Chuck Klosterman’s Killing Yourself To Live Optioned for the Big Screen
I never quite thought I’d see the day when a Chuck Klosterman book could be turned into a feature film, but it looks like that day is almost upon us. Variety reports that Half Shell Entertainment has picked up the rights to Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story, the story of Klosterman’s “pilgrimage” to the various sites where famous rock stars have died. Along the way he waxes poetic about pop culture, stardom and past loves.
For those not familiar with Klosterman, he is a smarmy hipster journalist and critic who has written for Spin and Esquire, among other publications. I actually do enjoy his books, although Killing Yourself to Live is one that I haven’t read yet. From what I know about it, it seems like an odd choice to adapt into a movie. It will either be 90% narration or they’ll have to add a lot of fictional elements along the way. Klosterman says simply that it will be “a comedic road movie heavily based in rock ‘n’ roll”. Why not just make it a documentary with Klosterman himself hosting it? His most recent book, Downtown Owl, is his first attempt at fiction, and one would think it might actually be more suitable for a feature film. Either way, Klosterman has lots of fans and I’m sure this movie could do well if it’s marketed to the appropriate crowd. Thoughts?
Comments (3)
i read the book. klostermann visits the places where some rock stars died. i think it already reads like a road movie, so i think it’s a good idea
Posted by markusmaria on November 15th, 2008I havn’t read any of his stuff, nor do I know him but that’s pretty cool, a real rock ‘n roll road movie, self exploration and exploring some things about rock ‘n roll. I think this should be a awesome watch, if not a possible new cult-classic.
Posted by Awesome on November 16th, 2008I have read Killing Yourself to Live, and as a huge fan of Chuck Klosterman’s writing, I must say that this is a pretty bad idea. KYTL delves so much from its stated purpose of visiting rock n’ roll death sites that the movie would have to be really, really unfaithful to the book in order to work.
Posted by Petey on November 18th, 2008Leave a Reply