@@JacoDeltaco in 1978 Ralph Bakshi made an attempt at filming Lord of the Rings with animation. The animation itself was interesting and even skillful (rotoscoping - drawing the animation over live action footage of actors) but the adaptation of the screen play amounted to only half of the three books, and with a running time of just over 2 hours the STAGGERING quantity of material LEFT OUT just ends up painful to anyone reasonably familiar with the source - AND since it never got a follow up, leaves the whole story hanging in the middle with no resolution. Therefore, the impeccable and deep original material that was available to draw upon did not guarantee anything remotely like a good script.
@@duanevp oh interesting I only ever saw clip of that movie. also I am not realy a movie nerd ( one of the reason I like this channel is that I discover a lot of good movie)
The thing is that's not a screen play, that's a play play. Glengarry Glenn Ross is the same way. Great scripts, but as screenplays go, the one that writing instructors go to most is School of Rock.
@@davidhill2020 Yeah, I have a problem with it being one of the ten best screenplays when the screenplay only adds camera instructions for closeup, two shot, etc. Not that it isn't well written but one of the ten best? How about adaptations of Shakespeare or Wilde? As for "Get Out", I didn't know we were grading on a curve.
Actually 12 Angry Men was a teleplay originally, so it was actually written for the screen, albeit the small one. But it's so fantastic, I don't think it's worth splitting hairs over.
Can't disagree with Chinatown, but Hot Fuzz comes a close runner-up as a perfectly structured script where there is almost not a wasted line - in fact, it seems sometimes every single moment is doing double or triple duty, as character development, a setup or payoff, and a laugh out loud gag.
@@sollyywoodagreed. Way better. I also highly recommend watching “Spaced” if you enjoyed Shaun of the Dead, it’s utterly fantastic in so many ways and the writing is undeniably brilliant.
I have to give a compliment here: These videos are incredible! It's clear that so much time has been put into them, and there are literally hundreds of them. Watching Cinefix videos is the best youtube rabbit hole you can possibly go down. Every time I learn about so many more movies to add to my watchlist. Over the past couple years I've moved from being a casual movie watcher who'd watch a movie every one or two months, to a more engaged and interested movie fan. I have many blind spots that I need to catch up on, but the upside is that I'm able to experience so much for the first time! I feel like I'm living my own personal renaissance right now. I'll end this personal anecdote now, but I mention it because these videos reached me. Your enthusiasm is infectious.
I don't think there has ever been a better screenplay than Casablanca. The witty dialog, the perfect characters, and the ultra satisfying conclusion. There is a reason it's still considered a classic
I wholeheartedly disagree. It’s a boring movie in my opinion, and I don’t agree with the hype around it, the same goes for most old, outdated movies. It’s literally the most underwhelming “war” movie I’ve ever seen.
@@aus-li It's like saying the Mona Lisa is a boring and bad painting or that the Beatles suck just beacause the music doesn't resonate with you. You literally can't look at it like that, in a subjective way if your gonna evaluate the objective worth of something, and if you know anything about movies, some of the old one's still hold in many aspects, especially in the screewriting, dialogue and structure. Go watch your anime weeb, go live in your simulacra.
the older I got, the more I learned to appreciate chinatown compared to when I first saw it at a young age. but to an even bigger extent, I grew to appreciate Brick even more. I would go as far as calling it "chinatown in highschool". what a brilliant underrated little movie that resembles the maybe best screenplay ever in more ways than you think
Re-watched "Brick" in a movie theater recently with my family. My husband had never seen it before and we were all dazzled. Great screenplay and great film.
Miller's Crossing has been my favorite film since my first viewing years ago. It immediately struck a cord with me and every viewing I pick up on something new. I was sitting here listening and actually howled out loud when you named it Number 10. I describe the film to people as "All talk, talk, talk but it's the subtle nuances that make it work." You guys nailed it with that review. Cheers!!
I head cannon that Tom and Leo are ex IRA, veterans of the Tan war and civil war, maybe from the same Unit or flying column who fled the Brits and free state to America maybe together, and it's that connection that thing that connects Tom to a time when he was a younger and more idealistic man who had a cause, something bigger than himself to believe in that his allegiance to Leo represents, thats what gives him the edge, moving in a world of morally corrupt people who only believe in money and power for their own sake, its why nobody else gets him. That's not to say that Tom isn't compromised or morally corrupted by that world, but that's not all there is to him and there'll always be one small part of him that's untouchable. I'm not sure how much support there is for this hypothesis in the text but I feel like its true at least of Tom, it would be consistent with some of the themes in other Coen brothers films and I can't think of anything that flatly contradicts it.
Please make a list of the top 10 "bigger than life" characters in movies. Characters like Tyler Durden in fight club, kambei Shimada in seven samurai, and Harry Lime in the third man. All amazing characters that deserve their own list.
Chinatown is simply the best screenplay ever written. Even 50 years later, it reads like a perfect mystery noir novel and Robert Towne really wrote a flawless and masterful tale of deep seeded corruption, tragedy, and one of the saddest and darkest endings in film history. For action, I'd say Hard Boiled has the best screenplay as the action is literally the story and each set pieces helps tell the story while also being in service of the entire case.
@@ajtaylor8750 - Yeah, his American action movies are supposed to be weaker . Did you see Blackjack? Out of all of his American ones that I saw, Hard Target is the best. Face/Off was good too, but the more that I watch it, the more plot holes (And overacting .) are noticeable .
This channel is always on point, always at minimum shows a quick clip of the films I'm expecting to see, and always introduces me to something I need to watch. I rank this the number one film list channel on youtube
I always try to give Clint at least one tongue twister because the outtakes are usually VERY fun to listen to, but he nailed this one on the first try 😂
10:00: #6 Exposition. Jurassic Park: from the end of the opening sequence to the sequence where Newman steals the embryos from the freezer, Spielberg gives us _53 consecutive minutes_ of exposition - and holds our attention doing it!
My personal picks in every category: 10. Before Sunrise 9. The Kid 8. LOTR 1 7. Magnolia 6. Rear Window 5. Taxi Driver 4. Pulp Fiction 3. Rashomon 2. 12 Angry Men 1. The Godfather
Syd Field developed his book "Foundations of Screenwriting" based on the class he taught at our film school. And "Chinatown" was required reading for the students and acted as our bible. I am so happy to see it as #1 on your list.
@@ReverendMeat51 The arrival of .... 12(?) pods and the discussion on how to approach them. Literature professor (red haired actress) goes with language approach and meaning. It's circular, so it's the movie itself.
