What is Cinema?

Book Review:

Syd Field - Going To The Movies

I was going to sum up this book with one sentence that appears on page 222:

"...Good structure does not create a good story, but rather that a good story is what creates structure."

I have a habit of posting 3x5 cards on my wall with these bits of wisdom on them. This is surely going up there.

For those of you who have read Syd Field's Screenplay, This book just elaborates what Mr. Field had explained already in his previous books. He just goes more in depth with how he came about with his brilliant bits of revelations. At the end of every chapter, I felt that Paul Harvey's voice should play like a greeting card message proclaiming, "...And now you know, the rest of the story."

Syd Field should give himself more credit for the hard work he's done and all that he's given us lowly screenwriters. He views himself stumbling upon these bits of information regarding structure much like the apple hitting Newton on the head and in the process discovering gravity. But as Ol' Syd pointed out in this book, Gravity wasn't sitting there waiting to be discovered - it was already there.

But alas, the book is about Syd Field's movie going experience. One that was brought home, personally to me, by the last chapter. When Syd recalled his own experiences seeing Pulp Fiction, Run Lola Run, Magnolia. These are the movies I also can recall very vividly. These are the movies that have inspired me to become a screenwriter. In a sense, I can see Syd Field coming to the end of his run. He is holding his baton out, beckoning me to take it and continue on. For it's in these moments where He and I overlap.

It's encouraging to know there's a connectedness in all cinema as it grows greater and greater with every passing year. It's just waiting out there for me to discover their truths as they fall from the sky like frogs. And like frogs falling from the sky, they can only be understood in their proper context.

The other bit of wisdom I found in this book are the words, "So what?"

When Syd was facing his inner critic he would take out a sheet of paper and call it the Critic's Page. Then he would write words like "These pages are no good", "I've read this before", and "You suck". I added that last one because that's what my inner critic tells me quite often. At the end he would write "So what?" And he was able to continue writing. The whole process was quite cathartic for him.

Then talked about the movie Magnolia and how people trashed it. But somehow, Syd liked it, as I did to. He would answer the critics. "It's too long." So what? "It doesn't make sense." So what? Frogs falling from the sky?" So what? If it works, it works.

So come on everybody out there in MovieLand. Let's all say it together. SO WHAT?

Death To Creatures Of The Night

I just got back from watching Skinwalkers. It's not as bad as the critics pan it out to be. Which leads me to one conclussion. Critics don't want to see another vampire or werewolf movie. To them, they hit there peak with American Werewolf in London or Interview With A Vampire. This is tough news for me because I'm writing a screenplay about a vampire. And it doesn't matter how original or invigorating my idea is (one critic described Skinwalkers as having a few clever twists to add to the genre), it's still not good enough. Critics don't want to see it. At least I still got fans of vampires and werewolves movies. They'll come out to see the movie. Maybe not on opening weekend (Skinwalkers - .75 million. Good enough for 17th place), But they will still see the movie. When it comes out on DVD, that is. It's ashamed how the movie business works. But that's the ultra-independent DIY in me speaking.

The Bourne Romance

To celebrate the opening of The Bourne Ultimatum this week, I went out and bought the previous two movies. That was only because my friend was supposed to let me borrow them and didn't come through. But, hey, they're worth the 10 bucks a piece.

I've only seen both movies once. The first one, Identity, was barely recognizable. There was a lot I had forgotten. It even makes me wonder why they felt a sequel was justified. But I think the franchise didn't really take off until the second movie, Supremacy. That's when I truly realized we had a James Bond in the making. Each movie was able to develop the character further, quite successfully.

So I was eagerly awaiting the third installment. And it didn't fail to entertain me. Although I was a bit let down on where it ended, the movie delivered on everything I expected. Great action. Great character development. A great movie.

Where I was let down was partly my own doing. They say every great movie is a great love story. I was wondering who Jason Bourne's love interest could be in this movie. His last girlfriend Marie was killed off and she was the catalyst for the last two movies. I wondered who it would be this movie. I had a brief thought that it could possibly be Nicky Parsons. She's been in the other two movies. She's a very minor character who has ties to Jason. I thought that would be a good idea.

Then when you watch the movie (This has nothing to do with the main plot line so there's no spoilers here) there is a brief scene in a diner where Nicky sits across from Jason and looks at him like a long lost lover. Then she asks him, "You really don't remember anything, do you?"

I knew I called that one right. So the rest of the movie I'm anticipating the Jason Bourne/Nicky Parsons story line that never comes. There's even a scene where Nicky has to dye her hair, like Marie had to do in the first one. But Jason doesn't help her do it like he helped Marie. And Jason just looks at her completely unattached. You can tell the thought running through his head is, "Not now. I can't deal with another relationship at this moment." Or maybe he was protecting her; not wanting her to end up dead like Marie. Either way, the storyline was dropped.

But The very end leads you to believe the powers that be know there is going to be another movie so we should set it up as such. When they end on Nicky Parsons watching television announcing Jason was still alive, she smiles. The ending I wanted was Jason appears out of nowhere to take Nicky in his arms and kiss her. But they already did that in the first movie and such an ending wasn't properly set up.

The Bourne Romance - The Jason and Nicky Story. That's the story I was anticipating and that's the movie I want to see.