You may download a PDF of the script here.
Of the 5 we've read so far, I've seen this movie the most times. I was tempted to skim the screenplay a little, thinking that I wouldn't get as much reading a screenplay of a movie I've seen so many times- but I didn't. I probably got the most out of this reading.
Like Scott mentioned, there were a couple of scenes that didn't make the movie. It really made me think about why they were cut. I really liked Red's ending scene after he was released and he was commenting on the world and how it's changed. But I can seen why it was cut. Pace. He still had to find Andy's letter and then find Andy. The movie was already wrapping up and it would've dragged if that scene had remained in.
I've mentioned before the challenge conveying a character's thoughts through playable action instead of just saying what the character's thinking. Shawshank had several good examples of telling us what the characters are thinking without really telling us, if that makes sense. Here's an example (after Norton notices the dirty shoes Andy left behind):
"He stares blankly. What the f*** indeed."
It's almost saying what the reader is thinking, not just what the character is thinking. I liked it a lot.
--------------
One part that has always bugged me is the young kid (Tommy) who comes to Shawshank. It's not his character, but rather his revelation that bugs me.
C'mon. We've been talking about coincidences and how sometimes we let them slide. But Tommy rooming with the guy who really killed Andy's wife and the golf pro? (Okay, I'll accept that coincidence...even though the killer's monologue is so contrived: "she's banging some golf pro but she's married to some hotshot banker"----- who would really say it like that? I'm surprised he didn't just say Andy's name so we all knew for sure it was the same murder.)
But the biggest coincidence, and the one that anchors the whole story of Andy being in prison for a crime he didn't commit, is Andy sitting in the car with a gun the night that Elmo actually kills the wife and the golf pro. There's no freaking way. I agree with the lawyer: a fantastic coincidence.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Fargo
You may download a PDF of the script here.
This is the first of the 40 screenplays that I read almost all in one sitting. I love the movie, so maybe that is why I raced through the script.
Makes you think about protagonists and heroes. Who is the hero? Probably Marge. But like Scott said, she doesn't get introduced until p. 31. Jerry is the central character, even though he's not a "good guy"- and I don't think we're rooting for him at all. He's a weenie. I'm actually hoping Jerry fails.
I don't think this script allows the reader to empathize or root for the main character. But yet, why do I still like it?
The stakes are clear early on. Jerry is paying to have his wife killed. Although it reads a little like exposition, that scene in the bar works for me. It reveals character and plot and makes me laugh as these morons try to organize their deal.
This is the first of the 40 screenplays that I read almost all in one sitting. I love the movie, so maybe that is why I raced through the script.
Makes you think about protagonists and heroes. Who is the hero? Probably Marge. But like Scott said, she doesn't get introduced until p. 31. Jerry is the central character, even though he's not a "good guy"- and I don't think we're rooting for him at all. He's a weenie. I'm actually hoping Jerry fails.
I don't think this script allows the reader to empathize or root for the main character. But yet, why do I still like it?
The stakes are clear early on. Jerry is paying to have his wife killed. Although it reads a little like exposition, that scene in the bar works for me. It reveals character and plot and makes me laugh as these morons try to organize their deal.
Some Like It Hot
You may download a PDF of the script here.
Wow. That's a long script. Was the formatting different or is the movie really 2-and-a-half hours long?
It was more difficult to read than the first two scripts, mostly because it was longer- but also because there were a lot of characters to try and keep straight.
This felt more like a play than a movie. The jokes were flying. I actually laughed out loud a couple of times. I woke up my 6-month-old daughter. Pages 114-116 were hilarious.
JERRY
(beaming)
I'm engaged.
JOE
Congratulations. Who's the lucky
girl?
JERRY
I am.
I love Jerry's character. How he's so upset one moment, adamant that he'd never do that- and then the next moment he's smitten, playing the role of excited bride-to-be.
I borrowed the movie from my in-laws. I'm excited to watch it (after we watch Back to the Future tonight).
