A screenplay has the most integral part in the production process; without it, the entire system would collapse. An actor has dialogue to read, character descriptions go to costuming, and the mise-en-scene of a room gets brought to life by a set designer are just some of the functions a script has to serve. The form of a screenplay is unlike any other; constantly in motion, the screenplay must serve as a blueprint for assembly. Scripts must be concise, yet colorful and to the point. Each line reveals details furthering an understanding of the character and plot. Screenplays are the muse that kicks the whole thing off.
In the Golden Age of film, writers had all the glory as they were the ones calling most of the shots. Now it is left up to the other cooks in the kitchen, which means less notoriety and deserved credit for the ones conceiving a story. The list provided is to showcase the effort that is put into a script and the craft of how the story was put together.
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‘Terms of Endearment’ – James L. Brooks
James L. Brooks adapted Larry McMurtry’s novel into a dynamic journey through the tumultuous relationship of a mother and daughter. Always mentioned with the best screenplays, ‘Terms of Endearment’ can make you hysterically laugh and impulsively cry. The script shows how to make characters relatable and empathetic to the audience. Aurora and Emma, performed by Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger, are stuck in ways present to the reader but unconscious to the characters. Brooks uses comedy in many sequences to relieve the situation.
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‘Chinatown’ – Robert Towne
A screenplay so good it got Roman Polanski to come to the States to make it. ‘Chinatown’ is a contemporary noir that blends real history with the delicacies of the era. Depicting the water crisis in Los Angeles in the 70’s gives a painstaking commentary on power and corruption. The script includes classic noir devices like the femme fatale and a less-than-happy ending to go with it all. Towne’s use of foreshadowing should also be noted as the mystery of it all slowly unfolds to the reader and audience. As a culmination of the entire film noir genre, this is essential to look at.
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‘Get Out’ – Jordan Peele
A masterpiece showing the blend of horror and comedy is Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out.’ His debut feature blew people away as Peele inserted personal cultural fears from the Black community onto the big screen. ‘Get Out’ is unique on the page in how reality meets the surreal. By blending the elements of comedy and horror together, it allows for the environment to feel real and magically realize the more fantastical worlds that he wants the audience to also visualize. Peele should also be applauded for his ability to create suspense, as he creates an air of mystery and makes the reader wait for the outcome.
‘Taxi Driver’ – Paul Schrader
Schrader’s screenplay shows a great example of how to write a character study. The structure shows a human slowly succumbing to their own insanity. A fogginess and vagueness corrupt the script, developing a mindset for the character Travis Bickle, played by Robert De Niro. A screenplay designed to be in the mind of a character is hard to do. The use of narration should be noted as it acts as a way into the mind of Travis. As an unreliable narrator, the audience slowly has to be able to distinguish whether what goes on is actually the correct perspective to look at.
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‘The Apartment’ – Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond
Billy Wilder’s screenplays never follow the rule book when it comes to storytelling. ‘The Apartment’ seems as aimless as the main character before developing into a story that transcends multiple genres. A simple story with complex characters. Jack Lemmon plays C.C. Baxter, a white collar worker who allows his bosses to use his apartment for their extramarital affairs. The use of internal and external conflict plagues Baxter throughout the entire screenplay, especially when he becomes romantically interested in his boss’s girl.
‘Network’ – Paddy Chayefsky
Paddy Chayefsky wrote a satire that has developed into a drama because of how well the film has aged. This social commentary tackles the age of media, the people who bring it to you, and the power structures behind it. ‘Network’ is written with powerful monologues that have held true since its release in 1976. A perfect satire, ‘Network’ uses oxymorons and irony to create instances that were uncommon for the era.
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‘Groundhog Day’ – Danny Rubin and Harold Ramis
‘Groundhog Day’ hits the correct beats while remaining entertaining and enthralling. A great premise, pay attention to the action lines and how they can delineate time. The character arc built beautifully shows how, in a three-act structure, a character should progress, change, and go through some crazy moments along the way. Phil, played by Bill Murray, deals mainly with the internal problems that go through his head. The lack of days changing is the perfect situation for him to be in to have to deal with the inner monologues of the mundane that force him to become a different person.
‘Casablanca’ – Julius J. & Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch
The quintessential movie of the Golden Age. This romantic drama has all the passion and fire with witty dialogue and snappy barks. The dialogue in this film is superb as it leaves layers of character subtext behind each line. Some of the most memorable lines come from this very film. The script is an example of how rhythms and meter play into a script. The pace at which events are happening and characters speak keeps the plot moving forward with layers unveiling themselves the entire way.
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‘Lost In Translation ’ – Sofia Coppola
‘Lost in Translation’ stars Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson as two lonely individuals trapped in a hotel in Tokyo. The script creates a level of intimacy through the location. Coppola creates a soft balance of humor with a melancholy encasing. The rich dialogue between actors Murray and Johansson creates a comfort level in the unknown; they commiserate together as Johansson’s character, Charlotte, discovers herself. The writing feels as simple as can be, but the language used has the most impact.
‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ – Charlie Kaufman
Kaufman’s script feels like an amazing exercise in scene writing. Jim Carrey stars as Joel, a hopeless romantic eager to erase his memory of a past girlfriend played by Kate Winslet. The seemingly chaotic structure puts the entirety of the piece into a greater perspective. As scenes go from the past to the future to the liminal moments in between. Each scene is filled with the proper tension and conflict needed. Kaufman’s uniqueness shows that things don’t have to be cookie-cutter in the craft.
By Devon James
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Devon James is a screen and media writer determined to provide readers with engaging and informative content. His film industry background gives him an adept knowledge in the entertainment industry. This complies with The Hollywood Insider’s mission to educate readers. Devon likes seeing hidden voices in film that provide new cultural perspectives. He enjoys the conversations cinema creates; hoping through his writing to open up topics for discussion.
Devon James is a screen and media writer determined to provide readers with engaging and informative content. His film industry background gives him an adept knowledge in the entertainment industry. This complies with The Hollywood Insider’s mission to educate readers. Devon likes seeing hidden voices in film that provide new cultural perspectives. He enjoys the conversations cinema creates; hoping through his writing to open up topics for discussion.
