Oscar-Nominated Film Based on Book by University of Iowa Alum

This year's Academy Awards will happen on March 15th in Hollywood. A movie with multiple nominations is based on a book by an author who spent time in Iowa and the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop.

'Train Dreams' Nominated for Four Academy Awards

The movie 'Train Dreams' can be seen on Netflix. The movie stars Joel Edgerton and is set in the American West at the turn of the century. The movie follows the life of Robert Grainier, played by Edgerton, and his life working in the lumber industry. His life is filled with love, loss, and changes brought on by technology during that time in our nation's history. The film is beautifully shot and was one of my favorites of 2025.

'Train Dreams' is up for four Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Song.

'Train Dreams' Based on a Book by an Author with Iowa Ties

I had read that the film was based on a book. The novella 'Train Dreams' was written by Denis Johnson and published in 2011. It was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2012. But did you know that the author attended the University of Iowa? Johnson earned a B.A. in English at Iowa in 1971 and an M.F.A. from the prestigious Iowa Writers' Workshop in 1974. Johnson would even return to Iowa City and teach at the school.

Sadly, Denis Johnson passed away from cancer in 2017. He was 67. In all, Johnson wrote nine novels, one novella, two books of short stories, three poetry collections, and two collections of plays. He was on the short list twice for Pulitzer Prizes in literature. Here is hoping that Oscar calls out his work at least once this year.