Written on a Screen: Top 10 Movies on Writers You've Probably Never Seen

by Angela Philips

Each of us has a favorite writer. Would it be interesting to you to learn about the writer’s life and work more? There are hundreds of engaging stories about writers in different genres. Filmmakers like showing movies about well-known creative personalities. Do you dream to see yourself on the screen one day? Who knows, perhaps, you’ll become a talented essay writer and filmmakers will be interested in your personality as well. 

Do you like watching movies about writing? Then, check the list below. Here are the best movies about writers.

Adaptation (2002)

Bizarre comedy-drama Adaptation from the creators of John Malkovich, directed by Spike Jonze and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, starring Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Tilda Swinton, and Chris Cooper. In this film, Charles Kaufman brought almost himself into the main characters - the screenwriter Charles Kaufman, who was mired in depression after finishing work on Being John Malkovich, and who cannot cope with the adaptation of The Orchid Thief. 

In the movie, Charlie has a twin brother Donald. While Charles is painfully trying to produce a script version of the novel, his brother, who has decided to also become a screenwriter, writes a thriller script, which is estimated at six figures. Charlie eats himself up in search of brilliant ideas until he decides to simply write about what is happening around him. However, after a while, he suddenly notices that the surrounding reality has become indistinguishable from fiction on paper. Or maybe the opposite is true, and in fact, fiction is nothing more than reality itself? Just watch and you’ll find this out.

Adult World (2013)

Adult World is about a young woman, Emmy. Most of all, the girl would like to become a poetess. And although the people around her do not see the heroine's great talent, she is full of plans and believes that her poetic gift will bring her overwhelming success. The obstacle to the realization of the dream is the lack of money for training, and Emmy goes to work in a small sex shop. Further on the plot, her acquaintance with Alex, a talented artist, will take place. In addition, the girl is a fan of the famous poet Rat Billings, who publishes his books, which are popular with the reader. It was these books that made Emmy think about her place in the poetic field.

Barton Fink (1991)

Honest and notorious playwright Barton Fink ends up in Hollywood in the early 40s, where he is tasked with writing a custom script for a powerful film company. The pain of creativity is aggravated by everyday problems. Fink lives in a hotel, from which goosebumps run on his skin, the unfortunate author is overtaken by a terrible creative crisis, and the only friend who at this difficult moment offers him his help turns out to be a serial killer!

Before Night Falls (2000)

The movie is a look at the life of the Cuban poet and writer, Reinaldo Arenas (1943-1990), from his childhood in the province of Orient to his death in New York. While in Cuba, he joins the Castro rebels and lives in Havana until 1964. He meets the rich Pepe, with whom he will lead a dance of love and hate for many years. He does not hide his homosexuality, and for this, he is not liked by the ruling regime. He ends up in prison for two years, writes letters there for his illiterate inmates, and secretly hands over the manuscript of a new novel. He becomes a friend of Lazaro Gomez Carriles, with whom he lives in poverty, without citizenship, in Manhattan after secretly leaving Cuba. When asked why he continues to write, he fervently replies: "Out of revenge!"

Before Sunset (2006)

It is an unsentimental melodrama from independent director Richard Linklater, a successful sequel to the successful Before Sunrise. The script was created by the performers of the main roles - Ethan Hawke (Gattaca, Dead Poets Society) and Julie Delpy (Three Colors: Red, Ambulance), who told about events from their personal lives. Before Sunset was warmly received by the public and entered numerous lists of critics: the list of the best films of the 21st century, the top ten sequels, the book of reviews "501 Movies You Must See". For the adapted script, the film received an Oscar nomination and was also nominated for the Golden Bear in Berlin. 

Jesse and Celine broke up nine years ago, barely getting to know each other. Fate did not allow them to meet earlier, and now everyone has their own life, responsibilities, and plans for the future. But a short acquaintance in pre-dawn Vienna forever bound them with strong threads. Jesse wrote a hugely successful book about it. He flies to the presentation of the bestseller in Paris, where Celine lives. So, a decade later, they first meet in reality. It's a shame that only a few evening hours are left before Jesse's plane.

Bright Star (2009)

The historical melodrama Bright Star directed by Jane Campion is based on real events and is dedicated to the classic English poet John Keats.  A young, terminally ill poet John Keats, through mutual acquaintances, meets a girl named Fanny Brown. A very strong feeling suddenly arises between them. It ignites the heart of the poet, who is standing with one foot in the grave, and the young man, with renewed fervor, takes up his pen. 

It was during this period that most of his immortal works appear. Who was this romantic muse that Keats addressed in his great poems? How did their tumultuous relationship develop? Why did the poet's friend, who introduced him to Brown, do everything possible to separate the lovers? Keats's genius did not last long: the poet died at the age of 25 from consumption, which tormented him for many years. At the end of his days, he wrote his most famous sonnet "Oh, if I could be eternal like you, Star!"

Midnight in Paris (2011)

The plot of the movie tells the story of a young couple of Americans who flew to Paris to get some rest. They find themselves in a semi-illusory world of unfulfilled fantasies, making all their dreams come true. Gil, fascinated by everything related to the twenties, on the streets of the night capital suddenly discovers all those whom he idolized all his life. He seems to be in those very years, a world in which they freely roam the streets of Picasso or Hemingway.

Misery (1990)

Popular writer Paul Sheldon, who is believed to have died in a car accident, turns out to be a prisoner of an obsessive fan of nurse Anne Marie Wilkes. She not only keeps him in her house, but burns the manuscript of his new book, and even breaks his legs, which have already begun to heal after the accident to force the writer to prolong the literary life of her beloved heroine Misery Chastain.

My Brilliant Career (1979)

Obsessed with a brilliant career, Sybylla ignores the strict lifestyle that her parents and those around her think she should adhere to. Reminiscent of a tomboy girl, she feels out of place in her grandmother's house, where women look elegant and have good manners. Sybylla has two interesting admirers. She chooses one of them but later refuses to marry, knowing that she will not be able to lead the life of the wife of a village farmer.

The Pillow Book (1996)

The film tells how a young Japanese girl Nagiko grows up enjoying books and her sexuality grows. One of her lovers advises her to use naked male bodies as papyrus to record her love odyssey. After that, 13 men, covered with hieroglyphs, will be sent to the publisher with an unusual mission.

Watch the movies above and have a great weekend!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Angela Philips is a blogger at TopsWriting, an essay review website. She is a professional writing expert in such topics as blogging, digital marketing and self-education. In her free time, she enjoys reading as well as crocheting.