The Hurt Locker

[4/5 stars] It’s hard to imagine a place where explosions, death and animosity are as common as a kite in a summer breeze. But right from the start, you feel the oppression, the hatred for the US soldiers. The film offers a real look into the fears of US soldiers and the addiction of war, how some are often unable to give it up after their rotations end. In addition, an ugly, side of the Iraq war not normally seen is revealed; its unpredictable, unforgiving nature. No one is safe and we’re right in there, experiencing the tension as these soldiers feel it, hoping that they don’t die. It’s mundane and routine and and deviation can get you killed. Shot with a “cinema verite” feel, the film shows rather well the intense level of trust each soldier much place on each other, and how one maverick “war addicted” soldier can disrupt the cohesion of the unit. The film also shows how uncontrollably pointless it all is. Soldiers will do anything they can to feel normal, but it’s never enough. The performances feel gritty and real, and the soldiers show surprising emotional depth. Actually shooting the film in the Middle East gave it a very authentic feel. War is hell, but a greater hell is the inability to willfully remove ones self from harm’s way.

Posted by Lee Gabel - 2 days ago.  post this at del.icio.uspost this at Diggpost this at Yahoo! my webpost this at Google Bookmarkspost this on Facebook
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Do you use index cards?

I’ve written several screenplays, two, that I feel worthy to show to others, and I have never quite tried using index cards to lay out the structure and pacing of those screenplays. I have always used the computer and just written out story beats. I can see advantages to both methods, but using index cards may be a good idea simply because you can do it anywhere. In other words you can get away from your computer and all the distractions that come with it.

John August recently posted some good tips on using index cards. I am researching my next screenplay now, so I think I’ll use the index card method this time and see how it goes.

Posted by Lee Gabel - 5 days ago.  post this at del.icio.uspost this at Diggpost this at Yahoo! my webpost this at Google Bookmarkspost this on Facebook
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Working like a dog

Over the past few days, I have been working hard to update the look of the website. I am close to finishing the design. Now all I have to do is take it all apart, port it over into Textpattern and put all the pieces back together. Looking forward to the new look.

Posted by Lee Gabel - 6 days ago.  post this at del.icio.uspost this at Diggpost this at Yahoo! my webpost this at Google Bookmarkspost this on Facebook
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Joe Eszterhas

Here’s a good question and answer session from Joe Eszterhas, writer of Flashdance, Jagged Edge and Basic Instinct and many others.

Watch it here.

Posted by Lee Gabel - 8 days ago.  post this at del.icio.uspost this at Diggpost this at Yahoo! my webpost this at Google Bookmarkspost this on Facebook
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Defiance

[3/5 stars] Gritty and realistic, but sometimes overly melodramatic. Part of the problem with this film is it hardly gives you a chance to catch your breath. There’s quite a number of action sequences that exist solely for action’s sake. I realize its about war and the atrocities that accompany it, but we must also be given something to feel hopeful for. Plus the film has its fair share of cliched moments, and the ending is totally predictable. It’s trying so hard to be all things to everyone, the story becomes less impactful. See this film for the performances, as they are excellent, especially Liev Shrieber.

Posted by Lee Gabel - 9 days ago.  post this at del.icio.uspost this at Diggpost this at Yahoo! my webpost this at Google Bookmarkspost this on Facebook
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