When I first read Laurence Fishburne, of all people, was set to direct the film adaptation of Paul Coelho’s beloved bestseller The Alchemist, my eyebrows raised so high they nearly flew off my face. (Clearly, I should seek medical attention for having such malleable brows.) But Variety is now reporting Fishburne is no longer attached, and movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has now latched himself fully to the project and will pick a new director shortly. Coelho flew to Cannes to discuss the project, and said he has no doubt Weinstein is the right person to get the long-in-the-works film to theaters. Like, duh. When Weinstein wants something, he gets it. And usually the thing he wants is a shiny gold toy called Oscar.
Like legions of you, I’m sure, I adore The Alchemist. It is such an inspiring, lyrical, simply told but elegantly written tale of a Spanish shepherd on a search for his personal destiny (and his soul mate, of course), one that can be read in a single sitting and then over and over again. But I’m worried how well that will translate to film. It goes without saying the director will be crucial to the film’s success. The film needs someone who will veer away from excessive melodrama and give the adaptation some real visual and emotional gravity.
I’ve got a few suggestions: John Curran, who made the sumptuous and affecting (and underrated) Edward Norton-Naomi Watts drama The Painted Veil. Or Brit-wiz Michael Winterbottom, who lent A Mighty Heart a steely authenticity when it could have easily been manipulative and melodramatic. Finally: Babel helmer Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. That film’s scenes in Morocco had such a stark, poetic beauty to them. Who do you think Weinstein should pick, PopWatchers? Do you even think a film adaptation could do The Alchemist justice?
Well, I agree with you that is should be some smaller director. I just heard out of the studio, however, that they’re trying to get Peter JAckson on board. Yup… The Alchemist meets Hobbits.
How about Guillermo del Toro? (Pan’s Labyrinth) or Jane Campion? (The Piano.) Both are directors with a stunning sense of the visual, which they never allow to overwhelm the story and the characters.
Excellent idea, I forgot about del Toro. He’d be perfect and he could direct in Spanish, he’s got the magical realism as well as the spiritualism and action.
I might be the only one, but I HATED this book. Maybe I’m just a cynic. Maybe life’s just beaten me down too much to buy into this pseudo-New Age, Christianity-tinged parable of hope and dream-fulfillment. For me, this read like an unfunny version of Deep Thoughts with Jack Handy. I really see no way in which this movie could possibly be made WITHOUT being melodramatic. Silly “inspirational” rubbish.
Please stay away from using first-person if you want to be considered a journalist. The constant use of the term “I” makes this seem as if it’s all about you, when the story should be about The Alchemist. Your eyebrows are of no concern to me, the reader; casting the movie is the important aspect of the piece. “I, me, mine” is a great Beatles song, but no way to write a good story. Also, the word “adore” is a bit too twee — kind of like the NY Times reporter who asked the President what has “enchanted” him during his first 100 days in the White House. C’mon EW, get some writers with real cojones, not little girls writing diary entries!
You’re a wet fart, Joey Gold. I laughed out loud at the eyebrowns comment, and your statement at the end about ‘girls writing diary entries’reveals you to be the misogynist idiot that you are. Please refrain from using the word ‘I’again—nobody cares about your sexist views.
This is a blog dipshit. The writer can say “I” if he wants to. Oh, and I agree that The Painted Veil is underrated and John Curran would do wonders with this great book.
Yeah i really don’t come on here for great journalism. i come here to be entertained, get a laugh, or get some quick news on a rumor/something interesting/something silly. it’d even be different if it was published in the magazine. but it’s not.
Putting that all aside, I love this book but I can see how it might be tricky to put in on the big screen. I look forward to it though.
This book is so overrated!
…and the award for “Pompous A-hole of the Day” goes to Joey Gold!
Congratulations! When you pick up your award (which is plaque that simply says, “LIGHTEN UP”), don’t forget to note that this isn’t exactly the New York Times. As a few others have pointed out, it’s a friggin’entertainment blog, so a more casual tone is completely appropriate.
I love Laurence, he was great in Die Hard, oh wait. http://cutegirlsdating.com
The Alchemist is the masterpiece of the second part of the XX Century. I hope it will have a director (and a producer) to honor the millions of readers world wide.
Thank God we have a passionate fil producer by the name of Harvey Weinstein who gets these projects completed. No one has his determination, courage and strength to see these through to fruition. The man is a God in the movie world. Thank You Harvey.
Wow, this seems to be going in the right direction. What about the cast? Does anyone knows who will be playing Santiago?
I would have a director who is more into meaty stories and less into just pretty pictures. I would have said Peter J. could direct but after Lovely Bones I don’t think he’s right anymore. No one twee like Reitman, Anderson or Jonze. Neil Jordan, Mike Leigh and Almodovar all know how to do magical realism. The best would be Jean-Pierre Jeunet.
Jean-Pierre Jeunet!!!
For his magical sense of storytelling coupled with his depth ability to capture the depths of human inner journeys while keeping the light shining in the soul.
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