FrankenScript :: Lee Gabel's Screenwriting Journal/Blog

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. When you mix comedy with real violence, a filmmaker treads a very fine line. When this film crossed that line, it started to go downhill. The lead up to the “moment” was good and had some genuinely funny moments in it. But after the “moment” occurred, [...]

This is a pretty good kids adventure movie, if you ignore the glaring plot holes. But to most kids, those plot holes simply don’t matter in the world of adventure play. Sure, these details are important to adults, but I saw this when I was a teenager and it was perfect. Seeing it now, it [...]

This has always been a favourite film of mine, perhaps in part to me seeing it in theatres when I was young. The film is unique, a musical and cast entirely with kids (everyone was sixteen years old or younger). Maybe that’s why it’s so easy to relate to. It’s like watching one long high [...]

This is a nice, simple family film with a good message. The story is one you’ve seen before; the coach that needs to redeem him/herself, the (insert sport here) team that needs to accept, forgive and work together to transform themselves from losers to winners. Cut and dried, stock film structure. So what’s to recommend? [...]

I was surprised when I realized that this film was directed by Cary Fukunaga, the same director as Sin Nombre, which is a completely different genre. The film is well directed and shot, the performances are strong, but I just could not get into this version. Everything felt cold. Even when things were sunny it [...]

This is a reasonable enough film. The actors, Streep, Baldwin and Martin, do a fine job with what they have, but I felt Martin was wasted, simply a plot diversion. Plus I found there were to many children. It was hard to keep them straight and for the most part, they did not feel unique [...]