I’m personally loving the news that Keira Knightley will star in Never Let Me Go, a film adaptation of the novel by British author Kazuo Ishiguro (The Remains of the Day). I’m not going to give away the entire plot here (although, seriously, good luck avoiding it if you have an Internet connection, which I suspect you do), but the film’s been pegged as a "sci-fi thriller" and revolves around at least two of the following: feathered hats, cloning, the Industrial Revolution, organ donation. The book sounds eerie and fascinating; I’ll be reading it immediately. You know how much I love feathered hats, especially when they’re thrilling.
It doesn’t hurt that the title Never Let Me Go is a creepy, vaguely admonishing directive,à la Let the Right One In. So, yeah. SOLD. This is working. I’m buyin’ what you’re sellin’, little miss alien head.
(Also: Is this the cringe-iest headline ever? I should change it to themore-accurate "period duchess" or "period film staple." But I won’t!)
What do you think — can Keira pull off this refreshing change from her usual huffy period dramas?
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keira knightley has now starred in the adaptation of every single one of my favorite books.
Q: Can Keira pull off this refreshing change from her usual huffy period dramas?
A: No. I am surprised she didn’t end up in either one of these:
http://failedscreenwriter.com/2009/01/22/the-frightful-fears-of-fanny-fanciful-r/
http://failedscreenwriter.com/2009/02/05/treachery-beyond-the-pale-r/
The book is absolutely stunning – quite possibly my favourite book ever – and I think Keira will play Kathy well. When she does more adventurous roles in non-period works (i.e. The Jacket and Beckham), she’s kind of idiosyncratic – and I think it would work for the character. Hoping she can get the passivity of the role down as well. Fingers crossed that this adaptation works… though I’ll see it no matter who is in it. Fantastic, fantastic book.
The book is absolutely stunning – quite possibly my favourite book ever – and I think Keira will play Kathy well. When she does more adventurous roles in non-period works (i.e. The Jacket and Beckham), she’s kind of idiosyncratic – and I think it would work for the character. Hoping she can get the passivity of the role down as well. Fingers crossed that this adaptation works… though I’ll see it no matter who is in it. Fantastic, fantastic book.
Love this novel. I’m always wary when a film will be made. I don’t like to share.
How about, “Keira Knightley Gets New Period”?
Could this compare to her classic work in Domino?
Calvin Green: “huffy period dramas”? Wow. That’s uncalled for. Just because you do not like or appreciate period dramas does not mean you get to be all snotty and call them huffy. Sheesh.
I hadn’t heard that this book was being adapted- I’m thrilled! The book is amazing- beautiful, haunting, thought-provoking, etc., etc. So excited!
The book is amazing! It’s very haunting; the kind of thing that stays with you a while after you’ve finished it. If done right, it could be an incredible film. However, I’m not so sure about the casting of Keira Knightly. I thought she was great in Atonement so she has potential to do well in Never Let Me Go, which has a similar vibe. I’ll be interested to see who else they cast.
my favorite, most underated, most beautiful actress doing anything will intrigue me… but after reading this i’m even more thrilled than usual… can’t wait!!
It is a strange and amazing book – it will be hard to put on film and do it justice – it will be interesting to see who else is cast.
It is a strange and amazing book – it will be hard to put on film and do it justice – it will be interesting to see who else is cast.
Sorry for the double post – FireFox is being naughty today.
Sounds like the movie The Island.
Fantastic book, and great casting. Knightley is a good fit to play the confusion and insecurity of Kathy. Now get Ang Lee to direct and cut out the entire meeting-the-old-headmistress scene and it will be a classic.
Janee, it is like The Island, only really good instead of completely terrible in every way.
I dig the author, but this book was a depressing snooze filled with ideas that have already been worked over again and again in movies and film. the article already gives away everything – clones/organs; what else do you want to know? oh, and there is no action. it will bore viewers. like “the kind one” a book i just finished and a film ridley scott is looking to bring to the screen, this is a mistake.
I read this book last month and it did absolutely nothing for me. I cared more about the world Ishiguro created than I did about the characters.
The one word I would never, ever use to describe it would be “thriller”.
Agree that the book is not a thriller. Nothing like.
Seriously, you should take out the ‘cloning/organs’ part of your description. It’s a spoiler. I’m not a spoiler-phobe – far from it in fact – but this is one book that is really best if you don’t know that one little fact. You discover as the characters discover. If that’s taken away then yeah, I can see where it might be considered boring. But a Thriller? Not in the least. This is the man that brought us Remains of the Day and The White Countess, after all. The book is much more in that vein. Although, by the time Hollywood gets through with it it probably will resemble The Island. And, for the record, I don’t remember feathered hats but I haven’t read the book in years.
Lizzy – I was quoting the article. Simmer down!
It’s interesting to me that you consider this different than what she’s done because as I read the book all I could think was how great it would be if Joe Wright directed in a style and tone similar to atonement. ENjoy the book.
–RC of strangecultureblog.com
The book is amazing – hauntingly beautiful – Ishiguro is one of my favorite writers.
Should be interesting to see how this gets adapted to screen. Would be great if they kept the dark, mysterious tone of the book.
As for Keira, I’m warming up to her after seeing The Duchess, so no complaints from me
Ooops, apologies, Calvin. Then I direct my snarky comment to the author of this article. Poo Poo on You!
I think she’s going for the Jack Sparrow eyeliner look in this photo. Aye! Shiver me timbers!
Someone complained the writer mentioned cloning and organs in their synopsis. ridiculous – anyone reading the book would figure it out within the first twenty pages.
the book is slow, dreary, unthrilling, depressing, deadeningly humorless and in the final third, painful and ugly. there is no twist, no charm, nothing. sci-fi nerds will hate it because the ground has been covered too many times think, “the island” and the rest of us will just walk away sad and bored.
Thinking that Dominic Cooper would do well as Tommy. Would love to see the two of them play off each other as the characters age.
As far as all the “sounds like The Island” comments go – it’s far more subtle than that. It’s not JUST the sci-fi angle – it’s also about identity, puberty, ethics, love and friendship. And for those who find that boring – there’s quite a bit of sex as well.
Please let this be a good film.
Great book…too bad you spoiled the twist ending (sure, you suspect it the whole time, but it still packs a whollup). Bad casting with Keira…love her, but she’s too old unless she’s playing one of the teachers.
Keira Knightley always plays the strong, spritely woman. How is she gonna play a passive person like Kathy? Keira-machine, stop casting your star in roles not made for her.
Never Let me Go is a really good novel and I think it’ll make a good movie. Ishiguro is an excellent writer. And I love Keira as Kathy, I think she’ll do an excellent job as always. Seriously, she was brilliant in the Duchess, so I am not worried that she can handle the part of Kathy.