Drama Scripts

[Lillyth]

I am in need of some good Drama scripts to read and am drawing a blank.

So far I have read Million Dollar Baby, as it is the only recent thing I can think about besides Monster that maybe fits even close to what I am writing right now.

(And if I DO read Monster, I assume I should watch the movie first, yes?)

Other than that, the only other Drama movies I can think of are Man Without a Face, Mystic River and Schindler's List, though I don't suppose the latter will help me a damn bit, given the givens.

The subject of my script is Domestic Violence, but it is not, I repeat NOT a revenge movie, so I don't want to read any of those types of scripts.

I guess I'm having a severe case of "thinker's block", as the only other Drama movie I can recall at all is The Woodsman.

Movies like Evan Almighty, 40 Year Old Virgin? I can remember all of those it seems...:)

[alleycat]

You could just visit a few of the online scripts websites and poke around a bit (I believe some of these websites are listed in the stickys at the top of the Scripts forum). There are lots and lots of dramatic scripts/movies.

[ILove2Write]

What about American Beauty or L.A. Confidential?

[odocoileus]

WGA's 101 Best. (http://www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=1807)

[Lillyth]

WGA's 101 Best. (http://www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=1807)
Awesome. That was just what I needed. I now have a list of 15 movie scripts to read, and four I need to watch before I read the scripts!

Thanks a TON!

[Lillyth]

So of those movies I HAVEN'T seen yet, should I watch the movies first, or read the scripts first? Just to get an idea of what a script is like, really.

I mean, after all, the folks who made Shawshank Redemption didn't have the finished product to imagine as they were reading the script.

What do ya'll think?

[icerose]

So of those movies I HAVEN'T seen yet, should I watch the movies first, or read the scripts first? Just to get an idea of what a script is like, really.

I mean, after all, the folks who made Shawshank Redemption didn't have the finished product to imagine as they were reading the script.

What do ya'll think?

I suggest read the script, watch the movie, then read and watch at the same time. It will give you a better perspective on it all.

[Lillyth]

I suggest read the script, watch the movie, then read and watch at the same time. It will give you a better perspective on it all.
Ooooooooooh, cool! I hadn't thought to read & watch at the same time - THANKS!!!

[mario_c]

Fargo. The Conversation. Little Miss Sunshine. The Elephant Man. There Will Be Blood.
And second: American Beauty. Taxi Driver (be warned, extremely violent, but worth it).
Around the world: Through a Glass Darkly, by Bergman. Wings Of Desire (NOT the crap Nic Cage remake). Check this link (http://www.criterionco.com)for some stellar DVD issues.
Tennessee Williams - A Streetcar Named Desire, The Glass Menagerie. OK that last one was the play. Anyway, hope this inspired you.

[Lillyth]

Fargo. The Conversation. Little Miss Sunshine. The Elephant Man. There Will Be Blood.
And second: American Beauty. Taxi Driver (be warned, extremely violent, but worth it).
Around the world: Through a Glass Darkly, by Bergman. Wings Of Desire (NOT the crap Nic Cage remake). Check this link (http://www.criterionco.com)for some stellar DVD issues.
Tennessee Williams - A Streetcar Named Desire, The Glass Menagerie. OK that last one was the play. Anyway, hope this inspired you.
Thanks for putting Taxi Driver in there, I had totally forgotten about it, though, since I didn't finally see it until last year, I didn't think it was all that violent, having grown up with Hollywood gore...

You also gave me a ton of movies I've been meaning to see but keep forgetting about.

They are all down in my list now. Thank you!

[Jon-Luke]

On the subject of domestic violence there's a slightly older movie called "Once Were Warriors" (Made in New Zealand - Dir: Lee Tamahori - Script: Riwia Brown - Based on the novel by: Alan Duff)

[Lillyth]

Another question for you guys:

Should I bother reading scripts of movies *I* hated, but everyone else loved?