Whether or not one agrees with the choices, all we ask is for the opinions to be thoughtful...and boy does this video deliver! Wonderfully constructed, succinct and entertaining. Great video! Thanks!
18:13 I won't let the great Tacoma be done that way. 10 Things I hate about you is set in Seattle and filmed in Tacoma. It has nothing to do with California and if you'd watch the movie you'd know that it is about as subtle with its setting as a salmon being flung across Pike's Place Market.
You could do a whole separate list of movies that are just "moods" like Taxi Driver. And another for the ones that become "vibes" like Drive. I'm not sure what the difference is but I know there is one
During the entire clip i kept thinking "beautiful choices! but if Chinatown doesn't show up, i'll be disappointed, nevertheless." and i started getting nervous. The relief when number one showed up was huge! what a beautiful job you did with this clip! Thanks
Great list as picking just 10 is a profile in courage (and great writing to describe them), but I'd throw a few more in there: Die Hard (perfect structure and callbacks), The 400 Blows (empathy without sympathy), Cléo from 5 to 7 (structure without forced pacing), Pulp Fiction (time is a construct), Arrival (same, but before), La Dolce Vita (Does life have meaning?), L'avventura (No, it does not.), The Usual Suspects (unreliable narrator), LA Confidential (world building with impeccable structure), Your Name (the payoff), The Lion in Winter (dialogue as weapon), La Jetée (short and efficient way to tell 12 Monkeys) and The Dark Knight (character flaws as strengths, and vice versa). BTW - hate to do this - but for 10 Things I Hate About You, it's a Washington high school, not California. Looking forward to the next list.
Well, even though I don't always agree with their picks, I like how they essentially nominate films in categories before picking a winner, so you know that they recognize quality just to even be part of the conversation. For example, Die Hard and Pulp Fiction were at least referenced if not selected as winners. These are quality films that can be viewed over and over again and still be satisfying!
I love that you included "M" on the list. Such a masterpiece. I guess, one of the main reasons, it doesn't get more love in the comments is because too few people actually know it. Now, I'm going to search for the 3 films, I haven't seen yet.
A few years ago I crossed paths with a stranger and as he walked away I said "say, do you like the films of Fritz Lang?" He'd never heard of him, and I gave a brief explanation, leading up to the reason I'd mentioned it: On his dark overcoat, on the back of his left shoulder, was a white chalk "M".
When I looked down, and so this was a new video, I was truly ecstatic!!! I love you guys! Hands down best channel for movie info. Great voiceover, great info , and fun to watch. I’ve been a fan for years now.
Some of my personal favorites The Truman Show, Good Will Hunting, Manchester By The Sea, Up in the Air, Wind River, Inglourious Basterds, Whiplash, and Creed.
@Jeffrey Cunningham I was more into the typical "popcorn" movie as a younger person. Think "Liar Liar" or "The lion king". ES had a transformative effect on my movie tastes. I was making a statement on my own experience, not on movies as a whole, you douche.
I have to give a mention to American Beauty. I feel that screenplay is one of the best all time and the overall themes of the film are intertwined beautifully
10. Dialogue - Miller's Crossing (1990) 9. Physical Movement - M (1931) 8. World Building - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) 7. Character Writing - All About Eve (1950) 6. Exposition - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) 5. Emotion - Taxi Driver (1976) 4. Theme's - Get Out (2017) 3. Concept - The Matrix (1999) 2. Conflict - 12 Angry Men (1957) 1. Structure - Chinatown (1974)
This is the Clint Gage style narration I stayed on this channel for. If there is a dude, with Billy's lovely editing, to do this list, it be the him. This reminds me of the old days and what I miss. Just a tight well explained countdown to which I mostly would agree. I wouldn't have picked M for that. But you sold me. This is why I stuck around.
Ikiru would be on my list somewhere. The other Kurosawa films referenced are all stupendous in their own rights, but Ikiru nestled into my mind and lives there permanently now.
for Best Banter, I still don't think there's anything better than The Princess Bride. Every single line of dialogue in this movie is quippy, quotable, witty, and memorable
Excellent list of the best (almost entirely English/American) screenplays. I hope you do one of these that focuses on non-English screenplays (and it will need to include Roma and La Femme Nikita). Only omission I noticed here was Lone Star.
I think you could have included The Shawshank Redemption for its structure. It's right up there with Back to the Future for "tightest screenplay." Every details matters. Every setup has a payoff.
So I love this list-I always love your lists. I was wondering as I watched this, though, if we could have had two for the price of one by having best original screenplay list and a best adapted list separately. They are different beasts. Also, frankly just another excuse for one of your lists. Can't wait for the next one!
I recently put 12 Angry Men on my to-watch list after loving it when I was a kid. So glad to see tight little dramas like this still respected so many years later.
@@cooperwesley1536 What Maria said: One of the most perfect films ever made... The screenplay is excellent, Bette Davis (total Goddess!) & Anne Baxter kill it. Direction, costumes, settings are so good, you hardly notice they're there. And it's about a topic, Hollywood rarely touches: age.
I’m so glad that my favorite movie ever was chosen at #6. Eternal Sunshine is visually and musically amazing with a compelling story. I also love that Amelie and Lost in Translation were mentioned.
I have never disagreed with any list that Cinefix has to offer, because they are so thoughtful and well-executed. Two of my all-time favorite movies made the list, Matrix, and 12 Angry Men!
It's disappointing that almost all the films considered are Western and Hollywood. There are, of course, rich traditions of film-making in Europe and the Far East, and I'm sure the Indians who are very passionate about their film industry, are unhappy that Bollywood is also ignored here. I have a great appreciation for modern Chinese cinema, and one of my top favorite films is "The Grandmaster" by the venerable Wong Kar-Wai. To me it's a masterwork. But, nevertheless, your video of such a daunting subject was very entertaining and suggested a few films I'll have to watch or re-watch.
Do you want to watch a movie with all these components done to absolute perfection? 2 words: Neil Breen. Seriously, very comprehensive video. Great work!
I saw it when it came out, and over 40 years later, Breaking Away is still an amazing bit of screenwriting. Socio-economic challenges, generational gaps, friendship, fandom, the end of youth...all woven in a very funny, smart and sweet package.
The real brilliant thing about M, the real amazing lightbulb brilliance of it, is that while other directors were using sound to put in songs and all kinds of useless fluff, Lang made sound a vital part of the character. The movie would not work without sound, because the killer's whistling is used to signify his madness. To show his giving in to inhibitions and looking for another child to kill. And it even plays a part in how he is finally caught. Which is genius.
