March 25, 2022 | Dara Marie | @thornfield_lane

According to my mom, I always have good movie recommendations. Whenever I’m home, it’s my job to pick what we watch. It’s an honor, truly, as well as nerve-wracking. There’s nothing worse than having someone hate a movie you suggested. Luckily, my mom loves stories based on real-life events, which is a great excuse to watch movies about authors.

As both an avid reader and writer, I love learning about my predecessor’s journeys—the struggles and triumphs that led to some of literature’s greatest works. Whether or not you’re a book nerd like me, here are a few movie recommendations the next time you’re called on to find something to watch with your parents (or book friends, depending):

Tolkien (2019)

Here’s a funny confession: one of my biggest fears as a child was Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. My family had the animated 1980 The Return of the King on VHS I used to watch with my older brothers. If you haven’t seen it, you should look it up. You’ll understand why I was so terrified of Gollum.

That fear put a bad taste in my mouth concerning the fantasy series. I used to think it was the nerdiest, strangest thing ever. It wasn’t until middle school that my perception was not only challenged but drastically changed. My older brother randomly asked if I’d watch them with him, and for whatever reason, I accepted. I was hooked by the first half of The Fellowship.

Since then, I have repented of my ways. The Lord of the Rings, along with the entirety of Middle Earth lore, is hands down my favorite fantasy series/world ever. Many other fantasy authors have tried, but none will ever hold a candle to J.R.R. Tolkien in my mind. Over the years, I’ve read as much of his I could get my hands on and plan to do so until there’s nothing left of his work.

As such a devoted fan, this film was very sentimental for me. I loved getting to see how his early life and his experiences in World War I influenced his work. I’m not a huge fan of CGI, but this film used it well to blend fantasy and reality, sparking dragons through grenade fire and black-cloaked riders through trench battles. His budding relationship with Edith (later his wife) is endearing and made sweeter by its (for the most part) historical accuracy.

A story of friendship, romance, genius, obsession, and war, Tolkien is a story as fantastical as the worlds that man created. Also, when else do you get to see a heartbroken man shouting elvish to the moon while drunk?

The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)

I have physically read Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol or a script version of it at least half a dozen times. I’ve performed in two community theater productions of the play (when I was thirteen, I played one of Mr. Fezzwig’s daughters in the Christmas Past party scene; at seventeen, I played Martha Cratchit), seen it at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. (the infamous home of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination), and watched multiple film versions. Needless to say, I have a deep love for the work. While I plan on reading more of Dickens’ work in the coming future, I have a gut feeling this will forever remain my favorite.

Because of that, I love this movie. Its depiction of Charles Dickens, while eccentric, is very touching and convincing. It portrays the frustration of writer’s block alongside all the ups and downs of writing a story. I love how his characters are portrayed as living, breathing people who carry on lives outside of his head. It honestly feels that way sometimes when you’re writing. It also focuses a lot on the pressure from his publishers, family, friends, and fans after writing several flops. As a perfectionist (sometimes to a toxic degree), this hit hard.

For the most part historically accurate, it taught me so much about my favorite holiday story.

A super fun, whimsical look at the origins of A Christmas Carol, I highly recommend it any time of the year. But especially at Christmas.

Mary Shelley (2017)

I am a massive Frankenstein fan. The novel has been high on my list of favorites since I first read it in high school. It’s such a powerful story that transcends the centuries. Mary Shelley’s power of language and grasp on the human condition will never cease to blow my mind. I’ve written multiple school essays on it. And I should warn you now: I’m discussing Frankenstein in my podcast’s first episode come summer and I won’t hold my inner nerd back.

Moving on:

I love the homage this film pays to such a powerful writer so near and dear to my heart. It shows her as a young, aspiring horror writer running off with poet Percy Shelley against her father’s wishes. This monumental decision sparks events and relationships that inspire the writing and publishing of her acclaimed work.

For the most part, it’s fairly historically accurate, i.e. perfect for me. It’s perfect for anyone wishing to learn more about the birth of such a classic gothic phenomenon. Beyond the story, the setting and cinematography are ideal for any lazy, rainy day. Watching it makes me want to run away to Europe, disappear in an old ruin, and write odes to the moon. (Not like that’s anything out of the ordinary for me, it just heightens it).

Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

I was honestly surprised how much I loved this movie. I remember seeing the trailers when it came out and being interested, but for whatever reason, I never watched it until recently. It's one my parents recommended, which was a change.

The film follows Walt Disney’s attempts to convince author P.L. Travers to let him adapt her Mary Poppins books into the 1964 musical. Despite Disney’s cheeriness and fame, the reclusive English writer remains insistent against the project. Through a series of flashbacks to Travers’ childhood, we learn what real-life events inspired her beloved children’s books and why they were so dear to her.

When I tell you this film made me emotional–my heart was throbbing by the end. I went on to write a short creative piece based on one of the flashback scenes that particularly moved me. I haven’t read Mary Poppins since I was very young, but it made me want to get my hands on a copy as soon as possible. There is so much heart and soul behind the story that can move anyone interested in Mary Poppins or Disney, even if you’re not a writer.

Emma Thompson is fabulous–as always–as Miss Travers with curtness and unrelenting resolve. Tom Hanks is a credible Walt Disney, and Colin Firth will have you in tears over his performance as the young writer’s father.

Being so far pleased with the ones I’ve seen, I looked forward to finding more films about authors to enjoy and recommend in the future.

Have you seen any of these? What's your favorite movie about an author? I'd love to hear from you! You can connect with me through thornfield.lane@gmail.com or on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter: @thornfield_lane.

Favorite Movies About Authors

Tolkien (2019)

The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)

Mary Shelley (2017)

Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

If ‘The Hunger Games’ Was Made In 2022

Please Support Independent Bookstores