Episode feels so slow because out of all the characters, the show decides to focus on Caroline. Caroline? Why? Yes, she's now a vampire. So what? She's the least interesting character on the show.
Tyler learns from his uncle that they are something more than human. They don't reveal what they are yet but of course we're guessing vampire.
Bonnie demonstrates how powerful she is by almost killing Damon. If Elena hadn't stopped her, she would have. This sets up an interesting dynamic. I'm sure Damon won't let this attempted murder pass without some type of payback.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
SMALLVILLE - Season 7.20 - ARCTIC
Season 7 ends with Lex and Clark in the Fortress of Solitude. Lex now knows Clark's identity. He then sets out to destroy the Traveler and we see the Fortress crumble, pieces of crystal raining down upon them.
The showrunners always manage to end their seasons with a fantastic cliffhanger. This one isn't nearly as good as season's past but it's good enough to compel us to come back for more.
Episode also brings us the end of Lana and Clark's relationship. She's in love with him but realizes that he means more to the world and is needed by everyone so she leaves, broken-hearted. Of course, she would've realized this once she learned his identity so this doesn't seem quite as heart-breaking as it should. Plus their relationship has been so up and down, we've gotten tired of it.
Jimmy proposes to Chloe in this episode.
Series has grown tired and looks as if it has overstayed its welcome.
The showrunners always manage to end their seasons with a fantastic cliffhanger. This one isn't nearly as good as season's past but it's good enough to compel us to come back for more.
Episode also brings us the end of Lana and Clark's relationship. She's in love with him but realizes that he means more to the world and is needed by everyone so she leaves, broken-hearted. Of course, she would've realized this once she learned his identity so this doesn't seem quite as heart-breaking as it should. Plus their relationship has been so up and down, we've gotten tired of it.
Jimmy proposes to Chloe in this episode.
Series has grown tired and looks as if it has overstayed its welcome.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
THE SOPRANOS - Season 3.7 - UNIVERSITY
THE SOPRANOS is filled with little moments that are absolutely hysterical throughout its series. In this episode, we get a scewne where Ralphie's hooker proudly brings him a poptart and asks him if it's alright as if she has just spent four hours slavnig over a stove preparing it.
Episode delves into Meadow's relationship with Noah at school. She's in love and thus is shocked when he breaks it off with her. There's sure to be ramifications from this.
Ralphie is shown to be a crazed psychopath. First he hits the club's bouncer with a chain to the head and then he kills his hooker/dancer when she disrespects him in front of his friends. Tony gives Ralphie a beat which sets the stage for an upcoming confrontation.
Episode is good. The big difference between THE SOPRANOS and a series like SONS OF ANARCHY is, even though the characters are bad, they're likeable.
Episode delves into Meadow's relationship with Noah at school. She's in love and thus is shocked when he breaks it off with her. There's sure to be ramifications from this.
Ralphie is shown to be a crazed psychopath. First he hits the club's bouncer with a chain to the head and then he kills his hooker/dancer when she disrespects him in front of his friends. Tony gives Ralphie a beat which sets the stage for an upcoming confrontation.
Episode is good. The big difference between THE SOPRANOS and a series like SONS OF ANARCHY is, even though the characters are bad, they're likeable.
Friday, January 27, 2012
SONS OF ANARCHY - Season 3.1 - SO
The season opener deals with Jax's grief over his son being kidnapped. Unable to deal, he pushes Tara away. The gang tries to dig up leads but the trail has grown cold.
In the end, the Sons attend the Prospect's funeral only to have a van tear down the street with a gunman opening up fire at everyone.
This is the way to kick off a season in style. We've got heavy emotion and big action.
Meanwhile, Gemma's on the lam. She goes to visit her father who's suffering from dementia. Not quite sure what this adds to the plot but I'm willing to keep watching to find out.
In the end, the Sons attend the Prospect's funeral only to have a van tear down the street with a gunman opening up fire at everyone.
This is the way to kick off a season in style. We've got heavy emotion and big action.
