FrankenScript :: Lee Gabel's Screenwriting Journal/Blog

The fact that this really happened is more interesting than the actual film. How can people take advantage of others without expecting any consequences? The characters are all played with confidence, especially Spacey, but I just could not feel any sympathy for these thieves. There’s a powerful scene at Abramoff’s Senate hearing, but it’s a [...]

Be warned. This movie is  not for the faint of heart. It is extremely violent and gory, and although the violence portrayed is equally against both men and women, the story thread feels focused more on violence against women. This will be the deal breaker for some. I think the story still would have stood [...]

Here’s a story about good cops and bad cops. It feels like many films that have come before. The same but different, but in this case, not different enough. We know almost from the outset who is good and who is bad. This is a smart move in that it builds suspense as things slowly [...]

This is a touching story about a boy who feels he doesn’t belong anywhere, and the mysterious uncles he never knew taking him in and treating him like he was one of their own. Duvall and Caine have great chemistry together, one being the “Bud Abbott” to the other “Lou Costello”. Osment delivers a solid [...]

I had no idea this was Farelly Brothers film until the end credits, and after everything that transpired in the story, I’m not surprised. I was a little disappointed actually, wanting more than I had just seen. There’s gross out humor, some full frontal male and female nudity (which is refreshing), but it’s more overt, [...]

I like Kristen Bell. She’s talented, looks great and has great comedic timing. Much of the cast does as well. However the script they were given was just weak and rife with cliche. First of all, you know going in that it’s going to be a happy ending. That’s no spoiler. How about something different [...]