Author Archives: Jamie Stein

There are two key conflicts that play out in every movie: The external conflict – this is what makes up the bulk of the plot; the literal, physical battle that is playing out between our protagonists and antagonists. The internal … Continue reading →

All you need to write an effective screenplay is a clearly laid-out dramatic idea. The success of movies like Hurt Locker and Tree of Life confirm this. Neither of these movies conform to much of what you’ll find in the traditional screenwriting … Continue reading →

I finally got around to seeing Crazy Heart – it is a perfect example of how even a slower-paced, more meditative character study uses life-or-death danger to generate dramatic traction. Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges) isn’t just your garden-variety alcoholic, he’s … Continue reading →

My problem with A History of Violence is that it never really deals with the psychological/emotional split that is at the heart of its premise. According to the world of the story, Tom Stall (Viggo Mortenson) was not just a … Continue reading →

Clarity creates ease. You see this all the time in life. Take money, for example. If you’re vague about your financial affairs (how much you have, how much you earn, how much you owe), then you create a baseline level … Continue reading →

There is such a deep existential power to Gun Crazy, chiefly because there really is no rhyme or reason to what our heroes do. When asked by her partner-in-crime why Annie feels the need to kill innocent bystanders during their … Continue reading →

There is something so incredibly profound about The Godfather, something that goes deeper than the surface of its Mafioso plot, something that speaks to a much more universal experience of what it means to be born into a family legacy. … Continue reading →

What I find so interesting about all this hubbub around Charlie Sheen’s infamous ABC interview is the unacknowledged, collective conversation we’re having underneath the surface: “Be normal, Charlie, be healthy, be like us,” as if we’re all sane. I mean, … Continue reading →