Meanwhile, Gemma's on the lam. She goes to visit her father who's suffering from dementia. Not quite sure what this adds to the plot but I'm willing to keep watching to find out.
THE SOPRANOS - Season 3.5 - ANOTHER TOOTHPICK
Artie's in love with Chris' girl? Since when? Was there even a hint of this in a past episode? This plot development seems to come out of nowhere.
Uncle Junior has cancer.
Burt Young makes a powerful guest appearance in this episode, playing a deathly sick character who takes a hit assignment just to feel alive again.
Charles Dutton also guest stars as a cop who stops Tony and gives him a speeding ticket. Enraged, Tony, using his contacts, gets the cop reassigned to the basement where he's not eligible for overtime any longer. Tony then sees the cop working at a Home Depot-like store to make ends meet. Tony feels sorry for his actions.
If you ever want to see an example of a director bringing material to life, check out when Jack Bender does in the opening scene. We see a shot of Tony not saying a word. We then see he's in his therapist's office. This is fine. We see the two of them sitting there, uncomfortable. Bender then shifts the camera revealing that Tony's sitting next to his wife. That's the reason for the uncomfortable feeling. By choosing when to reveal and conceal, Bender is able to create a big laugh out of a simple scene. Excellent.
Uncle Junior has cancer.
Burt Young makes a powerful guest appearance in this episode, playing a deathly sick character who takes a hit assignment just to feel alive again.
Charles Dutton also guest stars as a cop who stops Tony and gives him a speeding ticket. Enraged, Tony, using his contacts, gets the cop reassigned to the basement where he's not eligible for overtime any longer. Tony then sees the cop working at a Home Depot-like store to make ends meet. Tony feels sorry for his actions.
If you ever want to see an example of a director bringing material to life, check out when Jack Bender does in the opening scene. We see a shot of Tony not saying a word. We then see he's in his therapist's office. This is fine. We see the two of them sitting there, uncomfortable. Bender then shifts the camera revealing that Tony's sitting next to his wife. That's the reason for the uncomfortable feeling. By choosing when to reveal and conceal, Bender is able to create a big laugh out of a simple scene. Excellent.
BANSHEE
Finished this teleplay by Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler. It's Alan Ball's new series on Cinemax. Series is about an ex-con newly released from prison. He ends up in Banshee, Pennslyvania where he finds himself in a pub drinking with the bartender and a stranger who reveals that he's the new Sheriff of Banshee and starts work on monday.
In come two thugs and soon everyone is drawing guns. It jumps off in a hurry and the Sheriff is shot dead. Our ex-con though is a man of many moves and is able to kill the two thugs.
Our lead then goes to lookup an old flame who has moved on to another life. She's changed her name and is now married to the District Attorney and has two kids. We learn that our lead and this flame once stole ten million dollars worth of diamonds. The lead has come for them. The flame tells him that she got rolled by some Serbians and doesn't have any cash. We also learn that there's an old gangster named Rabbit still looking for them.
With nowhere to go and wanting to stay close to his flame, our ex-con takes on the identity of the dead Sheriff and goes about playing cop.
Along the way, we meet Kai Proctor, Banshee's crimelord. Kai's father is Amish. Kai has turned away from that lifestyle and now lives in wealth.
During a party welcoming the new Sheriff, a thug comes for Proctor, shooting up the place. Our ex-con (who now goes by the dead Sheriff's name of Lucas Hood) shoots the thug dead.
The pilot ends with Rabbit telling his grisly looking underling that he wants our couple found.
And with that, this series gets off to a kick-ass start. This is how you get your series rolling. You need a bang and this pilot provides an explosive one.
The characters are cool. The action is there. The motivations are set up quickly. We're in right off the bat. Alan Ball's got another hit on his hands.
In come two thugs and soon everyone is drawing guns. It jumps off in a hurry and the Sheriff is shot dead. Our ex-con though is a man of many moves and is able to kill the two thugs.
