With all these remakes being made, I am wondering if there is nothing original out there anymore. When you look at which films are nominated for Best screenplay, you usually will see very interesting stories and very powerful films. For an example, look at some of the nominees in the last few years.
Almost Famous, You Can Count on Me, Billy Elliot, Amelie, Gosford Park, Memento, The Royal Tenenbaums, Talk to Her, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Far From Heaven, Lost in Translation, Dirty Pretty Things, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Vera Drake, The Incredibles, The Squid and the Whale, Good Night, and Good Luck, Little Miss Sunshine, Pan’s Labyrinth, and The Queen.
However it does make me a little sad that Hollywood keeps turning out the basic formula each time, and now the new fad of making movies is taking over. This basically consists of remakes of classics, remakes of foreign films, movies based on toys/cartoons and TV shows.
I was informed about this site (who’s name I cannot remember, but thank you!!) that deals with basic plot formats. It is a very interesting read, especially when you think how many different genres and possibilities each of the below list of nineteen plots can be done. All of the above mentioned films follow one of these so why do we need “How to Marry a Millionaire” or “All of Me” being done again? The originals are still great.
If they must remake a movie, make ones that had a good premise, but just failed in execution at the time.
Perhaps there should be a blogger competition to come up with an original screenplay based on one of the below.
#1 QUEST - the plot involves the Protagonist's search for a person, place or thing, tangible or intangible (but must be quantifiable, so think of this as a noun; i.e., immortality).
#2 ADVENTURE - this plot involves the Protagonist going in search of their fortune, and since fortune is never found at home, the Protagonist goes to search for it somewhere over the rainbow.
#3 PURSUIT - this plot literally involves hide-and-seek, one person chasing another.
#4 RESCUE - this plot involves the Protagonist searching for someone or something, usually consisting of three main characters - the Protagonist, the Victim & the Antagonist.
#5 ESCAPE - plot involves a Protagonist confined against their will who wants to escape (does not include some one trying to escape their personal demons).
#6 REVENGE - retaliation by Protagonist or Antagonist against the other for real or imagined injury.
#7 THE RIDDLE - plot involves the Protagonist's search for clues to find the hidden meaning of something in question that is deliberately enigmatic or ambiguous.
#8 RIVALRY - plot involves Protagonist competing for same object or goal as another person (their rival).
#9 UNDERDOG - plot involves a Protagonist competing for an object or goal that is at a great disadvantage and is faced with overwhelming odds.
#10 TEMPTATION - plot involves a Protagonist that for one reason or another is induced or persuaded to do something that is unwise, wrong or immoral.
#11 METAMORPHOSIS - this plot involves the physical characteristics of the Protagonist actually changing from one form to another (reflecting their inner psychological identity).
#12 TRANSFORMATION - plot involves the process of change in the Protagonist as they journey through a stage of life that moves them from one significant character state to another.
#13 MATURATION - plot involves the Protagonist facing a problem that is part of growing up, and from dealing with it, emerging into a state of adulthood.
#14 LOVE - plot involves the Protagonist overcoming the obstacles to love that keeps them from consummating (engaging in) true love.
#15 FORBIDDEN LOVE - plot involves Protagonist(s) overcoming obstacles created by social mores and taboos to consummate their relationship (and sometimes finding it at too high a price to live with).
#16 SACRIFICE - plot involves the Protagonist taking action(s) that is motivated by a higher purpose (concept) such as love, honor, charity or for the sake of humanity.
#17 DISCOVERY - plot that is the most character-centered of all, involves the Protagonist having to overcome an upheavel(s) in their life, and thereby discovering something important (and buried) within them a better understanding of life (i.e., better appreciation of their life, a clearer purpose in their life, etc.)
#18 WRETCHED EXCESS - plot involves a Protagonist who, either by choice or by accident, pushes the limits of acceptable behavior to the extreme and is forced to deal with the consequences (generally deals with the psychological decline of the character).
#19 ASCENSION - rags-to-riches plot deals with the rise (success) of Protagonist due to a dominating character trait that helps them to succeed.
#20 DECISION - riches-to-rags plot deals with the fall (destruction) of Protagonist due to dominating character trait that eventually destroys their success.
Oh my gay stars! I speaketh, the film gets announced. For the second time, when I have had an idea for a movie it has gone and been announced a week later on the internet. This time Oscar Watch reports what is probably the best casting decision ever! Sasha Baron Cohen will play Freddie Mercury! I know, I know, totally genious! I mean I was racking my brain to figure out who could play Freddie, and the answer was right in front of me the whole time.
