A couple of weeks ago I was telling someone (now I can’t remember who this was) how I watched all the films nominated for best picture. This person (maybe the woman I was speaking to at the alignment shop?) said, well did you see The Glass Castle?

I said no, I hadn’t.

I had just recently read the book last year. And I liked it so much I decided that I just couldn’t see the movie after all, even though I finally read the book so I could see the movie…

But with a few months separating myself from that reading experience, I decided to – based on her recommendation – give the movie a try after all.

Now I wish I could remember who this was and thank this woman! Because yes, this is a great movie and IT DOES do the book justice.


We readers know that the book is almost always better than the movie. Only one case in my life have I found this to be the opposite. 

This movie ended up having the same feel, with all its beauty, fear, and contradictions, as the book. I think the movie did as well as possible with this story. In fact I think it enhanced the book for me with phenomenal acting, staying mostly true to the story and picking out the best parts to show. I know some of the parts were added but I cannot even tell you for sure which parts those were, it all seemed so real. As I watch more and more good movies I realize this is truly an art form, as is writing a book.

I also enjoyed watching the “special features” included with the movie and saw the author talk about this adaption. She was VERY involved with the adaption and loved it. She talked with all the actors often and even loaned them clothes she had in her closet from years ago. The paintings used in the movie are really her mothers paintings. She said Wood Harrelson actually became her father. I could go on…

This movie did not get any nominations or awards. I think it should have been nominated for adapted screenplay because it was spot on.

So with this post I’m just hoping to convince someone else to give this one a try after all!

 

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links you will not pay any extra but I may make a small commission. Thank you for supporting Leslie’s Bookcase.