FrankenScript :: Lee Gabel's Screenwriting Journal/Blog

Here’s a fantastic, personal and introspective film showing the courage and determination of one man, facing the worst possible hell on Earth and telling his story. It’s all about living in the moment, because life is fragile and unpredictable. It’s a film that would never get made by Hollywood and it is reassuring that there [...]

This is one oppressive, creepy, scary movie. You feel the claustrophobia closing in on you right with the characters on screen, plus there are some genuinely gruesome and frightening moments. You’ll be reliving scenes in your head afterward. It was refreshing to have an all female cast. I didn’t know much about this film before [...]

How about semi-funny? Or hardly funny at all? 70s clothing and hair is only funny for so long. What happens when the filmmakers know the film is lagging? They use a lot of profanity and send in a bear for no reason. I expect more from Will Ferrell. There’s a fine line between smart-stupid, and [...]

It’s a good documentary of Harlan Ellison’s life, and you will either love him or hate him. However, he has a lot of great thoughts about writing, and for some this will be an inspiration. I was more entertained than inspired.

I haven’t really enjoyed Gondry’s other works, but this is not a bad little film, and it grows on you as it goes along. You have to check your brain at the door to believe this would ever happen, but as a lot of people can relate, making a movie can bring lots of people [...]

In 1976, this film was released as satire, but viewing it today, it appears almost psychic in the way it so closely resembles the TV networks of today. Even with our economic meltdown, the parallels are quite startling. With fantastic performances from a star-studded cast, this is one of the best screenplays ever written. Excellent. [...]