Best Adapted Podcast

Bested Adapted Podcast stumbles back into your feed with the iconic and super-well-known and easily streamable Where the Buffalo Roam. Based on the writings of Hunter S. Thompson, the film stars Bill Murray as the gonzo journalist and follows his relationship with Chicano activist Oscar Acosta. Pitched as both a slapstick comedy and meditation on the death of counter-culture, Where the Buffalo Roam presents a boozy rendition of American pop-culture and history. But does this adaptation live up to the wit and irreverence of Hunter S. Thompson's writings? Or is it simply a gonzo-goofout? Joined by scholar, labor organizer, and journalist Omari Averette-Phillips, Caleb and Frank discuss the NFL (bad), Bill Murray (good), and Bruno Kirby (the best). Listen to Omari on the New Books Network here Follow BAP on twitter @adaptedbest

Tune in for the true-true on the Wachowski siblings' effort to film the staggering Cloud Atlas (also Tom Tykwer but he's a small fry). Adapted in 2012 from the David Mitchell novel of the same name, Cloud Atlas is a genre-bending, time-traveling epic that attempts to consider the totality of human history. Starring Tom Hanks, Hallie Berry, Hugh Grant, and a host of other great performers, Cloud Atlasis a film like no other, deserving a podcast episode like no other. Joined by returning guest Josh Marcus (The Independent) Caleb and Frank discuss David Mitchell's era-hopping prose, the Wachowskis' unique blend of spectacle and sap, and the contradicting strains of humanism and insensitivity that run throughout the film. Find Josh on twitter @joshwmarcus Follow Best Adapted Podcast on Twitter @adaptedbest

Much like the Green Knight coming back to claim your head, it's that time of the year in your podcast feed. Concluding their King Arthur adaptations miniseries, BAP has brought in a ringer with special guest Ted Meyer. Episode includes discussion of chivalry and arthouse film in the 2020s and features some of the worst Ralph Ineson impressions ever recorded. Find Ted on Twitter @Elliot_Goulda Follow Best Adapted Podcast on Twitter @adaptedbest

It's the Quest we can't Quit. In the early 2010s, Hollywood execs timidly pushed through the mists if Avalon in search of their own Holy Grail -- marketable IP. In the hopes of creating an interlocking universe of superheroic Knights, Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow tapped sorcery skeptic franchise veteran Guy Ritchie to helm the project. Can Guy Ritchie's cockney sensibility transform Romance to a genre fit for kings? Or is King Arthur: Legend of the Sword another cynical cash grab by an industry terrified of new ideas? Joined by Anna Menta (Decider) Caleb and Frank discuss Sherlock Holmes and the drinking habits of David Beckham and Guy Ritchie, and pitch other directors that should take a stab at King Arthur. Follow Anna on Twitter @annalikestweets Follow Best Adapted Podcast on Twitter @AdaptedBest

BAP, the most chivalrous film podcast on the airwaves, strides majestically back into your feed. This week we cover Excalibur, the 1981 fantasy Arthurian epic from John Boorman. With a booming Wagner score and an absolute rogue's gallery of British performers, Excalibur turns Le Morte d'Arthur into the archetypal swords-and-sorcery extravaganza. But how does it fare at adapting the legend of King Arthur for modern moviegoers? Joined by researcher and fantasy enthusiast Alexandra Sitner, Frank and Caleb discuss Ben Carson, kids with beards, and Gandalf's second life as an improv comic. Find Alexandra on twitter @Alex_Sitner Follow Best Adapted Podcast on Twitter @adaptedbest

Best Adapted Podcast returns to Camelot by way of New York City. Continuing our King Arthur miniseries, BAP takes a look at The Fisher King, Terry Gilliam's 1991 retelling of Perceval, the Story of the Grail. Gilliam reconfigured the romantic poem to the world of shock-jock radio hosts and the homeless population in New York. Starring Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges, The Fisher King garnered Oscar nominations and critical acclaim at its release. But does does this film grasp the mythical grail of “radaptation”? Or does it fall to wayside among the defeated knights of the “badaptation” table? Joined by investigative journalist Donald Morrison (The Wall Street Journal, Passion of the Weiss, Law360), Frank and Caleb discuss Howard Stern, video stores, and the great journalism movies.

