Ned Dougherty's Lounge Discussions

Happy Holidays, Sexy ScreenWriters - Hope you're livin' the dream today! If you're new to the game, here's what this working Screenwriter and Actor (with an agent:) sees when he watches/studies a movie. This is just one ScreenWriter's POV - that's all. Jus sharing thoughts. Helping ScreenWriters grow is the only goal.... I loved HELL OR HIGH WATER! It's such a well-written, well- told story, I watched it multiple times. Laughed hard too. It's my kinda funny. Here's some story craft and structure notes on the Movie. SPOILERS FOLLOW HELL OR HIGH WATER - By Taylor Sheridan Premise and Beats LOGLINE: Texas brothers, TOBY, Chris Pine, and TANNER, Ben Foster, come together after years divided to rob branches of the bank threatening to foreclose on their family land. SYNOPSIS: For THE BROTHERS, the hold-ups are part of a last-ditch scheme to take back a future that's been stolen from under them. Justice seems to be theirs, until they find themselves on the radar of Texas Ranger, MARCUS, Jeff Bridges, and his half-Comanche partner, ALBERTO, Gil Birmingham. As the brothers plot a final bank heist to complete their scheme, Rangers on their heels, a showdown looms. ............................................................. HELL OR HIGH WATER is a great study on Premise. The theme is Poverty. The Poverty Cycle can be broken. The A and B Story are both Bromances. A Story is the brothers. B STORY is about the Rangers. Here's what I saw: 1. OPENING IMAGE - Empty streets, empty businesses. Poverty. 2. THEME STATED - 1:30 'No Bailout for People like us' spray- painted on bank bricks. Every exterior in this movie makes a statement about poverty with outdated consruction equipment/junkyards, and, or signs: no child is safe, closing down, debt relief, etc... 3. SET-UP (1-10) - Brothers are bank robbers. 4. CATALYST - 9:42 Rangers introduced to Brothers' Heist. 5. DEBATE (12-25) - Rangers debate Heists / Brothers debate outcome 6. BREAK INTO 2 - Rangers get call about next robbery. 7. B-STORY - Sheriffs' Bromance 8. FUN AND GAMES (30-55) - Brotherly love, casino games. At gas station, Toby beats bad guy who pointed gun at Tanner. At Casino, Tanner plays poker, saves Toby from a bad girl. We also learn Toby's, the brothers', Plan. 9. MIDPOINT OF NO-RETURN - Tanner packs a second vehicle with artillery for next robbery, will battle to end. SEX AT 60 - Bromance style - Brothers play fight. Crazy cinematic shots here 10. BAD GUYS CLOSE IN (55-75) All roads lead to the final Heist at Post Bank. 11. ALL IS LOST / WHIFF OF DEATH - 77 - Tanner kills Alberto 12. DARK NIGHT OF SOUL - 73 - Tanner sacrificing himself for greater good - Toby's Plan. Brothers separate. 13. BREAK INTO THREE - 84 - Ranger Marcus kills Tanner. Toby cashes in final cash needed for plan. 14. FINALE - Ranger studies file. Toby's Plan explained. Toby pays bank. Ranger Marcus pays Toby a visit. FINALE CHARACTER NOTE - Notice how both men are dressed alike for this final verbal showdown. The Character Moments throughout the entire story are amazing. These are rich characters. THEMATIC REVELATION comes from Toby at 94 min: "I've been poor my whole life.... He goes on about poverty being a sickness passed down from generations. ANTICIPATORY DIALOGUE is great at the end: Ranger says this will haunt the men forever. Toby says he has a place in town... "Stop by, I'll give you peace." .... Marcus says, "Maybe I'll give it to you." 15. FINAL IMAGE - As Ranger Marcus drives off into the sunset, lonely oiljacks pump the barren landscape. Hope HELL OR HIGH WATER: Premise and Beats was helpful! If you check it out, look for my good friend, and feature extra, MICHAEL FLETCHER getting his brain blown out by BEN FOSTER at the minute mark. Really cool! Michael is an instructor at TACTICAL ACTING.