12 movies with an interesting plot that can replace a good book

For centuries, relaxing with a good book has been one of the best ways to unwind and spend time with benefit. However, the modern pace of life doesn't always leave us time for that, and that's where movies come in.

A movie with a good plot also tells a coherent, well-constructed story, and a high-quality picture allows you to immerse yourself in it even deeper. Movieweb has collected 12 films that can replace a book.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

An exquisite love story from writer-director Céline Sciamma, Portrait of a Lady on Fire follows all the literary canons. It tells the story of two women, one of whom has to paint a portrait of the other. While working, they fall in love with each other. Sciamma and her team made every effort to ensure that the lighting in the frame imitated the effect of natural sunlight. The use of such lighting creates the feeling that the images we see become very close to paintings. This, in turn, gives the film a very tactile quality, as if you could hold it in your hands like a novel.

The Fifth Element (1997)

The sci-fi blockbuster, which has already become a classic, tells the story of a taxi driver from the 23rd century who unwittingly finds himself involved in a race to save the world from evil. The concept of the film is completely original, and the plot is so well developed that it seems as if you are reading a novel that is at least 400 pages long. The rich and detailed world depicted in the painting resembles the best fantasy novels with an epic scale.

Before trilogy (1995-2013)

This series of films consists of three parts Before Sunrise, Before Sunset" and Before Midnight. In the first part, two strangers meet on a train and spend the night talking as they walk around Vienna. In the following parts, they meet again at different points in their lives, following the same narrative structure. Unlike The Fifth Element, it is the simplicity of the Before trilogy that gives it the feel of a novel. It's not often that you see a movie whose entire plot is just a conversation between two people. Such things are much more achievable in novels, where there is no need for visual stimulation.

A Fantastic Woman (2017)

A Fantastic Woman depicts the journey of Marina, a transgender woman whose older lover suddenly dies. His family is not very supportive of this choice, and Marina is viewed with suspicion. The use of magical realism in A Fantastic Woman gives the film a literary quality. The approach, which is difficult to realize on screen, is very successfully realized here. The moments when the narrative is enveloped in flashes of magic make the film even more exciting and special, drawing the audience into the world of the main character.

A Bigger Splash (2015)

Luca Guadagnino's film A Bigger Splash follows a rock star and her boyfriend who go on vacation to Italy, but their trip is interrupted by old friends. The main character is played by Tilda Swinton. The woman needs to remain silent in order to give her voice a rest, she barely speaks. This lack of speech intrigues her and adds a layer of introspection to the film. Under the guise of politeness and respectfulness, there is a lot of tension bubbling up. The actors are so good at expressing hidden feelings without saying a word that it seems as if we have access to their thoughts. The film prioritizes the things that are important in novels, bringing the depth and introspection of the characters to the fore.

The Shape of Water (2017)

In The Shape of Water, as in many of Guillermo del Toro's films, the director's fascination with fairy tales is evident. In this story, Elisa, a lonely deaf cleaner, falls in love with a humanoid sea creature kept in the research center where she works. The woman manages to communicate with the incredible creature using sign language. The film's sense of magic and unusualness immerses the viewer in the atmosphere of an adult fairy tale while following the canons of the genre.

The Worst Person in the World (2021)

The main character of the film, Julie, is trying to find what she wants to do and who she wants to be. The plot of the film is about a 20-year-old woman who is lost in life, and the style of quiet sarcasm makes it very similar to the works of Sally Rooney. In an interview with Roger Ebert, director Joachim Trier said that the film asks questions such as "Who are you? What are your problems? What are you looking for? What are your shortcomings?" that the authors of the best novels ask themselves.

Eighth Grade (2018)

Bo Burnham's Eighth Grade tells the story of a shy girl, who is finishing the eighth grade, during the last week of the school year. Watching this movie is very similar to reading an educational novel for young people. Its star, Elsie Fisher, perfectly conveys loneliness through her expressions, while her dialogues are typical of those of an awkward teenager. The contrast between what she might say and what you see her feeling is so striking that it's almost painful to watch. The story takes the viewer back to his or her troubled youth.

Phantom Thread (2017)

In what may be Daniel Day-Lewis's last role in Phantom Thread, the actor plays Reynolds Woodcock, a tailor who works alongside Vicky Krieps, his muse. Both of them are very stubborn, and an incredibly complex relationship develops between them. Every scene here is carefully thought out, and although it takes place in a world of luxury, there is nothing superfluous in the frame - everything is very restrained. The attention to detail here, combined with the minimalist acting, creates a world that seems almost separated from our reality.

Drinking Buddies (2013)

Don't let the title fool you, Drinking Buddies is not a slapstick comedy like The Hangover. It's about two coworkers who work at a craft brewery, drinking and flirting with each other despite the fact that they both have partners. Then they and their partners go on a weekend getaway together and things start to get very complicated. The movie is much more subtle than it might seem at first glance, although it is also very funny. It is interesting that the dialogues here are completely improvised around a certain plot, and this is the aspect that makes the film so unique. There is a great naturalness in the actors' lines and performances.

Nobody's Daughter Haewon (2013)

The South Korean director Hong Sang-soo made a story about a university student who has a secret relationship with her professor. The plot can hardly be called original, but the peculiarity of the film is due to several scenes where we see the main character, Haewon, falling asleep in public places. And the audience can't figure out which of the events in the film is reality and which is her dream. These moments also create clear divisions in the narrative, almost like chapters in a book. This movie feels like a puzzle that needs to be solved.

Metropolitan (1990)

In this comedy about a group of young friends from high society in Manhattan, we see the story of an outsider trying to join a rather closed world. And this causes a breakdown in the entire well-established structure. Metropolitan takes place mostly in rooms where friends talk about social issues in a rather predictable, but also funny way. In its vibe, it is reminiscent of Jane Austen's novels. We watch how upper-class people spend their time and how their peace is disturbed by someone who does not fit into this world.

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