After years of taking your recommendations I'm now getting through this list having seen probably over 2/3's the movies you showed clips of or mentioned. I'm glad to see Charlie Kaufman fared well on the list, one spot and at least three mentions, that's half the movies he's written.
The big Lebowski, old brother, there will be blood, Apocalypse now, paths of glory, a streetcar named desire. There's too many great screenplays to do something like this, but it's fun to listen to a list. And these guys clearly enjoy cinema.
As wonderful and mastercraftly filmed as the old Fonda's 12 Angry Men is, if you ever read one screenplay, this is the one to read. I read it as part of a class assignment in early high school 25 years ago, when reading a screenplay from an old black and white movie was probably one of the things I least wanted to do. The experience has stuck with me for all this time, and I am so glad I was compelled to do so.
"Miller's Crossing" is one of the most intelligently written screenplays of all time. I've been purchasing the Blue-Ray for gifts every year and people are amazed by the film.
I've always admired All That Jazz. The opening is the most brilliant combination of exposition and foreshadowing I've ever seen. The rest of the movie is full of in-your-face desire tinged with subtleties and subtext. The musical sequences deliver contextual structure and genius spectacle in the way they blend sweat and dreams. I'm very fond of Fosse's body of choreographic work; he's famous for his use of precise isolation, so that the flex of a wrist or shrug of a shoulder speaks volumes. Overall my experience of this movie is a wink about what we all want and a mournful journey of brilliant self-destruction.
This is such a small thing, but I've never heard anyone say 'Wachowski sisters' before instead of just 'the Wachowskis', and just...thank you for doing that. It's subtly validating, and I appreciate it.
I’ve miss the old Cinefix the interviews and group discussions the current format seems sparse in content creation please can we have more?! I can’t tell you how happy I was to see this list
Trying to figure out the "Only ever see 4 planets" in Star Wars at 5:54 I can't seem to get to "only 4" no matter how I parse it. In "A New Hope" you have Tatooine and Yavin IV - and you could argue the Death Star. So that's 3. If you take the entire original trilogy, you add Hoth, Dagobah and Bespin in "Empire Strikes Back" and Endor is another new one in "Return of the Jedi". Toss in Naboo and Coruscant for the re-releases. So that's either 2/3 for the first movie, or upping it to 6/9 for the trilogy. I can't make the math work out for 4. Or have completely missed something? But beyond that, great episode. I'm a sucker for good writing and all its facets.
I haven't seen 1000s of films, so I won't comment on what might have been left out, but I have seen all 10 that you listed. My only critique (as opposed to an actual criticism) is that I think "All Above Eve" is too low. Personally, I'd put it at #1 or in a tie for #1 with Chinatown. If nothing else, it definitely belongs in the Top 3. Aside from that... great list! I would definitely encourage everyone watching to see all of these films, especially A.A.E. and "Get Out" (a unique and smart addition here).
Miller’s crossing is great, but give me the patter of Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler in Double Indemnity any day. Not only incredible dialogue but also flawlessly structured - certainly one of the best adaptations of all time. Speaking of which, Witness for the Prosecution didn’t get a mention and should have.
So happy to hear a shoutout to Kieslowski’s work. *Three Colors* is an incredible trilogy. I especially like his deconstruction of film genres: *Blue*/anti-tragedy, *White*/anti-romantic comedy, *Red*/ anti-comedy
One you missed is The Guard. Yeah both Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle are their usual brilliant selves but every character, no matter how small, is significant and memorable. It takes a great script to pull that off.
So glad two of my top five movies of all time fellowship and the matrix made the list, saw both when I was twelve and was blown away even though I had a hard time understanding what virtual reality meant
I love your videos I think I have an idea for a video: 5 brilliant moments in animation Not just 5 brilliant moments in film, but put into animated film, but rather 5 moments that showcase what the medium is capable of in comparison to live-action. Things like impossible camera moves, exaggerated movement and facial expressions, etc
@@billyjackson00 The first three that come to mind immediately are The flashback scene from Ratatouille, since it augments an already dynamic camera move with animation. Chihiro's crying scene from Spirited Away as tears completely well up her face, And the scene where Miles and Peter start swinging, as Miles and Peter start to sync up frame rate wise. I would also like to see Puss in Boots: The Last Wish's panic attack scene, and something from both It's Such a Beautiful Day and Birdboy: The Forgotten Children (which is an absolute masterpiece that I would highly suggest checking out)
Whenever I write a screenplay or a book I have a couple of movies I watch for their scripts. Minority Report - Has a perfect element of moral argument where it interlaces story with an overarching ideal. It's flawless in the way its so tightly bound. The opening 15 minutes tell us everything we need to know by showing, not telling, both the mechanics of precrime and the big picture moral implications of it all. Schindler's List - This is the best story arch I've ever seen. Most scripts have a character change quickly at the end. The character of Schindler has an incredibly slow and nuanced turn of attitude from his success in business, to that one armed man who was killed, to the individuals he helps here and there, and eventually the little girl in the red dress. His breakdown at the end is a perfect payoff of what we've experienced up to that point. Back to the Future - This is perfect handling of a subplot. Sometimes writing a subplot can be way more challenging then the main plot as around the 2/3's mark of most movies experience a lull in the story. The way the main story of getting back is put on hold while the story of getting the parents back together is perfectly timed and avoids being tacked on or overwhelming. A perfect balance. Pulp Fiction - I watch this for dialogue. Yes, the dialogue is fun to listen to, but that's not the point. The point is that all this colorful dialogue actually is in service to the plot without seeming so on the surface. When Vince and Jules talk about a Quarter Pounder, it comes up later during a tense scene. When they talk about foot massages, its not just locker room talk, its relevant. Since Vince killing Mia Wallace is far worse than giving her a foot massage, it adds to the tension of what is going to happen to Vince if he doesn't succeed. Patricia Arquette's description of piercings is amusing, since it was quite odd in the 90s, but it actually serves a purpose. It sets up the scene where they give Mia Wallace the ultimate piercing. And then Arquette gets the best line in the movie. Butch's girlfriend talks of potbellies and pancakes, first because she's telling us she's pregnant, but second it highlights what isn't there. A damned character blurting out, 'babe we gotta go, I threw the fight and Marsellus and his thugs are after us.' The audience knows this. The characters do, so why blurt it out? Tarantino resists the lure of this easy dialogue and it pulls the viewer into the story. Just some of my personal favorites.