There were a couple on those lists above, and I'm just wondering if there is some overriding reason to read those too. I'm sure I can learn something from everything I read, but there are people's movies who fit into the catagory of "I don't like anything they have ever done" - should I read those too?

(I don't want to say which ones, because they were so popular & critically acclaimed, I just happened not to like them)...

[odocoileus]

Another question for you guys:

Should I bother reading scripts of movies *I* hated, but everyone else loved?

There were a couple on those lists above, and I'm just wondering if there is some overriding reason to read those too. I'm sure I can learn something from everything I read, but there are people's movies who fit into the catagory of "I don't like anything they have ever done" - should I read those too?

(I don't want to say which ones, because they were so popular & critically acclaimed, I just happened not to like them)...

Those may be some of the best scripts to read.

You want to try to find out why you hated those films. Was it something in the script, or was it the execution (acting, camerawork, editing, music, costumes, sets, etc)?

How would you improve on the films you hated? What would you do differently? Can you see, in least in theory, why a particular film succeeded, and how the genre rules work even in genres you despise?

Could you maybe even pinpoint the exact moment in the film/script where you turned against it completely?

[Lillyth]

Those may be some of the best scripts to read.

You want to try to find out why you hated those films. Was it something in the script, or was it the execution (acting, camerawork, editing, music, costumes, sets, etc)?

How would you improve on the films you hated? What would you do differently? Can you see, in least in theory, why a particular film succeeded, and how the genre rules work even in genres you despise?

Could you maybe even pinpoint the exact moment in the film/script where you turned against it completely?

All wonderful advice.

I think while I am at it, I will hunt down a few more screenplays by the same party, as I have disliked every movie by that party.

I guess if, at that point, I still don't get why the movies made it, I'll have to out myself and ask you guys to explain it...;)

[ricetalks]

You can learn as much or more by understanding what NOT to do as you can by having an ideal in your head about what it is you DO want to do.

[GigiZ]

The Color Purple has domestic violence themes in it.
Also, you might wanna check out Capote. It's not about domestic violence but it has a violent undertone and there was something very emotional and kind of suffocating about it. It was a great portrayal of a violent person too, the killer in In Cold Blood. Not a shallow take on what a person who can commit a great act of violence could be like; he seemed almost charming at times.

[Joe270]

Should I bother reading scripts of movies *I* hated, but everyone else loved?

There were a couple on those lists above, and I'm just wondering if there is some overriding reason to read those too.

You might not want to devote a lot of time to those, not 'study' them, but a reading of them might teach you more than the ones you like.

For one thing, if you haven't seen the movie, you get a better sense of dramatic build-up without the benefit of musical score, acting talent, etc. Also, as Odo noted, you might discover something in the style or writing which turned you off, if it wasn't just the story line.

I don't know if anyone will agree with me on this, but I think reading scripts from first time or lesser known writers is better than those of the powerful in Hollywood. This gives you the writing style which made it through the screening process and actually got made, all without stroke or power in Hollywood.

For example, M. Night's 'Sixth Sense'. I enjoyed the script, but I couldn't help but think that some readers wouldn't get through the first few pages. I was surprised that a finished script (I read the copy which was mailed out to Academy voters) had misspellings in it. But the fact that the script was attached to a talented up-and-coming director probably had readers overlooking the little boo-boos. Of course, anyone who read to the end of the script was sold, sold, sold.

[Lillyth]

You might not want to devote a lot of time to those, not 'study' them, but a reading of them might teach you more than the ones you like.

For one thing, if you haven't seen the movie, you get a better sense of dramatic build-up without the benefit of musical score, acting talent, etc. Also, as Odo noted, you might discover something in the style or writing which turned you off, if it wasn't just the story line.

I don't know if anyone will agree with me on this, but I think reading scripts from first time or lesser known writers is better than those of the powerful in Hollywood. This gives you the writing style which made it through the screening process and actually got made, all without stroke or power in Hollywood.