Our lead then goes to lookup an old flame who has moved on to another life. She's changed her name and is now married to the District Attorney and has two kids. We learn that our lead and this flame once stole ten million dollars worth of diamonds. The lead has come for them. The flame tells him that she got rolled by some Serbians and doesn't have any cash. We also learn that there's an old gangster named Rabbit still looking for them.
With nowhere to go and wanting to stay close to his flame, our ex-con takes on the identity of the dead Sheriff and goes about playing cop.
Along the way, we meet Kai Proctor, Banshee's crimelord. Kai's father is Amish. Kai has turned away from that lifestyle and now lives in wealth.
During a party welcoming the new Sheriff, a thug comes for Proctor, shooting up the place. Our ex-con (who now goes by the dead Sheriff's name of Lucas Hood) shoots the thug dead.
The pilot ends with Rabbit telling his grisly looking underling that he wants our couple found.
And with that, this series gets off to a kick-ass start. This is how you get your series rolling. You need a bang and this pilot provides an explosive one.
The characters are cool. The action is there. The motivations are set up quickly. We're in right off the bat. Alan Ball's got another hit on his hands.
666 PARK AVENUE
Finished this teleplay by David Wilcox which is set up at ABC. Pilot's about The Drake Building that's run by a Devil-like figure named Gavin Doran, a nefarious guy that makes devilish deals in exchange for your soul.
In the opening sequence we meet Malcolm Hartwell, a renowned violinist who's ten year career is up. Turns out, he didn't have enough talent to reach the heights of his profession and made a deal with Gavin to become the best. Terms of the deal are now over and Malcolm gets pulled back into the Drake building after unsuccessfully trying to escape...through a small hole.
We then meet our unsuspecting leads - Jane and Henry - who get jobs as the new building managers. Along with the position comes a posh apartment that they immediately fall in love with.
Most of the building's residents have made deals with Gavin. One tenant, John Barlow, wants to be with his dead wife. She previously committed suicide. Gavin grants him this wish but in order for his wife to stay alive, Barlow must murder people at Gavin's command. When Barlow refuses to do this any longer, the walls of his room swallow him whole.
We realize Henry's gotten the job because he works for the Mayor in City Planning and is involved with a piece of property that Gavin covets.
Can't really see this concept flying. It's not horrific enough to satisfy an audience and because of this, the drama seems childish since the scares aren't believable.
Pass.
In the opening sequence we meet Malcolm Hartwell, a renowned violinist who's ten year career is up. Turns out, he didn't have enough talent to reach the heights of his profession and made a deal with Gavin to become the best. Terms of the deal are now over and Malcolm gets pulled back into the Drake building after unsuccessfully trying to escape...through a small hole.
We then meet our unsuspecting leads - Jane and Henry - who get jobs as the new building managers. Along with the position comes a posh apartment that they immediately fall in love with.
Most of the building's residents have made deals with Gavin. One tenant, John Barlow, wants to be with his dead wife. She previously committed suicide. Gavin grants him this wish but in order for his wife to stay alive, Barlow must murder people at Gavin's command. When Barlow refuses to do this any longer, the walls of his room swallow him whole.
We realize Henry's gotten the job because he works for the Mayor in City Planning and is involved with a piece of property that Gavin covets.
Can't really see this concept flying. It's not horrific enough to satisfy an audience and because of this, the drama seems childish since the scares aren't believable.
Pass.
THE SHIELD - Season 5.8 - KAVANAUGH
The series doesn't get much better than this episode. It's explosive at every turn, symbolized by the fact that a Salvadorian gang has purchased grenades in order to get back into the drug business.
The episode is outstanding at showing just how far Kavanaugh will go to get Vic - striking a deal with a convicted felon while arresting Curtis even after he's just saved Kavanaugh's life. That is pure three-dimensional writing as the conflict builds with each decision made.
This season started out slow but is hitting its heights now.
The episode is outstanding at showing just how far Kavanaugh will go to get Vic - striking a deal with a convicted felon while arresting Curtis even after he's just saved Kavanaugh's life. That is pure three-dimensional writing as the conflict builds with each decision made.
This season started out slow but is hitting its heights now.