Before I clicked on this, I said to myself, “there better be a Charlie Kaufman film on here or this list is just wrong. And not just mentioned, no, a Charlie Kaufman screenplay actually has to win a spot. Has to. I prefer Eternal Sunshine, but anything will do….” Eleven minutes in, and the list didn’t disappoint me.
So glad to see Eternal Sunshine get some love but I was really thinking that Back to the Future would get a spot. This channel has given it several spots in other videos for it's plot and structure so I was really thinking this video would mirror those previous ideas.
I think there should be a spot for characterization. Tarantino is good at this, making every character unique and interesting. But I think the the best example of this is Office Space. Each character effortlessly embodies a real person we have all known in a work capacity. Even characters who have like 10 seconds total of screen time feel true to life.
For your #7 pick, an "honorable mention" you missed was _Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels_ -- or _Snatch_ -- either one is imbued with so many characters, all of them remarkably distinct and easily kept apart, along with an intricate sequence of events that all tie together. They feel so legitimate and real, one suspects that they actually are embellished versions of real events. Add to that the dialogue and wit of Rory's "I'll Kill Ya!" speech, or the "It was a funny angle" speech, and you have an amazing pair of screenplays. Another good one is the one for _Little Big Man_ , an early Dustin Hoffman tour-de-force. And, while you did not mention too much about animated pictures, (and, where you did, didn't pick my current #1, _The Incredibles_ , which is an amazingly tightly woven story which also manages to be an homage to a number of different movie styles), there is one which seems likely to supplant _The Incredibles_ , but cannot yet be determined as it's actually a two-part movie, _"Across..."_ and the as-yet-unreleased _"Beyond The Spideyverse"_ . _Across..._ packs an amazing amount of characterization into a lot of very human scenes, even as it does a spectacular job of keeping the story -- and action -- moving along. You feel like you know -- and understand -- all the different "Spiderman"s from each of the different universes. While _"Into"_ did a remarkably good job of exploring the concept, _"Across"_ takes the idea and runs with it, leading you on a voyage of self-development and character exploration, even as it touches on elements of parenting and family and the difficulties therein. I eagerly await _"Beyond"_ to complete the "continued next movie" aspect of the storyline.
''rich Tolkien material if far form enough to garantee a good script'' savage and I am here for it
Can you say Ralph Bakshi?
@@ahseaton8353 I dont know if it to early but I dont get it. Can you explain please?
@@JacoDeltaco in 1978 Ralph Bakshi made an attempt at filming Lord of the Rings with animation. The animation itself was interesting and even skillful (rotoscoping - drawing the animation over live action footage of actors) but the adaptation of the screen play amounted to only half of the three books, and with a running time of just over 2 hours the STAGGERING quantity of material LEFT OUT just ends up painful to anyone reasonably familiar with the source - AND since it never got a follow up, leaves the whole story hanging in the middle with no resolution. Therefore, the impeccable and deep original material that was available to draw upon did not guarantee anything remotely like a good script.
@@duanevp oh interesting I only ever saw clip of that movie.
also I am not realy a movie nerd ( one of the reason I like this channel is that I discover a lot of good movie)
BURN!!!
I'm very happy 12 Angry Men, was on the list. That screenplay is so well written, it's ridiculous
The thing is that's not a screen play, that's a play play. Glengarry Glenn Ross is the same way. Great scripts, but as screenplays go, the one that writing instructors go to most is School of Rock.
@@davidhill2020 Yeah, I have a problem with it being one of the ten best screenplays when the screenplay only adds camera instructions for closeup, two shot, etc. Not that it isn't well written but one of the ten best? How about adaptations of Shakespeare or Wilde? As for "Get Out", I didn't know we were grading on a curve.
It's brilliant, for sure, but those performances! Even the best screenplay needs acting that good to be successful.
@@davidhill2020God, I love School of Rock. Every time I watch it I wonder why it's not on my top 10 list.
Actually 12 Angry Men was a teleplay originally, so it was actually written for the screen, albeit the small one. But it's so fantastic, I don't think it's worth splitting hairs over.
Can't disagree with Chinatown, but Hot Fuzz comes a close runner-up as a perfectly structured script where there is almost not a wasted line - in fact, it seems sometimes every single moment is doing double or triple duty, as character development, a setup or payoff, and a laugh out loud gag.
Including the line "Forget it Nicholas, it's Sandford".
Shaun of the dead was better
@@sollyywoodagreed. Way better. I also highly recommend watching “Spaced” if you enjoyed Shaun of the Dead, it’s utterly fantastic in so many ways and the writing is undeniably brilliant.
ive said this for awhile. shaun of the dead was ok but zombies were so played out to me at that point. Hot Fuzz has a better premise imo
0:25 10-Dialogue
2:35 9-Action
4:57 8-World Building
7:44 7-Character Building
9:57 6-Exposition
12:29 5-Tone and Mood
14:53 4-Themes
17:46 3-The Idea
20:08 2-Conflict
22:58 1-Estructure
These aren’t even close to the movie titles.
@@RichardPetrocelli-cd3yu THOSE are what those movies screenplay mastered upon
@@daredevil6145I know, dawg, I know. lol.
@@RichardPetrocelli-cd3yu haha lol okay
Hard to know which are sarcastic and genuine lmao!!
I have to give a compliment here: These videos are incredible! It's clear that so much time has been put into them, and there are literally hundreds of them. Watching Cinefix videos is the best youtube rabbit hole you can possibly go down. Every time I learn about so many more movies to add to my watchlist.
Over the past couple years I've moved from being a casual movie watcher who'd watch a movie every one or two months, to a more engaged and interested movie fan. I have many blind spots that I need to catch up on, but the upside is that I'm able to experience so much for the first time! I feel like I'm living my own personal renaissance right now.
I'll end this personal anecdote now, but I mention it because these videos reached me. Your enthusiasm is infectious.
best comment here
I think "The Apartement" is also a perfect screenplay. What Chinatown is for Noir, The Apartement is for Romantic Comedy. Every Setup works perfectly.
The Apartment is great, but I wouldn't call it a romantic comedy. It's extremely dark.
Billy Wilder is flawless 🤩
@@robgronotte1 It's a romantic dark comedy.
Just shut up and deal!
@@lilivonshtup3808 A dark romantic comedy
I don't think there has ever been a better screenplay than Casablanca. The witty dialog, the perfect characters, and the ultra satisfying conclusion. There is a reason it's still considered a classic
I wholeheartedly disagree. It’s a boring movie in my opinion, and I don’t agree with the hype around it, the same goes for most old, outdated movies.
