My finicky Goldie Locks routine continues…last week it was The Brutalist, not best picture, and this weekend’s discovery was September 5, not best original screenplay. It’s a simple Script Doctor prescription this time Tim Fehlbaum. If you’re going to make a suffocatingly small surroundings film, for the love of the Netherlands (where Tim is from) you have to give us some back story on the group of 6 (there were more but the titular figures were 6). Otherwise, when the sports hit the fan so to speak, I care about the guilt/sadness of the people. And, here’s another idea…we know the athletes, how about highlighting even 1, so when the slaughter is finally reported again, we have a human connection with that person. It may have added 20 minutes but the emotional benefits for your audience would have made you worthy of the nomination.
I gather Tim is a real technical film nerd as I got ALOT of specifics on splicing and dicing phone wires and walkie talkies, but so very miniscule info on the characters. The one who I feel neglected on the most was John Magaro, a very solid actor. The ONLY back story I get is page 1 when someone asks if he was on a date…..ok, really? Same with Peter Sarsgaard who is another tremendous talent…again page 1 through 5 of the screenplay, his dialogue “Don’t call me, I promised my daughters”… then Zippo, in fact his CEOness disappears for a bit of the film…where’d he go?
Come on Hollywood. I’ll say it again, don’t give trophies (even nominations) to films JUST BECAUSE you feel something for that particular cause.
