I want to know what screenplay you would pick as the best example of screenwriting you have come across. Which one has inspired you most? Which one would to recommend for newer screenwriters to read and learn from? Feel free to pick more than one, and also feel free to say why you like it/them.
I'm asking a lot, I know. I ask this selfishly.
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I took a seminar in NYC with Robert McKee eons ago and he handed out several things to read, one of which was "Casablanca" - Screenplay by Julius J. & Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch Based on the play Everybody Comes to Rick's by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison. One of the segments in the seminar he played several key scenes from the film and talked about how the script and the final film worked together. Besides being a great film, it was the first time someone really put all the puzzle pieces together for me, showing how the script and images told the story on an academic level.
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My favorite script right now is "Panic Room," Tucker Teague. The writing pulled me into the story, and the script is so intense and suspenseful! It's been a long time since I've read the script. It might be time for a reread. One of my goals for 2024 is to read more scripts.
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Back to the Future for fantastic use of set-up/pay-off and Die Hard as a class in how to do compelling action and character work. They're both almost as fun to read as they are to watch.
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Pulp Fiction / Interview with the Vampire.
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Anything by Quinton T or Aaron Sorkin. I'm already compared to a mix of both of them in my writing style anyway...
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The screenplay in the OP picture written by Barton Fink.
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The Dark Knight, Tucker Teague. Love the subtext.
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Hey Tucker, I have yet to read a produced screenplay because when I save a pdf of one, they always turn out to be a shooting script; which for me would be more in-the-way than helpful ;-) That just me.
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Christopher Phillips I love the film but have never read the script. Now I need to read it. Btw, how was the McKee seminar? I've been curious what those are/were like. The only thing I know about them is from the film ADAPTATION, which I assume is not at all accurate.
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Maurice Vaughan I never saw the film, and I wish I had. I heard it was excellent. Now I'll have to check it out.
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Ewan Dunbar Both are two of my favorite movies - for similar and different reasons. But I never thought to read the screenplays. I bet they're wonderful. Thanks.
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Rutger Oosterhoff I think anything by Tarantino is going to be great. He's such an impressive talent at screenwriting. I'm glad you mentioned INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE. I was just thinking the other day how much I liked the book many years ago and that I should read it again. Maybe now I'll read the screenplay instead.
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Jeffery Mack I recently watched some videos of Sorkin talking about screenwriting. He's got quite a mind for the process. His credits are truly amazing.
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Leonardo Ramirez THE DARK KNIGHT is a quintessential screenplay of structure and subtext. Maybe the best super hero film imho.
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Matthew Kelcourse I hear you. I'm interested in the process and I love finding an early draft to get a sense of the writer's process. But I don't mind shooting scripts. They give me an idea of what a screenplay should be in their "final" form. What I can't stand are transcriptions of existing films. Those tell me very little.
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E Langley Yes, it's so good. As I heard it, the Coens were trying to write MILLER'S CROSSING and got writer's block. So they took a pause and wrote BARTON FINK, a story about a writers having writer's block. Then they finished writing and directing MILLER'S CROSSING, then directed BARTON FINK.
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It's a toss up for me. The first one is WHY CAN'T I BE AUDREY HEPBURN by Ryan Murphy. It was one of the first script I read as a script reader and it was brilliant, fun writing that completely opened my eyes on how to write. The other is OUT OF SIGHT by Scott Frank. It's a just great read, memorable style. I've read it several times.
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Absolutely agree, Tucker Teague
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True, true Tucker Teague about those Coen tidbits.
However, my reference was to the picture in the post (...The screenplay in the OP picture...) which is a grab of an insert from the film of what Fink writes once he lands in Hollywood. It's a similar story to his NYC play that got him called to the West Coast. At the end of the play, I believe, a Fishmonger calls out, "Fresh fish. Fresh fish."
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Charlie Kaufman's "Adaptation" and "Being John Malkovich" are really funny and self deprecating. Wouldn't recommend anyone trying to write like him but they are entertaining reads and have such a beautiful rhythm on the page
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"Panic Room" is incredible, Tucker Teague. I plan on reading the script while watching the movie.
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E Langley Ah, yes! Bare Ruined Choirs... or at least that was the title of his play.
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Pat Alexander ADAPTATION is one of my all time favorite films and a brilliant screenplay. I love that the screenplay was nominated and won many awards for both Charlie and Donald Kaufman. Donald being the actually non-existent brother of Charlie conjured up for the screenplay. Typical Kaufman genius.
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Francisco Castro I've never heard of WHY CAN'T I BE AUDREY HEPBURN. I'll have to check it out. I love OUT OF SIGHT. Seen it several times. Wonderfully written.
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Tucker Teague, WHY CAN'T I BE AUDREY HEPBURN was never made. It got close several times, but never crossed the finish line. Brilliant script by Ryan Murphy.
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I mean there are so many, but somehow JOKER popped in my mind.
Maybe useful for this one: watch the film next to reading the script.
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Without no need or hesitation or thought. The best movie I've ever seen in this lifetime is - BY FAR - The Matrix (The First One, not those others).
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For me it all starts with Casablanca. The dialogue and memorable lines that are spread throughout this film are unparalleled. For something more recent I'm also a big fan of Oh Brother Where Art Thou. Cohn brothers are great at writing to the milieu of the story .
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Eric Futterman I love hearing that Casablanca is still inspiring writers after so many decades. I have not read the screenplay, but I've seen the film many times. It's basically cinematic perfection. The Coens are absolute masters at screenwriting. I hear they are currently working on a horror film. I'm curious about that one.
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You are correct Tucker - I had to school a young man this weekend about the Dark Knight and its importance to Screenwriting, flipping the hero and the Villain, making the Joker tell the truth, and- as you said earlier - it is 1,000000000000,0000000% the best Superhero Movie ever made.......