Best Adapted Podcast begins its King Arthur miniseries with two films, Eric Rohmer's Perceval le Gallois and Robert Bresson's Lancelot du Lac. Both adaptations come from 1970s France, featuring two auteurs at the height of their powers. Rohmer's Perceval faithfully highlights the lyricism and whimsy of Arthurian poetry, while Bresson's Lancelot takes a scalpel to the chivalric code to peek at the wounded masculinity inside. Joined by critic and author A.S. Hamrah (The Baffler, N+1, The Earth Dies Streaming), Frank and Caleb discuss Medieval Times (the restaurant), Medieval times (the era), and the surprising strength of Hollywood's Talking Fox Lobby. Buy A.S. Hamrah's The Earth Dies Streaming here Check out Jenny Perlin's Bunker here Follow A.S. Hamrah on twitter @hamrahrama And Follow Best Adapted Podcast @adaptedbest

The final entry in Best Adapted Podcast's Jane Austen miniseries. Whit Stillman, the poet laureate of the Upper East Side, emerged from semiretirement in 2016 to breathe new life into Jane Austen's little known novella Lady Susan. Stillman and Austen share comic sensibilities and bourgeois sympathies, but can Old New York's proudest son turn back the clock and embrace a world other than his own? Joined by Austen superfan Jamie Herman, the Frank and Caleb discuss epistolary novels, advanced agricultural techniques, and which of the 12 Commandments is their favorite. Follow Best Adapted Podcast on Twitter @adaptedbest

What is life without wife? Don't ask Frank or Caleb, they're miserable bachelors. Joined by Delhi native and Caleb's college bully Raghu Aggarwal, the boys discuss Indian weddings, Netflix's disruption of the Indian film industry's squeaky clean image, and of course, Gurinder Chadha's 2004 Bollywood-lite Jane Austen adaptation, Bride and Prejudice. How well do song and dance numbers fit into Jane Austen's classic comedy of romance and misunderstanding? Will Martin Henderson choke on his enchilada? Could someone please make Martin Henderson choke on his enchilada? These questions and more, all answered on BEST ADAPTED PODCAST Follow Best Adapted Podcast on twitter @AdaptedBest

In 1995 the greatest podcast host of all time, Frank Meyer, was born. That same year, Amy Heckerling transported the story of Jane Austen's Emma from rural England to Beverly Hills. Over the following 26 years, Clueless has become a cult hit that portrays timeless tropes of adolescence while preserving an incredible time capsule of mid-90s teenage culture. Starring Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy, and Paul Rudd, Heckerling's film translates the witty repartee of Jane Austen into SoCal slang. But is this makeover of nineteenth literature "a total Betty?" Or did this teenage adaptation die during a routine liposuction? Joined by cold weather Canuck and cold-blooded lizard Faith Tetlow, Frank and Caleb discuss Jennifer's Body, National Lampoon, and even find some time to mention Clueless, the movie they are ostensibly gathered for. Follow Best Adapted Podcast @adaptedbest

It's a Christmas Miracle! BAP returns to your feed to begin our Jane Austen miniseries. Rachel Stone (BOMB Magazine, Real Life Mag, The New Republic) comes back on the Pod to discuss Ang Lee's 1995 Sense and Sensibility, adapted from the Jane Austen novel of the same name. Written by, and starring, Emma Thompson, the film is a rouges gallery of UK movie stars, including Hugh Grant, Kate Winslet, and Alan Rickman. It is also the English-language debut of Ang Lee, a Taiwanese director then known for his domestic dramas about emotional repression and family relations. Does the film successfully translate Sense and Sensibility? Or does this adaptation lose the head and the heart of its source material? Frank, Caleb, and Rachel discuss wedding playlists, fuckbois, and Hulk. Plus, Frank brings back an old gameshow. This episode sponsored by The Rupert Friend Fan Club: https://rupertfriendfandotcom.files.wordpress.com/ Find Rachel on twitter @stone_of_arc Read Rachel's new poetry from Expat Press Follow Best Adapted Podcast on Twitter @adaptedbest