RESCUE ME - Season 4.3 - COMMITMENT
Commitment and the problems they cause and the fears that result are is explored in this episode. Franco is pulling away from his girlfriend which she doesn't understand. Tommy doesn't want to date Nona because she was able to carry him out of the burning house. The probie is torn by his commitment to his dying mother when she asks that he kill her.
The episode ends with the Chief, unable to continue on in the station because of his failing health, putting a gun under his neck. The screen goes to credits as we hear the gun go off.
That's about as dramatic as it gets. This season has just kicked into high gear.
The episode ends with the Chief, unable to continue on in the station because of his failing health, putting a gun under his neck. The screen goes to credits as we hear the gun go off.
That's about as dramatic as it gets. This season has just kicked into high gear.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
BERMUDA
Another script in the "found-footage" genre. This one's written by Nathan Brooks and Bobby Lee Darby and concerns three friends that sail into the Bermuda Triangle, recording everything as they go.
Along with an old sea Captain, the friends seek to record strange happenings. And strange it becomes. The radio goes out as well as the GPS. Lights appear in the night sky. Their video cameras catch something peering in through a porthole at them.
The Captain realizes they're soon lost. Nothing's working onboard. The sun doesn't come up when it should.
That's when a yacht appears. We realize it's the same yacht that was reported missing three weeks ago with honeymooners aboard. The Captain goes to inspect the yacht. Finds blood on the floor and sees all the clocks have stopped at 5:07.
Later a plane appears overhead. We see it's a World War II Bomber that had been reported missing from 1945.
The script has chilling moments like this throughout. However, we never learn what's watching them. The Captain goes missing with the yacht and we never learn his fate.
The friends then meet their doom one by one.
Only Zoey, the lone female, makes it out. The U.S. Coast Guard picks her up. However, she's oblivious to the fact that they look out of time and we quickly realize, they're the missing unit that disappeared in the triangle long ago.
They bring her aboard their ship and the script ends with her screaming.
All these found footage films play the same. Sure, they provide scares but they never feel like a full meal. I'm sure BERMUDA will get made and will probably make money if they keep the budget down. I liked Oren Peli's teleplay for his tv pilot THE RIVER better. That had a lot more plot to it.
Along with an old sea Captain, the friends seek to record strange happenings. And strange it becomes. The radio goes out as well as the GPS. Lights appear in the night sky. Their video cameras catch something peering in through a porthole at them.
The Captain realizes they're soon lost. Nothing's working onboard. The sun doesn't come up when it should.
That's when a yacht appears. We realize it's the same yacht that was reported missing three weeks ago with honeymooners aboard. The Captain goes to inspect the yacht. Finds blood on the floor and sees all the clocks have stopped at 5:07.
Later a plane appears overhead. We see it's a World War II Bomber that had been reported missing from 1945.
The script has chilling moments like this throughout. However, we never learn what's watching them. The Captain goes missing with the yacht and we never learn his fate.
The friends then meet their doom one by one.
Only Zoey, the lone female, makes it out. The U.S. Coast Guard picks her up. However, she's oblivious to the fact that they look out of time and we quickly realize, they're the missing unit that disappeared in the triangle long ago.
They bring her aboard their ship and the script ends with her screaming.
All these found footage films play the same. Sure, they provide scares but they never feel like a full meal. I'm sure BERMUDA will get made and will probably make money if they keep the budget down. I liked Oren Peli's teleplay for his tv pilot THE RIVER better. That had a lot more plot to it.
KICK-ASS
Finished the graphic novel by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. It makes me appreciate the film because the movie's more well-rounded.
I didn't care for Millar's WANTED. I loved his plot on THE ULTIMATES. KICK-ASS is somewhere in the middle.
I can see why the film dropped the backstory of Big Daddy carrying around mint condition, valuable comic-books which, by selling them on E-Bay, is how he finances his excursions. That was plain dumb. Also, the fact that he's really an accountant. It's better that his backstory is him being an ex-con and now going after the men responsible for the death of his wife.
Also, the film does a better job of explaining what a loser RED MIST is. However, the comic hides the fact of his identity, using its revelation as a high-point in the plot.
