prim". Prim's face is "as fresh as a raindrop, as lovely as the primrose for which she was named." She, like her mother, has light hair and blue eyes, which sets her out of place in the Seam. She is 12 years old and has her name put in the reaping for the first time. She is originally chosen as the District 12 female tribute, but Katniss volunteers for her instead. Katniss says that Prim is "the only person I'm certain I love."

First of all, Elle Fanning is adorable. She is 12. She is talented ( I want whatever water the Fanning's drink!) and she fits the description. Word.

Mama Everdeen (Joely Richardson): Light hair, blue eyes, described in the book as "worn... beaten up. After her husband's death, she lost the ability to deal with life...leaving Katniss to take care of the family. A healer.

Joely Richardson continually lost her mind for 6 seasons straight on Nip/Tuck. She does worn and beaten up well.

Effie Trinket (Kristin Chenoweth): Effie works as an escort for District 12, particularly to Katniss and Peeta. Effie has bright pink hair, speculated to be a wig. As she gives speeches, she constantly has to get it under control. She can be a bit of an airhead at times, totally oblivious to the sorrows and misfortunes that fall upon District 12. She's very strict about manners and is incessantly punctual.

I tried not to do it, I promise, but I really do think Chenoweth would do wonders with Effie. She's aged a little bit, she's known for the slightly irritating and ditzy roles (Hello, Pushing Daisies and Galinda in Wicked) but she can show emotional depth when needed. 

Cinna (Hugh Dancy): Katniss' stylist. Cinna is in his first year as a stylist for the Games and his audacious designs immediately win over the audience for Katniss and Peeta. Despite (or perhaps because of) his professional interest in images, Cinna proves to be better than most at seeing through the superficial spectacle of the Games to their barbaric core. He and Katniss establish an easy, comfortable relationship and he demonstrates a genuine concern for her well-being.

*sigh* Hugh Dancy is dreamy. Just had to get that out. With that being said, I think he'd be the perfect Cinna. He's sensitive and, though handsome, lends the quiet and simple air that Cinna needs.

Last but not least...

Katniss Everdeen: She’s the strong protagonist and narrator of this story. KatnissKatniss's past hardships (her father's death, mother's depression, and near starvation) have made her a natural survivor, and in general she will do anything to preserve her own life. The exception to this is that she will protect anyone she loves, no matter the cost to herself, as shown when she volunteers for the Games to save her little sister, Prim.

Cast:  So I’ve been sitting here for the last 45 minutes trying to come up with someone. In the actually film  I’d love for them to use an unknown actress. In the meantime, though, I’ll go with….

 Jessica Stroup

 I think she has the look that Katniss needs. Also (and I don't mean to be...well, mean), she looks like she could fit the thin from hunger profile. She plays tough as Silver on 90210 but she's able to show moments of vulnerability. With physical training, she could be great. She may be too old, though...

**I bet you that Evangeline Lilly is wishing this book came out 10 years ago. She would have been a great Katniss!

Okay...these are my guesses at the moment What do you think? Who would YOU cast? Did I miss someone important?

Also, will someone PLEASE cast Rue?? I couldn't do it!

Chime in, folks! :)

Casting Call Friday - The Perks of Being a Wallflower

In this edition of Casting Call Friday, we’ve casting The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.

Let’s check out the plot and cast & crew:

PLOT:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the story of a boy (Charlie), who takes us through the life of a high school freshman in a series of anonymously addressed letters. The world he opens to us is funny and scary and shocking, and the set of characters he introduces to us never fail to amaze and amuse, as they all experience love, sex, drugs, violence, angst and all other adolescent adventures. [Click here to read the LitSnit review.]

CAST & CREW:

List of Characters:

Character: Charlie

Charlie is a bit of an enigma. He can be both extroverted and introverted, both completely charismatic and a complete weirdo. He is very emotional and observant of everyone around him. A lot of what he does it defined by the people he’s surrounded by.

Casting Callback: Anton Yelchin –Movies he starred in that we loved: Terminator Salvation, Star Trek, Alpha Dog.




Character: Sam

Sam is Charlie's self-assured teenage love interest. He is repeatedly amazed by her physical and inner beauty. She never plays games and is never dismissive of Charlie’s issues or emotions.

Casting Callback: Kate Mara – Movies she starred in that we loved: Brokeback Mountain, Transsiberian.

