"Rant" Gets A Movie Option!

I would boost the p*&s outta the experience of someone watching this as a documentary for the first time.

Agree with documentary feel, and 'flash backs'...yes. If there is a way to 'pop' colors out for certain scenes, that would be fabulous (the guts at the haunted house eg, would be great if they would be extra-glistening)

I would love to see Sam Rockwell casted as Rant Casey, but viewers might percieve it to be the same character as in Choke...but I'd still love to see Sam Rockwell rocking the role as Rant.

In all, this being my opinion, the best book you've written, i have read it over 10 times and find out something new every time, and every time i read it i can foresee it in my mind as a movie, i can even see the movie trailer starting with a echo, green, shot just driving down the road, and stopping to let tina out, and hearing shot say the quote "Rant climbed into our backseat like he'd been waiting on that corner, waiting his whole bullshit life for us to pull up."
so i would love to see this made into a movie.

That would be so bomb.
Oh man- I can see it now.
I wholeheartedly agree.

You're right on the documentary thing but musicals? Seriously? Let's all sing a song about how fun party crashing is.

Personalty I don't like the documentary idea. Pick the story up with Rant standing on a corner witnessing a car crash. Completely change the flow of the story, make it a narrative following the stories of Chet, Echo, and Tina. Follow Buster during a series of flash backs. Make subtle changes to help hide information that can be revealed later (Example: change ports to brain implants so they can be talked about later with out the audience asking whats with the plugs on peoples necks) Focus the story on the mysterious deaths and differences of people over the years, and make Tina and Wax bigger characters. This is to distract the audience from what they are learning about Rant and really hit them hard with the final reveal of what was driving the story. And end with Tina speaking with Echo, Ned, and Shot with the same line as the end of the book, and the "where are they now" from the end of the book next to the end credits.

There's a few ways this kind of project could be approached. Most people seem all for a literal translation of oral biography to documentary, or a middle ground with bits of an actual movie interspersed with interviews from all of the characters. I think it would be great any way they take it, this is my favorite Palahniuck novel after all.

Should be shot like Wonderland or To Die For. Where interviewee becomes narrator of each scene.

Rant was actually a non-fiction oral biography. It was about Hunter S Thompson.

My dream is movies, so when I read a book I'm always thinking on how to put something on a screen so it would look good.

A documentary style of course, but at the same time showing the story carry out, showing these characters, (in there natural setting, for instance, Echo, Shot, and Neddy in a slap of metal car) telling Rant's story. And in the middle of viewing them it veers off into a depiction of Rant's ''adventures'', with a voice over of the interview'ee in the background, until eventually just Rant being filmed with no voice over until the next character takes his turn. Of course I would still do it in CP's bam bam bam story flow by cutting each interview.

Also depending on the person telling it all the characters would look different. Echo, would see herself deformed, but not ugly. Shot would see Simms as some heathen, but from Simms Field Notes, he'd be a gentleman. Ect. Ect.

Of course I also would always prefer to put the books depiction into a show rather then film, since (especially Rant) there's so much to it just to fit in 2 to 2 and a half hours. Watchmen was good, but how often would you sit through three hours of just one movie? Just look what happened to it... Better to pace your audience I say... Let them dwell over each of Rant's wild, violent, gritty, touching, mysterious and heart pumping episodes until next Monday' prime time on subscription channels (HBO/STARZ).

That's how I would do it, but hell, I don't have the budget for anything, let alone rep. All I can do now until I age a tad is voice my opinion and write some scripts which would only work if I directed them and some stories here and there.

I havn't read all these posts so if I repeated someones Ideas i'm just saying what went through my psycho head while I was reading, so don't take any offense like i'm stealing something, just covering my arse here

And also, out of all CP's books, Rant has been my favorite so far

Transition in this movie will be difficult. Going from rural Middleton to a futuristic city setting where people are exiled from the day time, and experience sensation through a port in their head may be confusing. There is nothing in the first part of the story to indicate a pseudo-futuristic apocalypse that's going on. I love the story, but may be too A.D.D. for a movie. It's either going to be great or misunderstood by the masses. I guess regardless of this difficult segway, sticking to the story is most important. I think this would be best achieved by having two directors. One to direct rural Middleton and one to direct the futuristic city

I don't think the city would need to have any sort of "Blade Runner" look, or really even anything "futuristic" at all really.
The daytimer/nighttimer thing could just be a designation on your liscense. Not to mention that in the book it seemed painfully cliched that the "straights & squares" were daytimers and all the counter-culture kids wee the nighttimers. You could easily make that distinction in the way they dress. The port stuff would be the only real "futuristic" aspect to film. But, if i remember correctly, Chuck has said the book needn't really take place in the future, that he had it in mind that it took place in the late 70's while he wrote it. They could just have like an old-timey coaxial cable plug in the back of their neck.