Halloween Bonus! BAP interrupts its regularly scheduled programming to bring you a horror adaptation episode. Written in 1974, Carrie launched the literary horror career of Stephen King. The novel weaves together religious extremism, high school dances, and teenage girls into gruesome supernatural scare-fest. Brian De Palma, a movie brat with an eye for sleaze, adapted Carrie in 1976 with Sissy Spacek and John Travolta. But are Stephen King and Brian De Palma a good pair at the Bates High School Formal? Do they slow-dance into a Radaptation? Or is it just pig-blood and disappointment? Joined by returning guest Mads Clarke (Under the Influence Pod) Caleb and Frank swap prom stories and wax poetic on De Palma's pervy style. Follow Mads on twitter @maddoritos Follow Best Adapted Podcast on twitter @adaptedbest

Best Adapted Podcast connects with its inner child and checks out Fantastic Mr. Fox, the Roald Dahl book and its stop-motion animation adaptation from Wes Anderson. The 2009 film assembles a star-studded voice cast of Anderson standbys (Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson) and new collaborators for the twee filmmaker (Meryl Streep and George Clooney). The movie also expands on the initial work to become a story of mid-life crisis and familial bonding. But do the changes enhance or diminish the adaptation? Joined by Jakob Anderson (Pitch Hunt podcast), Caleb and Frank discuss spaghetti westerns, Wes Anderson's unique place in the film industry, and celebrated actor/musician/singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson. Check out Jakob's Podcast Pitch Hunt Follow Best Adapted Podcast on twitter @adaptedbest

Best Adapted Podcast heads down South. Korea, that is, by way of Mississippi. In Burning, Korean auteur Lee Chang Dong channels the despair and apocalyptic rage of William Faulkner and Haruki Murakami to explore masculine insecurity and economic inequality in contemporary Seoul. But how well does this film translate and build on these celebrated writers' works? Joined by musician Mitch Peterson (slowya.roll) Caleb and Frank wax poetic on arson, Miles Davis, and the incredible performance of Steven Yuen. Follow Mitch on twitter @slowya.roll and instagram @slowya.roll Check out his new single “Hidden Agendas” Follow Best Adapted Podcast on Twitter @adaptedbest

BAP concludes the Los Angeles Noir miniseries with Inherent Vice, the deeply funny and deeply paranoid 2014 film from Paul Thomas Anderson. Based on the Thomas Pynchon novel, Inherent Vice is equal parts a stoner comedy and detective story with a byzantine plot of conspiracy theories and counter-cultural goofballs. Does this marijuana mystery translate to the medium of film? Or do PTA's efforts go up in smoke? Joined by Matthew Thomas (Red Hook Star-Revue, Duke University), BAP discusses surfing, biker-gangs, and tries to diagnose where it all went wrong for the hippie movement. Find Matt on twitter @mattteriality Follow Best Adapted Podcast on twitter @adaptedbest

In In 1995, American audiences mostly ignored Carl Franklin's Devil in a Blue Dress. Based on the Walter Mosley novel of the same name, the film is a rare Noir written, directed, and starring Black filmmakers, but its box office failure dashed their hopes for a full franchise. Franklin's film has developed a cult following in the last 25 years, but how does it compare to the titans of genre? Joined by labor activist and film nut Paul Kirk-Davidoff, Frank and Caleb discuss the irresistible charms of Denzel Washington, getting liquor delivered in New York, and how much they all miss bars. Find Paul Kirk-Davidoff on twitter @oddfellows151 Find Best Adapted @AdaptedBest

CW: this episode discusses racism and violence Oral arguments are capped at 1 hour. Fascist and Pinko are acceptable slurs. All pronunciations of “noir” must be done in a French accent. Best Adapted Podcast steps into the ring for a no-holds-barred debate over the 1997 film L.A. Confidential. With Henry ‘Hank' Hietala presiding as judge, Frank and Caleb each make their case for, or against, Curtis Hanson's adaptation of the James Ellroy novel. Only one host will be emerge victorious. Find Best Adapted Podcast on twitter @adaptedbest

