August Front Porch Cinema
- Sarah E. Mason
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
August Theme: Late Summer Reading
We're kicking off Front Porch Cinema with a collection of wonderful book-to-screen gems. As always, a select few are available to borrow from the community movie cabinet—if you're nearby and still have a functioning DVD player! Never fear; all of these films are also available to stream. Happy watching... and happy reading!
Late Summer Reading: Book to Screen
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
I first discovered The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel because my mom recommended both the book at the film. I'm so glad she did because I absolutely fell in love with it. This charming ensemble comedy about embracing life's second act was one of the surprise hits of 2011, and if you've somehow missed it, you're in for a treat. Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, Penelope Wilton, Dev Patel, and the late, great Maggie Smith and Tom Wilkinson make up one of the most lovable casts you'll ever spend two hours with. They make you laugh, they break your heart a little, and by the end you'll wish you could spend another two hours with them. It's like a tall glass of lemonade on a hot summer day.
📚 On the Bookshelf: These Foolish Things by Deborah Moggach (2004)
Where to stream
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Ang Lee's breathtaking adaptation of Wang Dulu's classic novel is an unforgettable cinematic experience filled with romance, honor, and extraordinary martial arts. Starring Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen, the film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won four, including Best International Feature Film, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Original Score. If you've never seen it, now is the time! It's stunning—a true cinematic masterpiece that proves some stories transcend language.
📚 On the Bookshelf: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon by Wang Dulu (1941
Where to stream
The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)
Like so many readers, I fell in love with Audrey Niffenegger's bestselling novel long before the movie came along. It's one of those books you almost don't want Hollywood to touch because it feels so personal. I knew going in that no film could ever completely live up to it, and honestly, it doesn't. It's an incredibly difficult story to adapt. But I still dig this movie. While it doesn't capture every nuance that made the novel so unforgettable, it never loses sight of the heart of the story—a love that endures despite impossible circumstances. It's a little messy, a little heartbreaking, and maybe that's exactly why it works for me. A lot of critics thought Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams lacked chemistry. I disagree. They cute! If you're looking for a love story that's a little different from the usual romantic drama, this is a lovely late-summer watch.
📚 On the Bookshelf: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (2003)
Where to stream
Brooklyn (2015)
A beautiful story of immigration, love, and finding where you belong, Brooklyn is anchored by a remarkable performance from Saoirse Ronan. The film earned three Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Ronan, and Best Adapted Screenplay. I love this film so much I could watch it on repeat indefinitely. The way Ronan captures the ache of homesickness is absolutely heartbreaking. This is a story about realizing you can never truly go back—that sometimes the place you long for isn't the place you're meant to be anymore. It's beautifully written, beautifully acted, and one of those films that stays with you long after it's over.
📚 On the Bookshelf: Brooklyn by Colm TóibÃn (2009)
Where to stream
The Secret Garden (1993)
I remember when this version of The Secret Garden came out. It felt like everyone was talking about how gorgeous it was, and they weren't wrong. More than 30 years later, it's still breathtaking. Nominated for Academy Awards for its art direction and costumes, every frame feels like a painting. Don't dismiss it because it's based on a children's book. This is one of those movies that reminds you how healing nature, friendship, and a little imagination can be. It's gentle, hopeful, and exactly the kind of film that makes me believe movies can be good for the soul. I honestly think it's one of the finest book adaptations ever put on film.
📚 On the Bookshelf: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911)
Where to stream
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)
I absolutely love this movie and have probably watched it half a dozen times on Netflix. Lily James is wonderful, and Michiel Huisman (Game of Thrones fans, Daario Naharis to you) is ridiculously adorable. I knew almost nothing about the German occupation of Guernsey before watching this, and I love when a movie leads me to discover a piece of history I didn't know much about. It's heartbreaking at times, but it's also full of hope, romance, courage, and one of my favorite things—a quirky community of unforgettable characters. Oh, and the heroine is a writer. Gotta love that.
📚 On the Bookshelf: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows (2008)
Where to stream
The Remains of the Day (1993)
Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson are absolutely spectacular in this quiet, beautiful adaptation about duty, regret, and wondering what might have been. The film received eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and every one of them feels deserved. Don't let the slower pace fool you. It's thoughtful, beautifully acted, and absolutely worth your time. Fair warning, though—you'll probably find yourself yelling at the TV, "Ask her out, you idiot!" More than once. And if you've read Kazuo Ishiguro's novel, you'll appreciate just how faithful this adaptation is.
📚 On the Bookshelf: The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (1989)
Where to stream
What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
A compassionate and deeply human story featuring unforgettable performances from Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio, What's Eating Gilbert Grape is one of my all-time favorite movies. It's hard to put into words just how special it is. Director Lasse Hallström—whose films also include My Life as a Dog, The Cider House Rules, Chocolat, The Shipping News. Even though he's Swedish, he understands small-town America in a way that reminds me of Ang Lee's gift for stepping into cultures outside his own. Johnny Depp gives one of the best performances of his career, and Leonardo DiCaprio, who earned his first Academy Award nomination for playing Gilbert's developmentally disabled younger brother Arnie, is simply astonishing. Mary Steenburgen and John C. Reilly round out a remarkable supporting cast. What I love most is that the film never tries too hard. It doesn't rush the story or rely on big dramatic moments. It trusts the writing, the performances, and the characters—and that's exactly what makes it so brilliant.
📚 On the Bookshelf: What's Eating Gilbert Grape by Peter Hedges (1991)
Where to stream
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
I know, I know... everybody says The Shawshank Redemption is one of the greatest movies ever made. They're right. Based on Stephen King's novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, it's one of those rare films that's every bit as good as the book. It received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and somehow walked away empty-handed—which still feels unbelievable. Forest Gump beat it if you're wondering. Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins are absolutely perfect together, and I don't care how many times I've seen it, the ending still gets me. It's funny, heartbreaking, inspiring, and quietly profound without ever feeling preachy. If you've somehow missed this one, fix that immediately. Trust me.
📚 On the Bookshelf: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King, from Different Seasons (1982)
Where to stream
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
Barry Jenkins' adaptation of James Baldwin's novel is absolutely gorgeous. It won Regina King a well-deserved Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and also earned Oscar nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score. I have a real soft spot for movies made in Louisiana, and this one is a gorgeous example of why. New Orleans doubles as 1970s Harlem so convincingly that you almost forget where it was filmed. Every frame looks like a painting. It's heartbreaking at times, but it's also incredibly tender, hopeful, and full of love. This isn't a movie to have on in the background. Pour yourself a glass of wine, put your phone away, and give it your full attention. It's worth it.
📚 On the Bookshelf: If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin (1974)
Where to stream