Wow. That's a long script. Was the formatting different or is the movie really 2-and-a-half hours long?
It was more difficult to read than the first two scripts, mostly because it was longer- but also because there were a lot of characters to try and keep straight.
This felt more like a play than a movie. The jokes were flying. I actually laughed out loud a couple of times. I woke up my 6-month-old daughter. Pages 114-116 were hilarious.
JERRY
(beaming)
I'm engaged.
JOE
Congratulations. Who's the lucky
girl?
JERRY
I am.
I love Jerry's character. How he's so upset one moment, adamant that he'd never do that- and then the next moment he's smitten, playing the role of excited bride-to-be.
I borrowed the movie from my in-laws. I'm excited to watch it (after we watch Back to the Future tonight).
Witness
You may download a PDF of the script here.
I was bored through the first 8-10 pages. I've never seen the movie, and was only vaguely familiar with the story.
But I eventually got hooked. I really liked the John/Rachel relationship and felt a strong conflict between them.
I thought there were several examples of unplayable action in the description. Like when you write thoughts of the characters.
Example: "A moment...when Schaeffer, recognizing Samuel as the Amish kid who saw McElroy kill Zenovich, perhaps thinks of disposing of the witness right then and there."
I wanted them (John and Rachel) to end up together at the end. It must be the romantic comedy fan in me.
I was bored through the first 8-10 pages. I've never seen the movie, and was only vaguely familiar with the story.
But I eventually got hooked. I really liked the John/Rachel relationship and felt a strong conflict between them.
I thought there were several examples of unplayable action in the description. Like when you write thoughts of the characters.
Example: "A moment...when Schaeffer, recognizing Samuel as the Amish kid who saw McElroy kill Zenovich, perhaps thinks of disposing of the witness right then and there."
I wanted them (John and Rachel) to end up together at the end. It must be the romantic comedy fan in me.
Back to the Future
You may download an early version of the script here.
I haven't seen this movie in years. But I've just moved it up to the top of my Netflix list.
I hope they're all this easy to read. I might just be able to keep up with the reading.
I love how I can hear a writer's voice in the action/description. When I write action, it's descriptive, but boring. Not this screenplay. I can feel the excitement of the screenwriter.
example: BROWN reacts with horror. He now has a useless plug in his hand. Lightning cracks even closer!
I usually get annoyed by the overuse of exclamation points, but it worked in this screenplay. And there were tons of them!!!
I haven't seen this movie in years. But I've just moved it up to the top of my Netflix list.
I hope they're all this easy to read. I might just be able to keep up with the reading.
I love how I can hear a writer's voice in the action/description. When I write action, it's descriptive, but boring. Not this screenplay. I can feel the excitement of the screenwriter.
example: BROWN reacts with horror. He now has a useless plug in his hand. Lightning cracks even closer!
I usually get annoyed by the overuse of exclamation points, but it worked in this screenplay. And there were tons of them!!!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Up in the Air
We went to Hollywood video twice and they were out of this movie and Where the Wild Things Are. I think I'm going back to Netflix. Anyway. Rachel made a joke midway through the movie how true it was to my life. Getting fired (or quitting) a cushy job to pursue your dreams. Sure, money can keep you warm, but it won't make you happy. Despite all of this, George Clooney's character gets crapped on. I loved it. I'm not sure what he's learned. Yes I am. He's going to end up with ponytail- even if she does think he's old. I'm sure of it. (I really didn't like her character at first, but man did she grow on me. She was charming.)
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Whip It
I went to Hollywood Video to rent it and it was gone for the second time in a row. So I bought it instead. I know we don't have the money to buy a $20 movie, especially one we've never seen before. What if it sucks, right? Rachel hates it when I buy movies I've never seen (The Man with the Golden Arm, Where the Money Is, Far From Heaven) because they're usually terrible. But I also bought High Fidelity without ever seeing it...and now it's one of my top 5. I had a similar instinct about Whip It. We watched it last night. I was wrong.
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