Character: Patrick

Patrick is Charlie’s first homosexual friend. Although not closeted about it, Patrick does encounter a number of problems because of his sexual orientation. Another tortured character, Patrick is an integral part Charlie’s own sexual experimentation.

Casting Callback: John Patrick Amedori – Movies he starred in that we loved Stick It, TiMER.

Character: Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is the first girl Charlie dates. She is an outspoken feminist and is quite assertive in the relationship she pursues with Charlie.

Casting Callback: April Pearson – Movies she starred in that we loved: none. But she was simply amazing in the TV show Skins.

Character: Bill

Bill is a young high school English teacher. He is well educated and believes in his students, especially Charlie. He tries to nurture Charlie’s wring talent by making him read all sorts of literary classics..

Casting Call Callback: Austin Nichols – Movies he starred in that we loved: Glory Road (and we’ll never forget him as Julian Baker on One Tree Hill)

Director: Peter Care (The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys (2002))

SOUNDTRACK:

The National “Green Gloves”

Massive Attack “Teardrop”

Note: The Perks of Being a Wallflower movie is in the works. As of now, not much is know about the cast and crew. Click here to view the latest information on this project.

Casting Call Friday - The Secret History of the Pink Carnation

It’s Friday again and all of us here at the Lit Snit headquarters are ready for another Casting Call session. This week’s selection is Lauren Willig’s The Secret History of the Pink Carnation. After surfing through a ginormous pile of headshots and resumes, we are finally ready for the silver screen.

First, let’s check out the plot:

Plot: In this story-within-a-story plot, we have two main heroines: Amy Blacort and Eloise Kelly. Eloise Kelly is a Harvard PhD student working on a dissertation exploring one of England’s most distinguished spies: the Purple Gentian (aka Richard Selwick), who helped topple Napoleon from power. Eloise flies to England to study some of the Purple Gentian never-before-read letters which are kept at the Selwick estate. As she begins her adventure though time using the letters, she uncovers an unexpected romance between the Purple Gentian and another mysterious figure by the name of Amy Balcourt. While at the Selwick estate, Eloise also develops an interesting attachment to its current keeper, Colin Selwick.

MEET THE CAST & CREW:

Character: Amy Balcourt

Amy is a young, upper-class Franco-British woman. She is well-educated and a bit of a feminist. She has a very extroverted and opinionated nature, but is also naïve, and delicate. Amy’s comic side emerges when she engages in her sleuth-wannabe hobby, which tends to lead her into funny damsel in distress situations.

Casting Call Callback: Rose Byrne - We saw this Aussie's brilliant acting talent in the movies Wicker Park and I Capture the Castle. She is versatile, compelling and oh-so-cute!

Character: Richard Selwick

Richard is a young, British Lord. He is charming, easy going and a bit of a Casanova. He can be hot-tempered at times, especially when dealing with Amy. Richard also leads a secretive, dual life of a spy.

Casting Call Callback: Christopher Egan-This Australian hunk first won us over during his brief but memorable appearance as Nick Bennet in the WB series Everwood, but it was his role in Letters to Juliet that made us see his potential as a romantic leading man.

Character: Eloise Kelly

Eloise is a single, middle-class, American woman in her later 20’s. She is witty but shy and introverted. Her priorities are scholastically driven, leaving her little time for appearances or romance.

Casting Call Callback: Emmy Rossum-Knowing how to sing, act and still look amazing must be hard work, but Emmy was able to do all that and more while playing the role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera. Then, in movie Dare she showed us that being sexy and studious was indeed possible. How can she not be our Eloise?

Character: Colin Selwick

Colin is a well-educated, upper-class Briton. He is very even-tempered and confident. His protectiveness of his family's past makes him come off as snobbish and cold at times, but we soon see the softer side of this English gentleman.

Casting Call Callback: Eric Johnson-This Canadian star has been popping in and out of our radar for years with small appearances on all sorts of TV shows (e.g., Smallville, Ghost Whisperer, Supernatural, Rookie Blue). Now is the perfect time for him to show us his acting talent by playing a leading role in our movie.

Director: Oliver Parker

Soundtrack Selections:

Amy and Richard’s romance: Claude Debussy's Clair de Lune

Eloise and Colin’s romance: The Eels's Fresh Feeling