Story about the kid yearning for a more adventurous life resonates. And the character of Hit-Girl is amazing. I just wish the book and the film would've been better.
I didn't care for Millar's WANTED. I loved his plot on THE ULTIMATES. KICK-ASS is somewhere in the middle.
I can see why the film dropped the backstory of Big Daddy carrying around mint condition, valuable comic-books which, by selling them on E-Bay, is how he finances his excursions. That was plain dumb. Also, the fact that he's really an accountant. It's better that his backstory is him being an ex-con and now going after the men responsible for the death of his wife.
Also, the film does a better job of explaining what a loser RED MIST is. However, the comic hides the fact of his identity, using its revelation as a high-point in the plot.
Story about the kid yearning for a more adventurous life resonates. And the character of Hit-Girl is amazing. I just wish the book and the film would've been better.
RESCUE ME - Season 4.2 - TUESDAY
Tommy's still trying to piece together what happened that night of the fire. He's looking at jail or recovering two million dollars in insurance.
Tommy's uncle is released from jail. However, he skips out on his wife on his first day of freedom because she drives him nuts.
There's a subplot about the station house wanting to recruit this hotshot African-American probie so they can win the firehouse basketball league.
Show is still missing the drama that made it such a hit.
Tommy's uncle is released from jail. However, he skips out on his wife on his first day of freedom because she drives him nuts.
There's a subplot about the station house wanting to recruit this hotshot African-American probie so they can win the firehouse basketball league.
Show is still missing the drama that made it such a hit.
THE SHIELD - Season 5.7 - MAN INSIDE
Episode ends with Claudette finally getting a confession out of the serial killer but being emotionally and physically drained, she falls down the stairs. Now this is the way to end an episode. You HAVE TO come back for more. You are compelled to keep watching. You NEED to find out what happens next.
The episode really heats up by having Vic's crew doubting Vic's plan of attack and even each other. The pressure is being applied and we're starting to see cracks.
The writing is razor sharp and this episode returns the series to its former excellence.
The episode really heats up by having Vic's crew doubting Vic's plan of attack and even each other. The pressure is being applied and we're starting to see cracks.
The writing is razor sharp and this episode returns the series to its former excellence.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
THE SOPRANOS - Season 3.4 - EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Dr. Melfi takes centerstage in this episode. She gets raped in the stairwell and comes to realize she wants someone powerful in her life that can protect her. She can't help but be attracted to Tony Soprano. The episode ends with her internally fighting herself, trying to decide whether or not to tell Tony what's happened. In the end, she decides not to.
Do we really need this? I've always thought Melfi was a waste of a character. Do we care about her at all?
Janice steals her mother's caregiver's artificial leg. The Russians come after her and slap her around. Tony's upset because now he has to take some kind of action.
The show succeeds at getting inside the heads of these characters. It fails though at bringing action to the screen.
Do we really need this? I've always thought Melfi was a waste of a character. Do we care about her at all?
Janice steals her mother's caregiver's artificial leg. The Russians come after her and slap her around. Tony's upset because now he has to take some kind of action.
The show succeeds at getting inside the heads of these characters. It fails though at bringing action to the screen.
ELEMENTARY
Finished this teleplay from Robert Doherty. It brings Sherlock Holmes into our current year as he comes to New York and offers his services to help solve crimes for the police department. Seems he's just come oout of a rehab clinic and "Watson" is now Joan Watson, a Personal Recovery Assistant.
Watson was a surgeon but she made a mistake and allowed a patient to die on the table. She now does this job and has her hands full with Holmes. It's entertaining because they're the original Mulder and Scully however, the murder is standard and unlike the best Sherlock Holmes stories, there's no way for us to play along and match wits with the greatest sleuth in history.
I would pass on the project unless they can come up with better mysteries.
Watson was a surgeon but she made a mistake and allowed a patient to die on the table. She now does this job and has her hands full with Holmes. It's entertaining because they're the original Mulder and Scully however, the murder is standard and unlike the best Sherlock Holmes stories, there's no way for us to play along and match wits with the greatest sleuth in history.
