Friday, October 31, 2008

BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID - 1969

DIRECTED BY GEORGE ROY HILL
WRITTEN BY WILLIAM GOLDMAN



Bryan Davidson analysis -
I like to break a story down into five basic beats:
  1. Exposition: The stakes for your main character are established.
  2. Complication: The stakes that have been established are put in jeopardy.
  3. Crisis: The stakes are forced – your main character has to act.
  4. Climax: Your main character makes a decisive action, which brings him or her closer to achieving or losing the stakes.
  5. Resolution: The stakes are won or lost.
It’s a basic template for a film’s overall arc.
What I like about this episode is that all five beats are hit in miniature – in four minutes! In this clip, the breakdown is:
  1. Exposition: Butch is returning to his Hole in the Wall gang, which he runs.
  2. Complication: Harvey challenges Butch’s leadership, proposing a plan of his own.
  3. Crisis: Harvey doesn’t back down, and challenges Butch to a knife fight.
  4. Climax: Butch outwits Logan, and defeats him.
  5. Resolution: Butch regains control of the Gang – and adopts Harvey’s plan.
Great scene - Thanks Bryan!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

DR. ZHIVAGO - 1965

DIRECTOR - DAVID LEAN
SCREENPLAY - ROBERT BOLT



During the shooting of Dr. Zhivago, Director David Lean and Screenwriter Robert Bolt were discussing how to show that Yuri Zhivago is a poet. Should we shoot him reading poetry? Movie is all about showing, not telling... See how Lean and Bolt found a marvelous way to convey Yuri's character through the use of wind, leaves and music. Yuri is a child and is at his mother's burial, which other soul but a poetical one would be attracted to the sound of wind ruffling against the trees in such a moment? Memorable. Show, no tell. Two other meaningful moments are when the coffin is coming down and the change in the music and the close-up of Yuri's mother in the coffin.

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN - 2007

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY ETHAN AND JOEL COEN

ODD COUPLE - 1968

DIRECTED BY GENE SAKS
SCREENPLAY BY NEIL SIMON

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK - 1981

DIRECTED BY STEPHEN SPIELBERG
SCREENPLAY BY LAWRENCE KASDAN

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK - 1981

DIRECTED BY STEVEN SPIELBERG
SCREENPLAY BY LAWRENCE KASDAN

NIGHT OF THE HUNTER - 1955

DIRECTED BY CHARLES LAUGHTON

HEAT - 1995

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY MICHAEL MANN

GREAT EXPECTATIONS - 1946

DIRECTED BY DAVID LEAN