FrankenScript :: Lee Gabel's Screenwriting Journal/Blog

This is such an uplifting film, in more ways than one. Inspired by true events, it tells the tale of a girl raising a flock of geese and helping them migrate south for the winter. Not only is the story touching, the photography is amazing, both in the air and on the ground. Jeff Daniels [...]

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? [...]

This is a great film that will appeal to young and old alike. Tom Hanks captures how a kid acts and talks perfectly. It makes no judgements against kids or adults, and it confident in its ability to make the audience smile and laugh. There’s real stakes here, and that helps make the story even [...]

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 [...]

Here is a good family film filled with adventure and excitement. The interactions between the boy and the wolf are genuine and authentic. The skill it takes to create a believable story with real animals (that don’t talk) takes patience and a keen sense of story and it shows. The fantastic photography just adds to [...]

Here’s a film with Kevin James and Vince Vaughn. Therefore, it’s a comedy. Wait. It’s not a comedy? We have to market it as a comedy or no one will ever go see it. Call it a pet peeve of mine, but marketing a serious drama as a comedy just because it stars comedians is [...]