FrankenScript :: Lee Gabel's Screenwriting Journal/Blog

Here’s a solid romantic comedy, not surprisingly since Drew Barrymore has a good eye for good stories. The relationships felt real and sincere. Some parts are predictable (I saw the ending coming a mile away) but for the most part I was hoping this story wouldn’t devolve into cliche-ville, and it largely doesn’t. There’s lots [...]

Other than this story centering on Hasidic Jews, there’s not much else that makes this film different than any other drug smuggling story. And the Jewish focus lacks the ability to make this film different enough. It interesting that this was based on a true story, but the viewer isn’t going to care if the [...]

Here’s a low budget film that doesn’t look like it. Every dollar is up on screen and invested in the story. The screenwriter and actor Leigh Whannell (he plays Specs in the film) stated at the Toronto Film Festival that he had a list of horror cliches posted next to his computer so he would [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]