CW: this episode discusses racism and violence Best Adapted Podcast is back at it again with another entry in the Los Angeles Noir miniseries. On this episode, Henry ‘Hank' Hietala (Ruminate Magazine, the Stonecoast Review) returns to the pod to discuss LA Confidential and its 1997 adaptation by Curtis Hanson. Written by James Ellroy, LA Confidential is a revisionist noir about corruption and racism within the post-war LAPD. But Ellroy's vulgar prose and aloof persona offer a difficult conundrum to readers – is he merely writing about racism and authoritarianism in American society, or endorsing it via his best-selling crime fiction? The discussion grows heated until Frank lays down the gauntlet for LA Confidential Part 2. Find Best Adapted Podcast on twitter @adaptedbest

For the second entry in the LA Noir series, Best Adapted Podcast looks at The Long Goodbye from 1972. Made nearly 20 years after Chandler's novel came out, the film transposed the Phillip Marlowe story to counter-culture Los Angeles. Directed by Robert Altman, the movie was a distinctly New Hollywood approach to the noir genre that emphasized mood and tone over mystery. But how does this combination of classic and new fare as an adaptation? Joined by Zant Peralta (Under the Influence with Mads and Mitch) Caleb and Frank discuss the physique of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the swagger of Elliot Gould, and which version of 3:10 to Yuma is worth watching. Plus, Frank debuts a new gameshow. Find Zant on Twitter @zantperalra Follow Best Adapted Podcast on @Adaptedbest

Not since God x The Chosen People has there been a more iconic/problematic collab. The certified Big Brain Boys™ from Best Adapted Podcast enter the Audio Ark this week to talk Exodus cinema, including 'The Ten Commandments' (1956, good) and 'Exodus: Gods and Kings' (2014, bad). Follow Best Adapted Podcast on Twitter @adaptedbest Follow Smite Me on twitter @SmiteMePodcast Support Smite Me: https://anchor.fm/smite-me-podcast/support

BAP begins its LA Noir miniseries with a discussion of The Big Sleep, the 1947 adaptation of the Raymond Chandler novel. Directed by Howard Hawks and featuring the real-life romantic duo of Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, the film is a formative entry in the noir genre. Joined again by Will Drickey, Caleb and Frank try to solve the film's various mysteries - Was Howard Hawks ever in a threesome with Bogie and Bacall? Has Will ever gotten drunk in the back of an ambulance? Will we get DMCA'd for singing Happy Birthday on mic? And perhaps the greatest mystery of all – is this a Radaptation? Follow Best Adapted Podcast on Twitter @AdaptedBest

Caleb and Frank tease their next miniseries on the genre of Los Angeles noir. Follow Best Adapted Podcast on twitter @AdaptedBest

CW: this episode discusses extreme sexual violence BAP goes north in this episode to the frigid cold of Sweden and examines the 2011 adaptation of Stieg Larson's international bestseller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Sony pictures eagerly purchased the rights to the book with hopes of creating a successful franchise. Directed by David Fincher, the film alienated audiences and critics alike with its intense violence and depravity. But is this adaptation due for a reappraisal? Joined by longtime listener, first-time caller Mads Clark (Under the Influence with Mads and Mitch Podcast) Frank and Caleb discuss tattoos, Fincher's obsession with violence, and Enya. Find Mads on Twitter @maddoritos Follow BAP on Twitter @adaptedbest

Winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2007, August: Osage County was a smash hit in the Chicago and Broadway theater scenes. The play, an acidic depiction of a dysfunctional Oklahoma family, was adapted to film in 2013. Tracy Letts’s script attracted movie stars Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts as well as character actors like Chris Cooper and Margo Martindale. But how well did this play translate to the film medium? Joined by theater director Lana Richards (The Wickies Theater Company), Caleb and Frank discuss falling asleep at the theater and James Dolan’s musical career. Plus, Frank debuts a new game show. Find Lana Richards on twitter @the_dalailana Find Best Adapted Podcast on twitter @adaptedbest

In 1991 Nintendo granted husband-and-wife directors Rocky Morton and Annabelle Jankel the rights to their Super Mario Bros. franchise to create a family adventure film. Already a household name, Mario was poised to join the pantheon of cinema’s greatest heroes. But Super Mario Bros. suffered from a notoriously chaotic production and the film has since been disavowed by almost all performers and crew members associated with it. But does the Super Mario Bros. adaptation have more merit than the record suggests? Joined by Ryan Harris, Caleb and Frank discuss the criminal exploits of cast-member Gianni Russo, estimate the cost of an animatronic Yoshi puppet, and attempt to diagnose the rise of Trumpism in the United States. Plus, Frank debuts a new game show. Find Best Adapted Podcast on twitter @AdaptedBest 

