Are you a writer looking for a good movie to watch, one that really speaks to you? Ever wanted to know how some writers (if not all them) go through the writing process and writer’s block? (Though, some of these movies that will be listed are considered cautionary tales for those looking to be famous and make money as a writer.)
These eight movies are sure to intrigue the mind, since being a writer – just the profession itself- is solitary work; and the writing process can be more than just writing something on paper.
Wonder Boys (2000)
“Wonder Boys stars Michael Douglas and Tobey Maguire, in a story about an English professor and writer who hasn’t put out a book since his award-winning novel a while back,” says Cameron Torode, a movie blogger at Academized and Australianhelp. “But soon, Douglas’s character Grady meets the new ‘wonder boy’ author (Maguire), Grady realizes his shortcomings and insecurities through this new companionship.”
Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)
This film serves as a good example of how the writing process can be difficult at times with commercial failure, writer’s block, and discouraging criticism. The movie tells the true story of writer Lee Israel, who was notorious for creating forged letters of deceased famous people. This idea stems from her financial problems, and her previous works not selling. Therefore, this film goes to show that being a writer can be challenging, even when people don’t see value in your work; and, it shows the consequences of what can happen when you succumb to desperate measures to make money.
In this film Ethan Hawke plays a novelist named Jesse, who is on a European book tour, after writing about his night years ago with a woman named Celine (Julie Delpy), which was where the movie’s predecessor Before Sunrise (1995) had left off. Receiving critical acclaim, this film is not only a good romantic movie for like audiences, but also a treat for writers looking for inspiration in their next (or first) romance novel.
Reprise (2006)
This film follows two young men who are best friends, and they both send out their manuscripts in hopes of having an editor greenlight them. While Phillip’s manuscript is accepted and becomes a literary sensation, Erik’s is rejected. From there, Phillip struggles to find solace from his mental and emotional problems, Erik tries and fails to find success.
A Man For All Seasons (1966)
Who would’ve thought that Sir Thomas More, the author of Utopia, was a man of principles, a humanist, and, perhaps, a saint. This film shows how More’s principles have come to shape his life, since he had a strong sense of morality and ethics. Most notably, he was against Henry VIII’s wish to annul yet another marriage.
Although this movie doesn’t talk about the writing process per se, it still manages to capture the “other-ness” and “on the outside looking in” feelings that most writers would experience. Patrick Fugit plays William Miller, who travels with a rock band to write a cover story about them for Rolling Stone. During that time, Miller struggles whether to write the truth (which can be difficult to say at times), or to write a story that the band wants to be written about them.
Mary Shelley (2018)
“Elle Fanning stars as the female writer Mary Shelley in this 2018 biographical film,” says Brooke Robinson, a tech writer at an essay writing service. “Along with Douglas Booth and Tom Sturridge, who play Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron respectively, the movie follows their stories, along with Mary’s romance with Percy, and how she conceived Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.”
Colette (2018)
This film portrays the true story of the French novelist Colette. Colette (played by Keira Knightley) ghostwrites for her husband, Willy. But when she writes a semi-autobiographical novel that becomes a bestseller, the couple start to resent each other. Now, it’s one thing to ghostwrite for someone; but when your “employer” (or in this case, your husband) locks you in a room and has you write, then you’ll know how hard it is to produce good works under pressure.
Conclusion
So, now that you know eight of the best movies about writers and the writing process, we hope that this list inspires you to either pick up a pen or open your laptop, and write.
Beatrix is a movie blogger at Boomessays.com and Ukwritings.com. She is also a manager at Essay Help service. As a blogger, she loves writing about hiking and traveling.