It’s literally the most underwhelming “war” movie I’ve ever seen.
@@aus-li if you look closely, you’ll notice they aren’t in a war. They’re in Casablanca and in a cafe most of the movie.
@@randomvananagram It’s themed around the war…that’s the main point of the movie.
@@aus-li It's like saying the Mona Lisa is a boring and bad painting or that the Beatles suck just beacause the music doesn't resonate with you. You literally can't look at it like that, in a subjective way if your gonna evaluate the objective worth of something, and if you know anything about movies, some of the old one's still hold in many aspects, especially in the screewriting, dialogue and structure. Go watch your anime weeb, go live in your simulacra.
@@gorgon__soup I like how you use the word “subjective”, then insult me, lol. You’re not gonna change my opinion.
Have a good day.
the older I got, the more I learned to appreciate chinatown compared to when I first saw it at a young age.
but to an even bigger extent, I grew to appreciate Brick even more. I would go as far as calling it "chinatown in highschool". what a brilliant underrated little movie that resembles the maybe best screenplay ever in more ways than you think
Brick is so awesome, it was nice to see it got a little shoutout
Yes! That movie is fantastic. I wish it got more attention.
Amazing and complex last scene in Brick, nonetheless very well-written I would agree.
Re-watched "Brick" in a movie theater recently with my family. My husband had never seen it before and we were all dazzled. Great screenplay and great film.
The only list in youtube where i don't skip even 1 sec, just because of intense research, every film mentioned is picked with care❤
Miller's Crossing has been my favorite film since my first viewing years ago. It immediately struck a cord with me and every viewing I pick up on something new. I was sitting here listening and actually howled out loud when you named it Number 10. I describe the film to people as "All talk, talk, talk but it's the subtle nuances that make it work." You guys nailed it with that review. Cheers!!
chord
I head cannon that Tom and Leo are ex IRA, veterans of the Tan war and civil war, maybe from the same Unit or flying column who fled the Brits and free state to America maybe together, and it's that connection that thing that connects Tom to a time when he was a younger and more idealistic man who had a cause, something bigger than himself to believe in that his allegiance to Leo represents, thats what gives him the edge, moving in a world of morally corrupt people who only believe in money and power for their own sake, its why nobody else gets him. That's not to say that Tom isn't compromised or morally corrupted by that world, but that's not all there is to him and there'll always be one small part of him that's untouchable.
I'm not sure how much support there is for this hypothesis in the text but I feel like its true at least of Tom, it would be consistent with some of the themes in other Coen brothers films and I can't think of anything that flatly contradicts it.
Please make a list of the top 10 "bigger than life" characters in movies. Characters like Tyler Durden in fight club, kambei Shimada in seven samurai, and Harry Lime in the third man. All amazing characters that deserve their own list.
Day 373
well, There Will Be Blood is certainly on that list.
Keyser Soze
Chinatown is simply the best screenplay ever written. Even 50 years later, it reads like a perfect mystery noir novel and Robert Towne really wrote a flawless and masterful tale of deep seeded corruption, tragedy, and one of the saddest and darkest endings in film history. For action, I'd say Hard Boiled has the best screenplay as the action is literally the story and each set pieces helps tell the story while also being in service of the entire case.
Is Woo the best action director? I also like Walter Hill.
@@matthewschwartz6607 Woo has got bangers. Hard Boiled, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Face/Off, etc.
you are not wrong
@@ajtaylor8750 - Yeah, his American action movies are supposed to be weaker . Did you see Blackjack? Out of all of his American ones that I saw, Hard Target is the best. Face/Off was good too, but the more that I watch it, the more plot holes (And overacting .) are noticeable .
I’ve never understood the hype around Chinatown. Maybe it’s more the execution I find underwhelming
I'm glad you put the title of the movie in the clips you show. A lot of channels briefly show a clip, and then you never know where it came from
This channel is always on point, always at minimum shows a quick clip of the films I'm expecting to see, and always introduces me to something I need to watch. I rank this the number one film list channel on youtube
"How it paces and parses and parcels out the pieces of the plot..." Beautifully written and beautifully delivered!
I always try to give Clint at least one tongue twister because the outtakes are usually VERY fun to listen to, but he nailed this one on the first try 😂
@@billyjackson00 Haha, amazing! 😂
10:00: #6 Exposition. Jurassic Park: from the end of the opening sequence to the sequence where Newman steals the embryos from the freezer, Spielberg gives us _53 consecutive minutes_ of exposition - and holds our attention doing it!
It's a legit Great movie that people seem to forget because it's also an effects driven creature feature
My personal picks in every category:
10. Before Sunrise
9. The Kid
8. LOTR 1
7. Magnolia
6. Rear Window
5. Taxi Driver
4. Pulp Fiction
3. Rashomon
2. 12 Angry Men
1. The Godfather
Killed it. Great list.
Probably my favorite CineFix video yet. Well done, guys.
How I miss this channel, so glad we got a new top 10 to indulge and break apart
Yes! I got to the end and was like “are they not even going to mention Chinatown?” But never fear. My faith in lists has been redeemed.
Chinatown is definitely overrated, just because of Roman Polanski.
I’m never upset at the selections besucase the writing and reasoning are so good that I’m just here to watch!!
Syd Field developed his book "Foundations of Screenwriting" based on the class he taught at our film school. And "Chinatown" was required reading for the students and acted as our bible. I am so happy to see it as #1 on your list.
People underestimate the perfect screenplays for Tremors and The Lost Boys.
The Arrival reveal will always make it one of my favorite screenplays
The Charlie Sheen movie?
True. Was it mentioned? It wasn't even mentioned, right? And I love that movie. The whole way it's constructed. It's a very well written movie.
@@ReverendMeat51 The arrival of .... 12(?) pods and the discussion on how to approach them. Literature professor (red haired actress) goes with language approach and meaning. It's circular, so it's the movie itself.
@@HelgaCavoli Oh right, yes, very good movie with an interesting structure. I default to the Sheen movie because I loved it as a kid
@@ReverendMeat51 Sharp catch there, my friend.
The Truman Show is a marvelous screenplay.
For sure, fits perfectly in that Matrix category where the concept alone makes it intriguing.
this channel manages to know cinema seriously and appeal to the mainstream at the same time, an invaluable source and hope for mainstream cinephillia
Happy to see you mention The Sting. My absolute favorite movie that still keeps me engaged with the story. Can't disagree with Chinatown though
I'm always blown away by the screenplay in Witness for the Prosecution(1957).
