If you want to be a screenwriter you’ve got to know what constitutes a “good” adapted screenplay. Here are a few of the most recent Academy Award winners for Best Original Screenplay – try to catch a couple on www.direct.tv satellite and make notes about why they’re so well reviewed.
Almost Famous – The story of a music groupie on tour in the 70s…seems clichd on the surface but good screenwriting took this film to a deeper level.
Lost in Translation – 2003′s winner had as much going for it in the way of acting as it did screenplay but have no doubt many of the film’s nuances were actually written into the script. Study this film.
Crash – This is a great example of how to seamlessly piece together multiple storylines at once in a way that seems consistent, not disjointed.
The Hurt Locker – Good screenwriting can also have violence but it’s the quiet, reflective moments in this film that made it as good as it was.
The King’s Speech – Last year’s winner no doubt had endless writing challenges – how does one write in a stutter?