Best Adapted Podcast closes the book on John le Carré. Ending their miniseries on a master of spy novels, Caleb and Frank discuss le Carré’s legacy and the various film adaptations of his work. What makes his books so compelling to filmmakers? What is the difference between a “good” or a “bad” le Carré adaptation? Who might next try to adapt one of his novels? Plus, we announce the next miniseries on Best Adapted Podcast. Find Best Adapted Podcast on twitter @adaptedbest

Frank and Caleb conclude their John le Carré miniseries with A Most Wanted Man. The novel was a thriller about high-finance, immigration, and the encroaching surveillance state in Europe and the United States. The film featured a deep roster of German and American actors and one of the last screen performances by Phillip Seymour Hoffman. But is the film a worthy adaptation for one of Le Carré’s final books? Joined by Josh Marcus (The Independent), Frank and Caleb discuss Leon Panetta’s almond farm, the film’s outlandish German accents, and John le Carré’s love of Joy Division. Find Josh Marcus on Twitter @joshwmarcus

John le Carré offered a stirring indictment of corporate imperialism and the pharmaceutical industry with his novel The Constant Gardener. In 2005, Fernando Merielles adapted the work into an Oscar-winning drama starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz. But 15 years later, and no longer blinded by the shine of gold trophies, how well do the novel and film hold up as social commentaries? Joined by Rachel Stone (BOMBMagazine, Real Life, The New Republic), Caleb and Frank discuss over-sized suits, Bono, and what Ralph Fiennes looks like when he cries. Find Rachel Stone @stone_of_arc

In 2001, with his tenure as James Bond dwindling, Pierce Brosnan signed on for an adaptation of The Tailor of Panama, directed by the New Hollywood veteran John Boorman. The novel was John Le Carré’s first major hit since the end of the Cold War and contained an eerily prophetic warning of American aggression and falsified intelligence. But how well did Brosnan and Boorman translate this tropical spy tale? Caleb and Frank are joined by D.C. insider Leo Martin (The Foreign Service Journal) to discuss Zardoz, tailoring, and Geoffrey Rush’s dad-bod. Plus, Frank introduces a new game show. Find Leo on twitter @leowmartin95

Continuing their John le Carré miniseries, Caleb and Frank talk Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and its 2011 adaptation. Joined by Ted Meyer (Inverse), the boys discuss Swedish vampires, bad hair, and Mark Strong’s eyes. Considered John le Carré’s densest novel, how does this classic mole-hunt translate from the written word to the silver screen? Find Ted on Twitter @GrumpyMovieBoy

Caleb and Frank begin their John le Carré miniseries with The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. Martin Ritt's 1965 adaptation dazzled critics and audiences in both England and the United States and began a Hollywood tradition of putting Le Carré's works on film. But can it match the grim tone and twisting plot of John Le Carré's breakout novel? Joined by Matt Thomas (Red Hook Star-Revue, Duke University) the trio trade Berlin stories and plumb the depths of alcoholic sadboy Richard Burton.   Find Matt on twitter @heteroglossier

Caleb and Frank announce their miniseries on the works of John le Carré.

Laurence Sterne's The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentlemen has been called "the first post-modern novel" written before "there was even a modern to be post- about." Written in 1759, the nine-volume satirical memoir is also recognized as "thoroughly unadaptable." But in 2005, Michael Winterbottom and Steve Coogan attempted to do just that. Caleb and Frank are joined by special guest Will Drickey to discuss dads, meta-fiction, and Shirley Henderson. 

Caleb and Frank discuss The Commitments with special guest Henry Hietala (Ruminate Magazine, Stonecoast Review). The 1991 musical-comedy-drama spawned a 5x platinum record soundtrack and has become an Irish cult classic since its release. But how does it fair as an adaptation of Roddy Doyle's 1987 novel? 

The first episode of Best Adapted Podcast! Caleb and Frank talk Brad, baseball, and Bennett Miller's Moneyball. But how is it as an adaptation of the Michael Lewis book?