As for actually filming it, how's this for different and experimental film-making: Have each actor that's telling their version of the story actually direct their segment too.
They're always saying about how what they really want to do is direct and whatnot, well, now here's your chance! You'd be getting the story from every possible perspective of the character.

this movie will never ever be rant the book.. ever and watching people talk about rant would suck as a movie i think that it would be freaking awesome in a first person story with epic car crashes with a mystery theme about the historian and some sweet fx bc time travel is great i loved this book and a movie documentery would ruin it so if the movie comes out like that im just going to skip it and read the book again

have you ever seen dog bites man (this happend in your neighborhood) thats how it should be done

I think for the opening of the movie you start with Chester Casey walking up to the door and asking to see Irene Shelby, and him being invited in, and end the story with the same scene but with Buster Casey doing the same thing. Kind of like the movie "12 Monkeys" with Bruce Willis where it ends and begins with the same clip. I love the idea of making Rant and different person in each story line. I like the idea of having it start like a documentary but after a minute of talking the story just plays out and every now and then a new "host" tells the next part of the story, thus either continuing the story form where the last person started or contradicting them completely, which would fit will with the book since that happens a few times.

This could potentially be as big as Fight Club. I can only imagine how many people are going to start going around, contracting rabies and start party crashing. Done right, this can be one epic documentary.

I would LOVE to see Rant as a movie. However, it will never compare to the book. I feel like I would be disappointed in the movie no matter how well it is filmed because I already have the characters in my head. I wouldn't want Chuck Palahniuk's work of genius books to turn into another Harry Potter or Twilight. Meaning, the movie that people watch and become obsessed with without reading the book. He's too great of an author to become OVERLY mainstreamed. Although it would be interesting to see how they'd film the Party crashing scenes. Rant Casey, and the entire book just seems too complicated to make into a film. If one part is taken out, i'd be disappointed, but they'd HAVE to take something out wouldn't they?...i don't know. I just hope it doesn't ruin the book.

When I read the book, I didn't really think of it as a documentary, but I still reallllyy digged it's style. It was like many different people were describing various scenes and I was picturing the various scenes in my head and the jumping from scene to scene, not picturing the people being interviewed. The times when it seemed more like the actual person being interviewed in that "talking head" style was when what they were saying was very informative, rather than depicting a scene. I would like to see this movie as mostly the scenes that each person was describing, and have it jump around like the book does. Hopefully they do a good job in emulating each character's unique personality. I can't wait for this movie.

I really think that unless this is handled very carefully, the movie will be a big disappointment. This movie needs to be done by someone with experience, and passion for Chuck's storytelling style, and his details. I know this is cliche but Fincher is the only one I would trust at this point. However I am sure they will hand it of to some green director, with no budget, and it will end up like the Choke adaptation. I would love to be wrong, but in order to spare myself the disappointment, I will assume that they will not handle this right. Sorry for being cynical, but Rant is my favorite Chuck Palahniuk book (with Survivor a close second) and I really don't think there is a director who would be chosen for Rant, that will treat the project with the respect it deserves.

A faux documentary would be terrible. I think the events should take place through the eyes of each contributor, with voice-overs, and each event/character's persona would be different depending on who is telling their version of the story. That's how the book unfolds, and I think that the movie should reflect that as well. That's my opinion, and I just hope that the movie is as funny, sad, exciting, complex, intense, disturbing, bizarre, and layered, as the book. I also hope it is as visually stunning, as the book is psychologically stunning. I don't have my hopes up yet, but I hope that will change. Thanks for listening to my "Rant."

I say do it as a documentary with flashbacks. ed norton as rant and helena bonom carter as echo

Aren't they, like, sixty?

and tyler durden as green taylor simms!!!

The second I finished reading Rant (which is my second favorite Palahniuk book behind Fight Club), I knew I wanted to see a movie adaptation.

I definitely agree with the whole faux-documentary style, I was thinking of something along the lines of District 9, so it'd be a mix of traditional and documentary style filming.

Another thing that I think they should definitely incorporate is the updates on all the interviewees at the end of the movie, which would include a picture of each person. Those who "remain in quarantine for an indefinite (?) amount of time" should have black and white pictures.

The only challenge I see in adapting the book is everything that G.T. Simms says. Because no one knows where he is, and for the most part, he's quoted from his field notes. So I have no clue how they could work that in...

I changed my mind. If they use any of my ideas I want some dough!

Damien - I agree. And that is why I have made not only one but two albums based upon Rant. This is where it's happening on film: http://www.vimeo.com/18540264
and this is where it happens in audio only: http://soundcloud.com/martinbernt

and I did it not because it's mr Palahniuks best book, but because it's so graphic and visually detailed....and dark!!!!

ps: album #2 will appear soon online.

I definitely think Rant would make an excellent movie.

Actually I have been working for a couple of years on two albums that will be released in the fall based upon Rant.

Some of the lyrics are directly taken from the book and some are mine, but all of the tracks are inspired by chapters and stories in the book.

It has been a great ride and I can't wait to post the free downloads on this site when everything is ready.

