FrankenScript :: Lee Gabel's Screenwriting Journal/Blog

Even though this is inspired by true events, the story is still predictable and uninspired. People get trapped, people die getting out. I really dislike it when the story sets up a rule that can’t be broken, shows repeatedly why it can’t be broken (dead characters), then breaks it just to move the story forward [...]

Inspired by true events, this film is a fascinating look at how the most iconic outdoor concert came to be and is a great companion piece to the official Woodstock documentary. It plays out almost like a comedy of errors. It’s equally amazing that this concert ever materialized like it did. Demetri Martin captures this [...]

Here’s a good family film with strong and interesting characters, both male and female. For the most part the film is completely non-violent. A non-violent Western you ask? Well this does take place in Australia, so perhaps the fact that we’re “down under” tips the western genre upside down. It’s slower paced, but great for [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]