The Tools of Screenwriting
I found this book nestled in one of those free libraries that look like a bird feeder in Coconut Grove. As it turns out, The Tools of Screenwriting by David Howard and Edward Mabley was a gem of a find. Being about film and how to write them, I was all for it. I figure it would be a great addition to my home-made film school I’m slowly trying to create.
It’s not a super long book, but it took me about 5 or 6 months to finish. That’s because I chose to read it (and watch) very methodically — one movie, once a week, and then I’d read the correlating synopsis in the book. Saturday night is usually movie night. Just me in a chair, watching a film. The book itself when progressed through like this is sort of like a mini class or textbook on film writing. It’s a bit of an older book, published in 1995 which is also kinda great because it pulls from a slew of classic films I would have never thought to watch or otherwise discovered. A couple of films I had already been familiar with, like Annie Hall or the Godfather, but even the experiences of rewatching these films were valuable, giving me a more analytical and sharper lens to view the plots, film mechanics, and cinematography. The rest of the films in the book were well-recognized and well-acclaimed films, many of them academy award winners and nominees.
I recommend the book and the following films. Along with some quick blah-blah about the movies:
Witness
Harrison Ford as a kick-ass Amish man. Great and suspenseful story.
Chinatown
Jack Nicholson in his heyday prime. The plot is twisting and brilliant but the ending is so fucking twisted it left me feeling like a dump truck full of broken shit barrels.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Jack Nicholson again at his prime. His character, RP McMurphy is my kind of rebel. Great cast of crazy characters.
Citizen Kane
Orson Wells is awesome in that old-school titan of film kinda way. The camera work and clever cinematic ideas stand the test of time. And I finally understand what Rosebud is all about and why this movie is ranked as a GOAT.
E.T.
Spielberg. Flying bikes. Love-able aliens. It’s simply magical and heartwarming.
North by Northwest
A Hitchcock film. Long AF. But there are very some iconic cinematic scenes and the over-dramatic old-timey acting gets to be comical.
Annie Hall
One of Woody Allen’s best. Breaks all the rules and redefines what filmmakers can do. Oh, Annie...
Sex, Lies & Videotape
Smart, smart, and thoughtful film. Sexy and intellectual.
Rashomon
A brilliant and beautiful Japanese film that explores the nature of truth and our perspective of it.
Hamlet
Learned about Lawrence Olivier and his genius. Coupled with a Shakespearean masterpiece that highlights how humans haven’t changed much in their vengeful ways.
The 400 Blows
Fun and beautiful old french film noir. Reminds me of the pains of youth going to an all-boys catholic school. I laughed out loud at the discovery of where Mike Myers pulled the “fazha” pronunciation from in Austin Powers: Goldmember.
The Godfather
A powerhouse of film, Italian family, and power. A movie I’ve always respected. Brando, Pacino, Jimmy Caan, it’s a beautiful thing.
Thelma & Louise
Great fucking movie. Love the strong female attitude and epic cinematography.
Some Like It Hot
Jack Lemmon and his pal are funny and also extremely annoying. Marilyn Monroe is indeed hot. Goofy movie. “Nobody’s perfect”
Two movies I wish I hadn’t watched:
Diner
It’s got some funny ideas and shenanigans, but the movie feels like it was made by sex-obsessed teenage idiots. Kinda sucked.
A Street Car Named Desire
Aside from wanting to imitate how Marlon Brando talks and marveling at him in a younger form this movie kinda stinks. My only other joy was finding humor in the overacting of bat shit crazy Blanche.