When it comes to adapted screenplays I think Frank Darabont's Shawshank Redemption is one of the best
Finally, Miller's Crossing is getting some much need love and attention.
Always loved that film, every scene, and every syllable.
Whether or not one agrees with the choices, all we ask is for the opinions to be thoughtful...and boy does this video deliver! Wonderfully constructed, succinct and entertaining. Great video! Thanks!
18:13 I won't let the great Tacoma be done that way. 10 Things I hate about you is set in Seattle and filmed in Tacoma. It has nothing to do with California and if you'd watch the movie you'd know that it is about as subtle with its setting as a salmon being flung across Pike's Place Market.
I hope this channel with this narrator never ends !!!
THANK YOU , for sharing knowledge about cinema !!!
Every time I finish watching a CineFix video I feel like watching 20 new movies. The way they explain things and make these "tops" is perfect!!
You could do a whole separate list of movies that are just "moods" like Taxi Driver. And another for the ones that become "vibes" like Drive. I'm not sure what the difference is but I know there is one
During the entire clip i kept thinking "beautiful choices! but if Chinatown doesn't show up, i'll be disappointed, nevertheless." and i started getting nervous. The relief when number one showed up was huge! what a beautiful job you did with this clip! Thanks
Great list as picking just 10 is a profile in courage (and great writing to describe them), but I'd throw a few more in there: Die Hard (perfect structure and callbacks), The 400 Blows (empathy without sympathy), Cléo from 5 to 7 (structure without forced pacing), Pulp Fiction (time is a construct), Arrival (same, but before), La Dolce Vita (Does life have meaning?), L'avventura (No, it does not.), The Usual Suspects (unreliable narrator), LA Confidential (world building with impeccable structure), Your Name (the payoff), The Lion in Winter (dialogue as weapon), La Jetée (short and efficient way to tell 12 Monkeys) and The Dark Knight (character flaws as strengths, and vice versa).
BTW - hate to do this - but for 10 Things I Hate About You, it's a Washington high school, not California.
Looking forward to the next list.
Well, even though I don't always agree with their picks, I like how they essentially nominate films in categories before picking a winner, so you know that they recognize quality just to even be part of the conversation. For example, Die Hard and Pulp Fiction were at least referenced if not selected as winners. These are quality films that can be viewed over and over again and still be satisfying!
I'm sorry but Arrival I think it has a serious deux ex machina at the end. But still... love the atmosphere of it.
I love that you included "M" on the list. Such a masterpiece. I guess, one of the main reasons, it doesn't get more love in the comments is because too few people actually know it.
Now, I'm going to search for the 3 films, I haven't seen yet.
M is a stone-cold masterpiece. I would have included films like Harakiri, Wild Strawberries, Wings Of Desire and The Human Condition Trilogy.
You need to watch High and Low, I think it’s even a little bette than M.
A few years ago I crossed paths with a stranger and as he walked away I said "say, do you like the films of Fritz Lang?" He'd never heard of him, and I gave a brief explanation, leading up to the reason I'd mentioned it:
On his dark overcoat, on the back of his left shoulder, was a white chalk "M".
@@aus-li Never heard of "High and Low". I'm gonna look it up.
@@mina_en_suiza Yep, mostly any Kurosawa movie is gold. Hope you enjoy it though :)
24:24 How the suit jacket folds back into shape after the exercise, that's expert tailoring.
When I looked down, and so this was a new video, I was truly ecstatic!!! I love you guys! Hands down best channel for movie info. Great voiceover, great info , and fun to watch. I’ve been a fan for years now.
Some of my personal favorites
The Truman Show, Good Will Hunting, Manchester By The Sea, Up in the Air, Wind River, Inglourious Basterds, Whiplash, and Creed.
Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind was the first movie that I saw and truly thought of as "cinema".
damn so u never saw cinema that film? Lol i guess every film before 2004 wasn’t cinema
@Jeffrey Cunningham I was more into the typical "popcorn" movie as a younger person. Think "Liar Liar" or "The lion king". ES had a transformative effect on my movie tastes. I was making a statement on my own experience, not on movies as a whole, you douche.
I have to give a mention to American Beauty. I feel that screenplay is one of the best all time and the overall themes of the film are intertwined beautifully
Agree with you.
I think Horror gets overlooked in the Screenplay game : Scream, Candyman, Hereditary, Poltergeist, all crafty scripts with memorable dialogue
Absolutely. Also the Shining.
10. Dialogue - Miller's Crossing (1990)
9. Physical Movement - M (1931)
8. World Building - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
7. Character Writing - All About Eve (1950)
6. Exposition - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
5. Emotion - Taxi Driver (1976)
4. Theme's - Get Out (2017)
3. Concept - The Matrix (1999)
2. Conflict - 12 Angry Men (1957)
1. Structure - Chinatown (1974)
Screenwriting instructor: “God help you, if you ever use voice-over!”
Billy Wilder: “Watch me”
Was that an epic burn during the heaping of praise on the Fellowship of the Ring? I think it was!
I have been waiting YEARS for you guys to put All About Eve on a list!!! THANK YOU
Thank you. Always remind me why I love cinema, what films are close to me and everytime I want re-watch something after your vids
Adding both All About Eve and Eternal Sunshine to this list 100% legitimizes it. Well done.
This is the Clint Gage style narration I stayed on this channel for. If there is a dude, with Billy's lovely editing, to do this list, it be the him.
This reminds me of the old days and what I miss. Just a tight well explained countdown to which I mostly would agree.
I wouldn't have picked M for that. But you sold me. This is why I stuck around.
Ikiru would be on my list somewhere. The other Kurosawa films referenced are all stupendous in their own rights, but Ikiru nestled into my mind and lives there permanently now.
for Best Banter, I still don't think there's anything better than The Princess Bride. Every single line of dialogue in this movie is quippy, quotable, witty, and memorable
For me the same goes with Christopher Nolan’s the prestige. Every sentence of dialog is a quotable one liner
Inconceivable!!
Westley, what about the R.O.U.S.'s?
@@columwedel7103 Rodents of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist.
Excellent list of the best (almost entirely English/American) screenplays. I hope you do one of these that focuses on non-English screenplays (and it will need to include Roma and La Femme Nikita). Only omission I noticed here was Lone Star.