I would pass on the project unless they can come up with better mysteries.
LADY FRIENDS
Finished this teleplay for a new pilot by Kari Lizer which is set up at NBC.
Lizer is back with this pilot about two best friends who seem to be unable to exist without each other. Nicole is married to the perfect guy and has a newborn while Jen is perfect but alone. Together, they spend as much time as they can with one another to the detriment of Nicole's marriage - even going so far as to rent out a hotel room so Nicole can sneak away.
Lizer has the pulse of female-centric comedy as she aptly demonstrated on THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE. The problem is, will the guys tune in? After reading this pilot, it's hard to see that happening.
The script is funny - there's no denying Lizer has the ear for dialogue and can create loveable characters. But try putting this show up against MODERN FAMILY or HAPPY ENDINGS. It'll get killed because it won't play to wide demographic.
Lizer is gifted. This show however won't make it.
Lizer is back with this pilot about two best friends who seem to be unable to exist without each other. Nicole is married to the perfect guy and has a newborn while Jen is perfect but alone. Together, they spend as much time as they can with one another to the detriment of Nicole's marriage - even going so far as to rent out a hotel room so Nicole can sneak away.
Lizer has the pulse of female-centric comedy as she aptly demonstrated on THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE. The problem is, will the guys tune in? After reading this pilot, it's hard to see that happening.
The script is funny - there's no denying Lizer has the ear for dialogue and can create loveable characters. But try putting this show up against MODERN FAMILY or HAPPY ENDINGS. It'll get killed because it won't play to wide demographic.
Lizer is gifted. This show however won't make it.
RESCUE ME - Season 4.1 - BABY FACE
Season opener tries to start off with a bang having the crew trapped in a burning room. The floor gives way and our crew goes sliding down to what looks to be a fiery death.
However, they simply land outside, unhurt. It's a rather uneventful ending to a fiery beginning.
Same can be said of this episode as a whole. Uneventful.
Tommy could be headed to jail for setting the fire that ended last season's plot. Other than that, the rest of the episode just shows us where the other station house members are in their relationships. Kinda boring.
However, they simply land outside, unhurt. It's a rather uneventful ending to a fiery beginning.
Same can be said of this episode as a whole. Uneventful.
Tommy could be headed to jail for setting the fire that ended last season's plot. Other than that, the rest of the episode just shows us where the other station house members are in their relationships. Kinda boring.
THE SHIELD - Season 5.6 - RAP PAYBACK
You just knew Forest Whitaker wasn't going away. He sets up shop in the station and immediately goes after Danni and Vic's wife, looking to squeeze everywhere he can.
Paula Garces' character learns that Julien is gay and you can see the angles spinning in her head. It's going to be interesting to see how she uses this to her advantage.
Meanwhile, Claudette and Holland search for a serial killer's missing sister, suspecting the killer of course but with no way of proving it.
The episode is good because we see the battle in these three plots brewing. This is what makes this show great. The dangerous conflicts with the deadly consequences.
Paula Garces' character learns that Julien is gay and you can see the angles spinning in her head. It's going to be interesting to see how she uses this to her advantage.
Meanwhile, Claudette and Holland search for a serial killer's missing sister, suspecting the killer of course but with no way of proving it.
The episode is good because we see the battle in these three plots brewing. This is what makes this show great. The dangerous conflicts with the deadly consequences.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
RUN ALL NIGHT
Finished this new script by Brad Ingelsby.
Ingelsby hit it big with THE LOW DWELLER and he continues his trend of writing about characters that are criminals but have hearts of gold.
Story's about Jimmy Conlon, a hitman that lives with regret, whose son, Mike, gets in trouble with the same mob that Jimmy works for.
Jimmy's employed by Shawn Maguire, the boss. Maguire's son Colin is bad news, trying to get in bed with Serbian drug dealers. When Shawn turns the dealers down, they turn their wrath upon Colin.