For example, M. Night's 'Sixth Sense'. I enjoyed the script, but I couldn't help but think that some readers wouldn't get through the first few pages. I was surprised that a finished script (I read the copy which was mailed out to Academy voters) had misspellings in it. But the fact that the script was attached to a talented up-and-coming director probably had readers overlooking the little boo-boos. Of course, anyone who read to the end of the script was sold, sold, sold.

I think you are right in that reading a script that "made it through" is far more informative.

As for the movie(s) in question, there are a few filmmakers in the industry whose stuff I just can't stand. They have won awards up the wazoo and everyone I know loves them - I just, for whatever reason - can't stand them.

It's not Spielberg, but (rather than out myself yet), I can safely say I have hated every single movie "Spielberg" has done. I think it may just be a personal taste thing, I don't know. For some reason I'm always left going "Huh - well what was the point of that?" after every movie - Kind of like, I *get* the movie, I just don't get why anybody would bother to make it.

But maybe it's just one of those things, ya know? I am constantly joking with my husband that they day they were handing out the appreciating-The-Beatles-music genes, I must have been absent from school. I don't hate them per se, I just don't have any great love for them...

[Joe270]

I know how you feel. I don't like Q. Tarantino films in the least.

Reservoir Dogs was good because it had a garage-band feel to it and was original.

Everything else he's done sucks, IMHO. People gush over Pulp Fiction, which I thought was boring and completely unbelievable from the actions of the characters to the dialog they spewed.

Don't even get me started on the Kill Bill stupidity fest.

[Lillyth]

Don't even get me started on the Kill Bill stupidity fest.

Though it was not Quentin Tarantino to whom I was referring, I must say I agree with you on the whole Kill Bill thing. I have only seen bits and pieces of it, and that is the way it will stay, as far as I am concerned, for as long as I live.

I found it to be a huge orgy of self-indulgent porn and violence porn. And I even liked Pulp Fiction - but Kill Bill? Puuuuuuuuuuleez.

If you ask me, Pulp Fiction was his last good movie anyway...

[GigiZ]

Though it was not Quentin Tarantino to whom I was referring, I must say I agree with you on the whole Kill Bill thing. I have only seen bits and pieces of it, and that is the way it will stay, as far as I am concerned, for as long as I live.

I found it to be a huge orgy of self-indulgent porn and violence porn. And I even liked Pulp Fiction - but Kill Bill? Puuuuuuuuuuleez.

If you ask me, Pulp Fiction was his last good movie anyway...

What about David Cronenberg? Was I the only one who didn't get why History of Violence and Eastern Promises were masterpieces for the ages?

[Lillyth]

What about David Cronenberg? Was I the only one who didn't get why History of Violence and Eastern Promises were masterpieces for the ages?
I never saw Eastern Promises, but I thought History of Violence was great. I think the idea of people being able to reform and leave a business like that appeals to everyone, not to mention the "being a hero" aspect, though of course, Viggo Mortensen's character was less than thrilled at his "hero" status. I liked it, even if I did think it was a bit gratuitously violent. But hey, with a name like History of Violence, what do you expect huh?

And, okay, fine, since two brave souls went before me - I'll out myself.

I hate every Cohen Brothers movie I have ever seen, including Fargo & O Brother, Where Art Thou?

I've seen other movies too like Blood Simple, and I'm always left going "Huh. What was the point of that?"

My husband explains them to me, and my response is always the same "No, I got the point of the movie, I just don't get why anyone bothered to make this crap."

Maybe someone can explain to me why these movies have won awards?

[GigiZ]

Maybe someone can explain to me why these movies have won awards?

Because most films made in Hollywood are dumb rehashed stories so when something even remotely intelligent -and the Cohen brothers are very intelligent - comes out, it stands out.
Also because they are visually stunning and have good performances and they are clearly movies made for adults. Also I think most critics in America are not interested so much in where a movie places in the history of filmaking or what the "point" of the filmmakers was or even if there is a philosophical contect to it all but rather in, "is this the best opening this weekend?"

[Blondchen]

The Pledge
Snow Angels