I think you could have included The Shawshank Redemption for its structure. It's right up there with Back to the Future for "tightest screenplay." Every details matters. Every setup has a payoff.
Does anybody know the music that starts playing at 4:58?
So I love this list-I always love your lists. I was wondering as I watched this, though, if we could have had two for the price of one by having best original screenplay list and a best adapted list separately. They are different beasts. Also, frankly just another excuse for one of your lists. Can't wait for the next one!
I recently put 12 Angry Men on my to-watch list after loving it when I was a kid. So glad to see tight little dramas like this still respected so many years later.
YOU have fantastic screenplays! "Have you seen someone beautiful with horrible haircut? That's Chinatown with water laws." Genius.
I’m going to give a spot to 1985’s ‘Clue’. 😊
Finally some love for All About Eve! One the most PERFECT movies ever made!
You're so right. I wouldn't have expected it to make it into the list, but all the more pleased, they included it.
It's always #1 on my all-time best list... and mainly because of the screenplay. I'd have placed it higher here: 1 or 2.
@@cooperwesley1536 What Maria said: One of the most perfect films ever made...
The screenplay is excellent, Bette Davis (total Goddess!) & Anne Baxter kill it.
Direction, costumes, settings are so good, you hardly notice they're there.
And it's about a topic, Hollywood rarely touches: age.
I’m so glad that my favorite movie ever was chosen at #6. Eternal Sunshine is visually and musically amazing with a compelling story. I also love that Amelie and Lost in Translation were mentioned.
Just this afternoon in a beautiful Cape Town I was thinking how much I wish there was a new Cinefix video. Feel happy now
I have never disagreed with any list that Cinefix has to offer, because they are so thoughtful and well-executed.
Two of my all-time favorite movies made the list, Matrix, and 12 Angry Men!
It's disappointing that almost all the films considered are Western and Hollywood. There are, of course, rich traditions of film-making in Europe and the Far East, and I'm sure the Indians who are very passionate about their film industry, are unhappy that Bollywood is also ignored here. I have a great appreciation for modern Chinese cinema, and one of my top favorite films is "The Grandmaster" by the venerable Wong Kar-Wai. To me it's a masterwork. But, nevertheless, your video of such a daunting subject was very entertaining and suggested a few films I'll have to watch or re-watch.
Do you want to watch a movie with all these components done to absolute perfection? 2 words: Neil Breen.
Seriously, very comprehensive video. Great work!
I saw it when it came out, and over 40 years later, Breaking Away is still an amazing bit of screenwriting. Socio-economic challenges, generational gaps, friendship, fandom, the end of youth...all woven in a very funny, smart and sweet package.
"Breaking Away" is one of my favorite films, too.
The real brilliant thing about M, the real amazing lightbulb brilliance of it, is that while other directors were using sound to put in songs and all kinds of useless fluff, Lang made sound a vital part of the character. The movie would not work without sound, because the killer's whistling is used to signify his madness. To show his giving in to inhibitions and looking for another child to kill. And it even plays a part in how he is finally caught. Which is genius.
Besides movies I love music. Could any please tell me what the song name or artist that is playing between 5:00 and 6:09?
After years of taking your recommendations I'm now getting through this list having seen probably over 2/3's the movies you showed clips of or mentioned.
I'm glad to see Charlie Kaufman fared well on the list, one spot and at least three mentions, that's half the movies he's written.
The big Lebowski, old brother, there will be blood, Apocalypse now, paths of glory, a streetcar named desire. There's too many great screenplays to do something like this, but it's fun to listen to a list. And these guys clearly enjoy cinema.
As wonderful and mastercraftly filmed as the old Fonda's 12 Angry Men is, if you ever read one screenplay, this is the one to read. I read it as part of a class assignment in early high school 25 years ago, when reading a screenplay from an old black and white movie was probably one of the things I least wanted to do. The experience has stuck with me for all this time, and I am so glad I was compelled to do so.
Was it not a play before screenplay?
"Miller's Crossing" is one of the most intelligently written screenplays of all time. I've been purchasing the Blue-Ray for gifts every year and people are amazed by the film.
What's the rumpus?
The editing of your videos is excellent
One of your finest videos yet!
This list actually nailed basically all the ones I would have picked - feeling happy now haha 😊
I've always admired All That Jazz. The opening is the most brilliant combination of exposition and foreshadowing I've ever seen. The rest of the movie is full of in-your-face desire tinged with subtleties and subtext. The musical sequences deliver contextual structure and genius spectacle in the way they blend sweat and dreams. I'm very fond of Fosse's body of choreographic work; he's famous for his use of precise isolation, so that the flex of a wrist or shrug of a shoulder speaks volumes. Overall my experience of this movie is a wink about what we all want and a mournful journey of brilliant self-destruction.
"It's show time!"
This is such a small thing, but I've never heard anyone say 'Wachowski sisters' before instead of just 'the Wachowskis', and just...thank you for doing that. It's subtly validating, and I appreciate it.
Technically the wachowski bros wrote the matrix
I’ve miss the old Cinefix the interviews and group discussions the current format seems sparse in content creation please can we have more?! I can’t tell you how happy I was to see this list
Trying to figure out the "Only ever see 4 planets" in Star Wars at 5:54 I can't seem to get to "only 4" no matter how I parse it. In "A New Hope" you have Tatooine and Yavin IV - and you could argue the Death Star. So that's 3. If you take the entire original trilogy, you add Hoth, Dagobah and Bespin in "Empire Strikes Back" and Endor is another new one in "Return of the Jedi". Toss in Naboo and Coruscant for the re-releases. So that's either 2/3 for the first movie, or upping it to 6/9 for the trilogy. I can't make the math work out for 4. Or have completely missed something?
But beyond that, great episode. I'm a sucker for good writing and all its facets.
Tatooine, Alderan, and both actual Yavin and the moon of Yavin. he said "see four planets" not step foot on four planets.
I haven't seen 1000s of films, so I won't comment on what might have been left out, but I have seen all 10 that you listed. My only critique (as opposed to an actual criticism) is that I think "All Above Eve" is too low. Personally, I'd put it at #1 or in a tie for #1 with Chinatown. If nothing else, it definitely belongs in the Top 3. Aside from that... great list! I would definitely encourage everyone watching to see all of these films, especially A.A.E. and "Get Out" (a unique and smart addition here).
Some of these movies felt like they were more influenced by the director or the cinematographer than the screenwriter.
