You may download a PDF of the script here.
First thing I found interesting: they are both heroes. Louise saves Thelma and sacrifices for her. Thelma undergoes the biggest change from a repressed housewife to a fun-loving outlaw. Each character's backstory was very important. It explained why Louise did what she did and why they couldn't go to the police. And it gave us another angle to relate to these characters instead of just two girls running from the law.
What a great ending. Iconic. And I love how the BB King song ends the script. Beautiful.
My favorite part: (P. 111) Louise asks Thelma if she's awake. "Wide awake. I don't remember ever feelin' this awake. Everything looks different...Everything looks new. Do you feel like that? Like you've got something to look forward to?"
I'm working on a rom-com script and I'm struggling with the idea of having a happy ending. I want to capture real life and real life doesn't always have a happy ending. This script is a great example of another way to give us a happy ending.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Die Hard
You may download a PDF of the script here.
I used to love this movie. I made my wife watch it with me last night. Dude. This flick is corny. As I read the screenplay, it didn't feel as corny. So maybe it was just some bad acting. I remember loving Bruce Willis in this. But even he seemed like a caricature (are there really people in the world who are this tough?.....and he talked to himself quite a bit, don't you think?).
The scene with McClane and Hans Gruber (great villain name) was very good. I thought I had just missed it in the screenplay- I'm glad you gave us the trivia about how it was added. Another change that I thought was good was the exchange before Ellis gets shot. That part was forgettable in the screenplay, but was good in the movie.
I do think this is a good example of a script that appeals to a lead actor. As screenwriters we try to create roles that actors want to play. What 80s action hero wouldn't have wanted to play John McClane? He's a badass. I hope to write a script that feeds one of these actors' egos and makes them think they have to play this role.
I used to love this movie. I made my wife watch it with me last night. Dude. This flick is corny. As I read the screenplay, it didn't feel as corny. So maybe it was just some bad acting. I remember loving Bruce Willis in this. But even he seemed like a caricature (are there really people in the world who are this tough?.....and he talked to himself quite a bit, don't you think?).
The scene with McClane and Hans Gruber (great villain name) was very good. I thought I had just missed it in the screenplay- I'm glad you gave us the trivia about how it was added. Another change that I thought was good was the exchange before Ellis gets shot. That part was forgettable in the screenplay, but was good in the movie.
I do think this is a good example of a script that appeals to a lead actor. As screenwriters we try to create roles that actors want to play. What 80s action hero wouldn't have wanted to play John McClane? He's a badass. I hope to write a script that feeds one of these actors' egos and makes them think they have to play this role.
The Shawshank Redemption
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.
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.
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!!!
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