Screenplay Review: Transcendence

"Imagine. All the intelligence of everyone ever born in one entity."

          The science fiction genre is one that people always seem to be hungry for and at the same time hold to a high standard and in return a high level of scrutiny. This is welcomed however as too many films and screenplays are given freedom from criticism because they attempt to be ambitious or have grandiose elements to their themes. Ambition alone is never enough to warrant muddled execution around it which so often plagues highly anticipated films. Jack Paglen's attempt at combining ambition with substance in his script Transcendence is relatively successful. Transcendence’s main story features a man and wife named Will and Evelyn Caster who happen to be scientists working on pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence. They are joined by their colleague and friend Max Waters who has differing opinions than those of Will and his wife. Although he has a differing opinion as to the consequences of sentiment computers, Max continues to encourage his colleagues progression. Not everyone is so happy to do so as a group of militant fighters known as the RIFT begin to murder everyone involved with artificial intelligence in order to stop the creation of a sentient being. During a lecture on his work, Will is critically injured in an attack by RIFT and in pure desperation Evelyn attempts to upload his genetic material into a computer despite being warned of the destruction it could cause if the computer were to become aware of its' own existence.

          The strength of the script is evident in two elements, the first of which is the explanation of what transcendence is and the consequences of it. Paglan attempts to show us inside the mind of a machine that has more power and intelligence than anyone in the history of mankind through visual cues that both educate and confuse with their complexity. This also eliminates the need for an entire film drowned in expository dialog à la Christopher Nolan where characters are constantly explaining plot elements to each other. The second strength is the immediate consequences transcendence has on the relationship between Evelyn and her husband Will. Evelyn's obsession with maintaining a relationship with her husband despite the warnings around her are portrayed with tenderness that evoke a strong sense of empathy. However, this is nicely countered with the cold reality of how myopic her refusal to let go of Will makes her and everything she ignores in the process of his resurrection. Yes, this is another science fiction story portraying the negatives of artificial intelligence and the horrible consequences once that A.I. begins to turn on their creators, but Paglan’s script offers more in terms of humanizing the transition than other forays into the same storyline. 

Screenplay Review: The Wolf of Wall Street

“There is no nobility in poverty. I’ve been rich, and I’ve been poor and I choose rich every time.”

         Although some might argue the critical and box office success of his recent films have allowed Martin Scorsese to become more comfortable and thus lose some of the edge that made him so great, he has still maintained the trademark kinetic energy that has become synonymous with his filmmaking. This time around he returns to familiar material with Terrence Winter’s adaptation of The Wolf of Wall Street. The script features the main character of Jordan Belfort who develops an insatiable hunger for the good life and all that comes with it regardless of how he achieves it or who he screws over in the process. His rise from rags to riches is one of pure desperation and of calculated hard work and in keeping with Scorsese’s themes as an auteur there are plenty of consequences that come with success including crushing guilt.

       Similar to Goodfellas, the script features a constant voice over by the main character that guides you through the important parts of his life and his own opinions on them. However, unlike Goodfellas which allows its characters to breathe and establish themselves within certain periods of their lives, Wolf of Wall Street moves from one scene of lavishness to the next with quick fire succession. In fact, the entire script is less of a story and more of one giant montage. While this could be done intentionally to highlight how quick the events came and went for the main character, it leaves room to be desired from a narrative standpoint as nothing is completely fleshed out. Old fans will be happy to know the script does not shy away from showing any of the decadence that Belfort came to enjoy whether it is drugs or women. Couple this with the lack of a more traditional narrative and you might find people having the same problems as they did with earlier Scorsese films (unlikable characters doing unlikable things). I imagine the story will improve as a film as it feels tailor made for the big screen.

Screenplay Review: American Hustle

“All my life I been lookin' over my shoulder worried about the Feds, and for what? If I knew how fuckin’ stupid you guys really were I woulda stole the world.”

          David O. Russell's recent success at the Oscars as made him the director de jour around Hollywood, but to his credit he has shown the desire to stick with what he feels works both in regards to the players in his cast and the subject matter of his films. American Hustle (formerly known as the brilliantly titled American Bullshit) written by Eric Warren Singer continues the recent string of Russell films featuring characters on the fringes of society who are not exactly viewed at as favorable by the rest of normal America. This time around the story focuses on Mel Weinberg, a two bit con artist who has achieved modest success through skill and authenticity. Mel is good at what he does and is able to balance his sham of a career with his family life and even an extramarital affair. However when the FBI come calling Weinberg is put in one of two scenarios: either help the FBI or face the consequences of his previous actions. He ends up participating in something that continues to escalate and grow until it reaches absurd levels of corruption.

                             

          The major point to mention with American Hustle is that it doesn't view its main character with any form of judgment whether it be negative or positive. Mel’s actions are his own and so are the consequences. The script features face paced, smart talk and vulgar language that seems to be a mix of early Scorsese with Tarantino. Indeed the whole thing gives off a Goodfellas vibe both in the beginning and in the end (especially the last shot), but the real meat of the script is allowed to develop on its own without the weight of another film to be inspired by. The script develops a path with just the right highs and lows for an overall solid story, but one that could definitely benefit from a director who knows what he’s doing.