In the meantime here are some links for the music and a video to go with it:

Video: http://www.vimeo.com/18540264

Audio(only): http://soundcloud.com/martinbernt

The project needs a name though. Any suggestions???!!

I think casting Ed Norton or Jason Statham or that guy from Jackass as Rant would be a bad idea. Rant is mentioned as being really fucking attractive right? I just can't see anyone swooning over Jason Statham. And also, I may have missed something while reading the book, but I always imagined Rant and Echo and Shot and Neddy as being really young. Like early to mid-20's.

I think someone like Dave Franco would be PERFECT for rant: http://shechive.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/eye-candy-dave-franco-8.jpg?...

And then Josh Brolin for Chester: http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/10-josh-brolin-WI-0509-lg-22701...

Fairuza Balk for Tina Something: http://images.buddytv.com/articles/movies/profiles/fairuza-balk.jpg

Nicholas Hoult for Neddy Nelson: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XdaIm3c0nNw/Tc3FSoHDq5I/AAAAAAAAAN0/jmsv-HA5Md...

Noah Segan for Shot: http://tvcasualties.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/jon-noahsegan.jpg

Christoph Waltz for Green Taylor Simms: http://www4.images.coolspotters.com/wallpapers/68122/christoph-waltz-mob...

And a slightly darker haired Brie Larson for Echo: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef0147e3c9e9fd970b-80...

(Yes, I have put a lot of thought into this... hahah.)

But if the film-makers really want the movie to appeal to a large audience, younger characters would be a smart choice.

Oh and I think the fact that the story is set in the future should be very subtle. Like, the city / the small towns / the people shouldn't look or act any different than how they do now. The only difference being the ports on peoples necks and the night timer / day timer laws.

annalawrence, I think your choices are fabulously well thought out. I hope Rant sees the big screen some day, and I hope we see the rest of the trilogy in book format in the near future. Sad to see this post was originally from 2008.

Joe 02/24/12

For some reason whenever I picture what Rant would look like I always imagine Kurt Cobain.

I think Rant would make a great movie. Hopefully they can get this off the ground someday.

Oh Sam Elliot as Chester Casey, Rant's dad...the only person i ever imagined playing that part. He fits it to well...Rant for me is to hard to place... the idea of looking like Kurt Cobain is one but i pictured him as more a clean cut short haired grubby looking guy... like sam rockwell can play in a few of his movies.

I'm super excited, I would imagine Tom Hardy playing Rant, and all the people connected with him seated at a round table, talking... then there would be actual film scenes and voices heard from off. Plus street interviews.

Paul Dano is a great suggestion, but he doesn't really have much sex appeal. He is one of those chameleons, though. Draws you in with phenomenal skills. He is an Oscar magnet.
Max Minghella hasn't done fair acting since his dad passed away. Just poses and pouts (albeit nice pout). But, he is an option, if he decides to get hungry and act for real.
Or maybe we could put Sam Rockwell in a time machine and cast him in his 20's.
RANT is one of my top 2 books of all time!!! The other is Grapes of Wrath.
I'd do anything to be any part of this production. Hell, I'd even go back to film school for production.
I suggest filming in Wilmington, N.C. Because its cheaper and full of talent at Screen Gem Studios (Frank Capra Jr.). A lot of A list actors have met their ex-wives there. heh.
It's at the beach, and has interesting marsh lands, as well.
They have an Emmy winning casting team there, also.
I have a friend in L.A. who just finished writing and directing a feature length movie as a thesis for AFI. She could be a great resource. She has done production work on everything from Cabin Fever 2 to Talledega Nights- Ricky Bobby. And she is pretty and young (the short one in the pic).
http://www.skinnyjofilm.com/
Inbox me, if you want to get in touch with her.
Break a leg...or booger! haha

nznomis, Paul Dano is a great suggestion, but he doesn't really have much sex appeal. He is one of those chameleons, though. Draws you in with phenomenal skills. He is an Oscar magnet.
Max Minghella hasn't done fair acting since his dad passed away. Just poses and pouts (albeit nice pout). But, he is an option, if he decides to get hungry and act for real.
Or maybe we could put Sam Rockwell in a time machine and cast him in his 20's.
RANT is one of my top 2 books of all time!!! The other is Grapes of Wrath.
I'd do anything to be any part of this production. Hell, I'd even go back to film school for production.
I suggest filming in Wilmington, N.C. Because its cheaper and full of talent at Screen Gem Studios (Frank Capra Jr.). A lot of A list actors have met their ex-wives there. heh.
It's at the beach, and has interesting marsh lands, as well.
They have an Emmy winning casting team there, also.
I have a friend in L.A. who just finished writing and directing a feature length movie as a thesis for AFI. She could be a great resource. She has done production work on everything from Cabin Fever 2 to Talledega Nights- Ricky Bobby. And she is pretty and young (the short one in the pic).
http://www.skinnyjofilm.com/
Inbox me, if you want to get in touch with her.
Break a leg...or booger! haha
When is this movie going to happen?!!