Miller’s crossing is great, but give me the patter of Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler in Double Indemnity any day. Not only incredible dialogue but also flawlessly structured - certainly one of the best adaptations of all time. Speaking of which, Witness for the Prosecution didn’t get a mention and should have.
the music was a little loud or distracting, specifically the piano at around 10:00. great video though!
So happy to hear a shoutout to Kieslowski’s work. *Three Colors* is an incredible trilogy. I especially like his deconstruction of film genres: *Blue*/anti-tragedy, *White*/anti-romantic comedy, *Red*/ anti-comedy
One you missed is The Guard. Yeah both Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle are their usual brilliant selves but every character, no matter how small, is significant and memorable. It takes a great script to pull that off.
Yes!
Not just The Guard, but Calvary! How did I forget that?!
So glad two of my top five movies of all time fellowship and the matrix made the list, saw both when I was twelve and was blown away even though I had a hard time understanding what virtual reality meant
Years later, this remains the best channel on RUclips.
All of your picks are great now I have to watch a thousand movies I never heard of 😊
I love your videos
I think I have an idea for a video: 5 brilliant moments in animation
Not just 5 brilliant moments in film, but put into animated film, but rather 5 moments that showcase what the medium is capable of in comparison to live-action. Things like impossible camera moves, exaggerated movement and facial expressions, etc
This is a fantastic idea.
@@billyjackson00 Thank you :)
@@neminem233 Which moments would you pick?!
@@billyjackson00 The first three that come to mind immediately are
The flashback scene from Ratatouille, since it augments an already dynamic camera move with animation.
Chihiro's crying scene from Spirited Away as tears completely well up her face,
And the scene where Miles and Peter start swinging, as Miles and Peter start to sync up frame rate wise.
I would also like to see Puss in Boots: The Last Wish's panic attack scene, and something from both It's Such a Beautiful Day and Birdboy: The Forgotten Children (which is an absolute masterpiece that I would highly suggest checking out)
If theres one day a top list about the best RUclips Video scripts, this gotta be in it!
I take every mention as a place on the list. Fantastic movie recommendations 👍
Kaufman having so many appearances here feels correct
Yes. For me, same with the Coen Brothers.
Whenever I write a screenplay or a book I have a couple of movies I watch for their scripts.
Minority Report - Has a perfect element of moral argument where it interlaces story with an overarching ideal. It's flawless in the way its so tightly bound. The opening 15 minutes tell us everything we need to know by showing, not telling, both the mechanics of precrime and the big picture moral implications of it all.
Schindler's List - This is the best story arch I've ever seen. Most scripts have a character change quickly at the end. The character of Schindler has an incredibly slow and nuanced turn of attitude from his success in business, to that one armed man who was killed, to the individuals he helps here and there, and eventually the little girl in the red dress. His breakdown at the end is a perfect payoff of what we've experienced up to that point.
Back to the Future - This is perfect handling of a subplot. Sometimes writing a subplot can be way more challenging then the main plot as around the 2/3's mark of most movies experience a lull in the story. The way the main story of getting back is put on hold while the story of getting the parents back together is perfectly timed and avoids being tacked on or overwhelming. A perfect balance.
Pulp Fiction - I watch this for dialogue. Yes, the dialogue is fun to listen to, but that's not the point. The point is that all this colorful dialogue actually is in service to the plot without seeming so on the surface. When Vince and Jules talk about a Quarter Pounder, it comes up later during a tense scene. When they talk about foot massages, its not just locker room talk, its relevant. Since Vince killing Mia Wallace is far worse than giving her a foot massage, it adds to the tension of what is going to happen to Vince if he doesn't succeed. Patricia Arquette's description of piercings is amusing, since it was quite odd in the 90s, but it actually serves a purpose. It sets up the scene where they give Mia Wallace the ultimate piercing. And then Arquette gets the best line in the movie. Butch's girlfriend talks of potbellies and pancakes, first because she's telling us she's pregnant, but second it highlights what isn't there. A damned character blurting out, 'babe we gotta go, I threw the fight and Marsellus and his thugs are after us.' The audience knows this. The characters do, so why blurt it out? Tarantino resists the lure of this easy dialogue and it pulls the viewer into the story.
Just some of my personal favorites.
Great list as always, I'd swap Casablanca for All about Eve but apart from that *chef kiss*!
Before I clicked on this, I said to myself, “there better be a Charlie Kaufman film on here or this list is just wrong. And not just mentioned, no, a Charlie Kaufman screenplay actually has to win a spot. Has to. I prefer Eternal Sunshine, but anything will do….”
Eleven minutes in, and the list didn’t disappoint me.
So glad to see Eternal Sunshine get some love but I was really thinking that Back to the Future would get a spot. This channel has given it several spots in other videos for it's plot and structure so I was really thinking this video would mirror those previous ideas.
I think there should be a spot for characterization. Tarantino is good at this, making every character unique and interesting. But I think the the best example of this is Office Space. Each character effortlessly embodies a real person we have all known in a work capacity. Even characters who have like 10 seconds total of screen time feel true to life.
For your #7 pick, an "honorable mention" you missed was _Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels_ -- or _Snatch_ -- either one is imbued with so many characters, all of them remarkably distinct and easily kept apart, along with an intricate sequence of events that all tie together. They feel so legitimate and real, one suspects that they actually are embellished versions of real events. Add to that the dialogue and wit of Rory's "I'll Kill Ya!" speech, or the "It was a funny angle" speech, and you have an amazing pair of screenplays.
Another good one is the one for _Little Big Man_ , an early Dustin Hoffman tour-de-force.
And, while you did not mention too much about animated pictures, (and, where you did, didn't pick my current #1, _The Incredibles_ , which is an amazingly tightly woven story which also manages to be an homage to a number of different movie styles), there is one which seems likely to supplant _The Incredibles_ , but cannot yet be determined as it's actually a two-part movie, _"Across..."_ and the as-yet-unreleased _"Beyond The Spideyverse"_ . _Across..._ packs an amazing amount of characterization into a lot of very human scenes, even as it does a spectacular job of keeping the story -- and action -- moving along. You feel like you know -- and understand -- all the different "Spiderman"s from each of the different universes. While _"Into"_ did a remarkably good job of exploring the concept, _"Across"_ takes the idea and runs with it, leading you on a voyage of self-development and character exploration, even as it touches on elements of parenting and family and the difficulties therein. I eagerly await _"Beyond"_ to complete the "continued next movie" aspect of the storyline.
Guy Ritchie makes bad films
I Fucking knew it was gonna be Chinatown, and I'm glad.