Meanwhile, Mike works as a limo driver. He unknowingly drives these Serbian dealers to Colin's house. The dealers want their down payment back. Colin, however, has other ideas. He kills them but realizes that Mike has witnessed the murders. Colin has to kill him.
Jimmy is told what's happening and goes to help his estranged son. Just as Colin is about to shoot Mike dead, Jimmy intervenes and kills his boss' son.
Now, both of them have to go on the run with the police and the mob on their tail.
What sets this script apart from your run-of-the-mill, direct-to-DVD movie is the relationship between Jimmy and Mike and Jimmy and Shawn. The relationships are heartfelt, pulling you into their dilemma.
Still, would I make this movie? Given the current state of the box office, I'd have to pass. Dramas aren't doing business these days. Plus, this plot simply isn't "special" enough. Jimmy's character reminds me of Nick Nolte's character in WARRIOR and we've seen how much business that film did.
Just a little note: On pg.80, Jimmy and Mike are on the run, entering an alley and in the very next sentence, they're driving a car. Seems to be a mix-up here. Maybe two drafts being combined into one or Ingelsby overlooking this point on a rewrite?
Script ends with Jimmy saving Mike's life but dying in the process. It's okay though because he got to meet his grand-daughters. Last scene has Mike's family living their life, safe from harm.
Ingelsby is a darn good writer but these types of scripts are pieces from the past. His best bet now is to create a tv series where his well-drawn characters can find a home.
Ingelsby hit it big with THE LOW DWELLER and he continues his trend of writing about characters that are criminals but have hearts of gold.
Story's about Jimmy Conlon, a hitman that lives with regret, whose son, Mike, gets in trouble with the same mob that Jimmy works for.
Jimmy's employed by Shawn Maguire, the boss. Maguire's son Colin is bad news, trying to get in bed with Serbian drug dealers. When Shawn turns the dealers down, they turn their wrath upon Colin.
Meanwhile, Mike works as a limo driver. He unknowingly drives these Serbian dealers to Colin's house. The dealers want their down payment back. Colin, however, has other ideas. He kills them but realizes that Mike has witnessed the murders. Colin has to kill him.
Jimmy is told what's happening and goes to help his estranged son. Just as Colin is about to shoot Mike dead, Jimmy intervenes and kills his boss' son.
Now, both of them have to go on the run with the police and the mob on their tail.
What sets this script apart from your run-of-the-mill, direct-to-DVD movie is the relationship between Jimmy and Mike and Jimmy and Shawn. The relationships are heartfelt, pulling you into their dilemma.
Still, would I make this movie? Given the current state of the box office, I'd have to pass. Dramas aren't doing business these days. Plus, this plot simply isn't "special" enough. Jimmy's character reminds me of Nick Nolte's character in WARRIOR and we've seen how much business that film did.
Just a little note: On pg.80, Jimmy and Mike are on the run, entering an alley and in the very next sentence, they're driving a car. Seems to be a mix-up here. Maybe two drafts being combined into one or Ingelsby overlooking this point on a rewrite?
Script ends with Jimmy saving Mike's life but dying in the process. It's okay though because he got to meet his grand-daughters. Last scene has Mike's family living their life, safe from harm.
Ingelsby is a darn good writer but these types of scripts are pieces from the past. His best bet now is to create a tv series where his well-drawn characters can find a home.
THE SOPRANOS - Season 3.3 - FORTUNATE SON
The series is running out of gas. Nothing happens in this episode except Chris becomes a made man and finds out that it's a lot harder than he thinks. He's given the bookie operation but proceeds to screw it up by not laying off any action. He comes up short on his first payment and is forced to pay an extra two grand for his shortage.
To come up with the difference, he hits a benefit concert with Aprile's son even though Tony warned him to keep that kid out of the business.
Tony's son plays on the football team but suffers a fainting spell when he's told he's been made defensive captain.
Let's get to some action already.
To come up with the difference, he hits a benefit concert with Aprile's son even though Tony warned him to keep that kid out of the business.
Tony's son plays on the football team but suffers a fainting spell when he's told he's been made defensive captain.
Let's get to some action already.
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