Screenwriting Tips

Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, One Great Scene, Richard Harris, subverted tropes, UNFORGIVEN - August 07, 2019

One Great Scene: UNFORGIVEN

In this series of articles, we’re going to do a deep-dive on one knockout scene from a great movie. Today’s movie is UNFORGIVEN. The scene is when English Bob and the Sheriff confront each other in town. Here’s a link to the scene as a refresher (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsyw13yrRoo). The scene is about establishing Gene Hackman’s character as just as brutal as Clint Eastwood’s outlaw. The scene is aided immeasurably by the two all-world actors in it, Richard Harris and Gene Hackman. Richard Harris plays English Bob, a hired gun rolling into town. Gene Hackman plays Sheriff Daggett. Sheriff Daggett insists on...

Our Favorite Screenwriters: Tony Gilroy

Tony Gilroy is inarguably one of the most successful and important screenwriters working today. His most important work is MICHAEL CLAYTON, a George Clooney-starring film forwhich he was nominated for Oscars for directing and writing. Tony’s credits also include BEIRUT, THE GREAT WALL, ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, the BOURNE films, PROOF OF LIFE and THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE. As with seemingly every writer in this series of articles, Gilroy’s path to screenwriting success was indirect. He dropped out of Boston University to focus on his music career (per Boston.com). And his first produced credit as a screenwriter is not...

Our Favorite Screenwriters: Taylor Sheridan (SICARIO, HELL OR HIGH WATER)

Taylor Sheridan has rapidly become a top-notch screenwriter and now director as well. His films include SICARIO, SICARIO: DAY OF THE SOLDADO, HELL OR HIGH WATER, and WIND RIVER. He now also does a TV series, YELLOWSTONE. How did he get there? To start with, Sheridan would likely disagree with the use of the word “rapidly.” Born in 1970 (Taylor is 49) Sheridan began his career as an actor. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sheridan reflected on how his experience as an actor has informed his writing. He specifically avoids exposition because he had to say so much...

One Great Scene: A STAR IS BORN

In this series of articles, we’re going to do a deep-dive on one knockout scene from a great movie. Today’s movie is A STAR IS BORN. The scene is when Jackson (Bradley Cooper) and Bobby (Sam Elliott) fight. Here’s a link to the scene as a refresher (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUedOhkjlX4). The scene is about establishing the depths of Bradley Cooper’s drinking problem. At this point in the film, the interpretation that Sam Elliott might be a classic problematic family member/stage-manager is still open. So, when Jackson punches Bobby, at first, we as the audience think he could be right. The accusation, that...

One Great Scene: GLADIATOR

In this series of articles, we’re going to do a deep-dive on one knockout scene from a great movie. Today’s movie is GLADIATOR. The scene is when Russell Crowe’s Maximus reveals himself to Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus (here’s a link to the scene as a refresher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKn-Agk-yAI). The scene starts with Maximus stashing an arrowhead in his hand. Commodus confronts Maximus in the Colosseum. Commodus praises Maximus and asks him his name. Maximus says his name is Gladiator and turns his back on Commodus. Commodus, offended, addresses Maximus as “slave” and demands he take off his helmet and tell him his...

Read more

Screenwriting Tips RSS

One Great Scene: UNFORGIVEN

Our Favorite Screenwriters: Tony Gilroy

Our Favorite Screenwriters: Taylor Sheridan (SICARIO, HELL OR HIGH WATER)

One Great Scene: A STAR IS BORN

One Great Scene: GLADIATOR

Tags

Featured Products