These are what I think to be the best screenplays of the last 9-10 years. I think I need to put a qualifier here. I mean, these may not be the best screenplay of the past ten years. But I just think they’re some of – nine of – the most prolific. Although, those words may be too big. I don’t know… there may be what some may call obvious omissions – Almost Famous, In the Bedroom, The Pianist, Mystic River, Sideways and about a hundred more. These are just nine of the screenplays that I think about most when I think about the last few years in writing. Special mention goes to Pedro Alvodomar’s Talk to Her.
You're probably wondering... why nine? Well being a hopeless addict to Nicole Kidman, a devout follower of Judi Dench and a big fan of Daniel Day Lewis I probably don't need to explain further. So Nine is my favourite number this year...for the while at least.
9. Little Miss Sunshine
This Oscar winning screenplay was one of the freshest screenplays of recent years. There is only one screenplay that I think is more creative (see number 1). What makes it so good is that reading it you think you could have done that. It’s real dialogue, it’s funny but it’s not over the top – even though the directors would have us think so. It veers towards situational comedy, but right before it comes in for the big laugh it goes towards some intense level of poignancy. Genius.
Favourite Lines
Frank - Oh my God, I'm getting pulled over. Everyone, just... pretend to be normal.
Grandpa Are you kidding me? It was a fucking paradise. They got pool... They got golf... Now I'm stuck with Mr. Happy here, sleeping on a fucking sofa. Look, I know you are a homo and all, but maybe you can appreciate this. You go to one of those places, there's four women for every guy. Can you imagine what that's like?
8. The Departed
I guess most people would say this is ineligible, since for the most part it’s just a translation. But this was one of my favourite scripts of 2006. William Monahan did a great job of combining the three original films and adding an… an American flair to it. The script reads like a novel, there isn’t too much description – but it’s not just dialogue either. It’s just right… and this is only number eight.
Favourite Line – Mr. French “That’s not quite a guy you can’t hit, but it’s almost a guy you can’t hit, so I’m fucking ruling on it right now that you don’t hit him, understand.”
Costello “Tell Bruce Lee and the karate kids none of us are carrying automatic weapons because here, in this country, it don’t add inches to your dick. You get a life sentence for it.
7. Chicago
In some ways this was actually an original screenplay. Bill Condon’s (now legendary) idea of having the songs of the musical done through Roxie’s imagination was a smart idea and was a large part of the reason why Chicago worked so well as a film. From those flashes where she imagines herself singing All that Jazz to her imagining the death of the Hunyak. Condon shows us that he’s a hundred times better as a writer than a director – and he’s actually a really good director, so imagine that.
6. Babel
Most peoples hate this film, and its screenplays. In retrospect I suppose that the comparisons to Crash are permissible, but I think this film is way better and way more profound than Crash. It’s hard to talk about this screenplay without turning to the spiritual or the moralistic, but what’s really so good about this screenplay, is how the idea of fate and chance are so tied in with it. It really is not the most pleasant film (or screenplay), but that doesn’t make it any worse. It’s excellent.
Favourite Line –Yussef - I killed the American, I was the only one who shot at you. They did nothing... nothing. Kill me, but save my brother, he did nothing... nothing. Save my brother... he did nothing.
It doesn’t have a lot of quotable quotes to be honest…
5. Brokeback Mountain
I think short stories are great source materials for films. You can stick to the original, but still make way for your ideas. Brokeback Mountain is the epitome of this. It gained a deserving win for best screenplay. This is actually another sombre tale.
Favourite Line – Jack can't make it on a coupla high-altitude fucks once or twice a year! You are too much for me Ennis, you sonofawhoreson bitch! I wish I knew how to quit you.
4. Gosford Park
Julian Fellowes did a great job with this screenplay. Any film that deals with murder and secrets needs to have a good screenplay. Almost every
Favourite Line – Aunt Constance “I don’t have a snobbish bone in my body.”
Mrs. Wilson “I’m the perfect servant. I have no life.”
3. Atonement
I am in love with every Christopher Hampton screenplay (I still think Dangerous Liaisons is one of the best screenplays ever). Most people thought that Atonement was one of the most inadaptable novels, but he showed that it was not.
Favourite Line – Robbie - Dearest Cecilia, the story can resume. The one I had been planning on that evening walk. I can become again the man who once crossed the surrey park at dusk, in my best suit, swaggering on the promise of life. The man who, with the clarity of passion, made love to you in the library. The story can resume. I will return. Find you, love you, marry you and live without shame.
2. The Hours
This is another inadaptable novel that was a great screenplay. I really liked this movie and one of the real reasons it worked was because of the screenplay.
Favourite Lines
Virginia - If I were thinking clearly, Leonard, I would tell you that I wrestle alone in the dark, in the deep dark, and that only I can know. Only I can understand my condition. You live with the threat, you tell me you live with the threat of my extinction. Leonard, I live with it too.
Richard - But I still have to face the hours, don't I? I mean, the hours after the party, and the hours after that...
Laura - It would be wonderful to say you regretted it. It would be easy. But what does it mean? What does it mean to regret when you have no choice? It's what you can bear. There it is. No one's going to forgive me. It was death. I chose life.
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Yes, this is my favourite screenplay of the last ten years. It was actually a bit of a no-brainer. There was no competition that year at the Oscars, I wonder if any one even voted against this. It’s a love story, but it’s not particularly romantic – it’s witty, it’s funny, it’s realistic but it’s also fantastical. It’s just really great.
Favourite Lines – Joel - Today is a holiday invented by greeting card companies to make people feel like crap.
Joel - Why do I fall in love with every woman I see who shows me the least bit of attention?
PS I couldn't think about any one line for Chicago... forgive me.
