Top Screenplays of all time

Top Screenplays

Any thoughts?

I haven't looked at it yet, but everything Charlie Kaufman has ever done better be on this list…but especially Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine.

Originally posted by callat703:
I haven't looked at it yet, but everything Charlie Kaufman has ever done better be on this list…but especially Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine.

even human nature????

Noah Baumbach's Kicking & Screaming.

Originally posted by BookerT:

Originally posted by callat703:
I haven't looked at it yet, but everything Charlie Kaufman has ever done better be on this list…but especially Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine.

even human nature????

I haven't seen Human Nature, and actually wasn't aware it existed. So…no. Not that one.

In my opinion this list sucks. It would be much better if it was broken down into original screenplays and adapted screenplays.

Original screenplays should automatically rise to the top of the list. I'm not saying that anyone can adapt a screenplay, but most of the hard work has already been done; beginning, middle, end, plot, characters, character development and in many cases a built in audience who already care about the story.

For example Fargo, number 32 on this list, in my opinion should be ranked higher than The Godfather, which comes in at number 2 on this list. Joel and Ethan Coen wrote the screenplay as a completely original work for Fargo. On the other hand Francis Ford Coppola had the existing novel and the help of Mario Puzo, who wrote The Godfather, to mold into a screenplay.

You have to give credit to something that is 100% original.

As a disclaimer I am not saying Fargo was a better film than The Godfather, quite the opposite. I'm just giving my opinion strictly based on screenplay.

Originally posted by callat703:

Originally posted by BookerT:

Originally posted by callat703:
I haven't looked at it yet, but everything Charlie Kaufman has ever done better be on this list…but especially Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine.

even human nature????

I haven't seen Human Nature, and actually wasn't aware it existed. So…no. Not that one.

well if you've ever wanted to see patricia arquette covered head to toe in fake animal fur, this is the movie for you! let's just say that gondry and kaufman did a whole lot better with "eternal sunshine."

As a Woody Allen fan I'm glad to see he has 4 screenplays listed. Although, I would put Manhattan over Annie Hall and replace Crimes and Misdemeanors with Stardust Memories or Interiors.

I'd add Lebowski, remove When Harry Met Sally (i.e. Annie Hall Part II), and Streetcar should be in there somewhere.

No Glengarry Glen Ross??

Billy Wilder deserves all the props he gets on this list. The AFI theater in Silver Spring has been showing Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard, and Some Like It Hot over the past month or so.

Film of the book: top 50 adaptations revealed

1984
Alice in Wonderland
American Psycho
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Brighton Rock
Catch 22
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory
A Clockwork Orange
Close Range (inc Brokeback Mountain)
The Day of the Triffids
Devil in a Blue Dress
Different Seasons (inc The Shawshank Redemption)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (aka Bladerunner)
Doctor Zhivago
Empire of the Sun
The English Patient
Fight Club
The French Lieutenant's Woman
Get Shorty
The Godfather
Goldfinger
Goodfellas
Heart of Darkness (aka Apocalypse Now)
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Jaws
The Jungle Book
A Kestrel for a Knave (aka Kes)
LA Confidential
Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Lolita
Lord of the Flies
The Maltese Falcon
Oliver Twist
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Orlando
The Outsiders
Pride and Prejudice
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
The Railway Children
Rebecca
The Remains of the Day
Schindler's Ark (aka Schindler's List)
Sin City
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
The Talented Mr Ripley
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
To Kill a Mockingbird
Trainspotting
The Vanishing
Watership Down

Originally posted by renton007:
I'd add Lebowski

YES
why wasn't that on there?

Originally posted by brennser:
No Glengarry Glen Ross??

wasn't that a play-play to begin with? does that disqualify it?

It was…but I think you'd still need a screenplay to make the movie?

Originally posted by Celeste:

Originally posted by brennser:
No Glengarry Glen Ross??

wasn't that a play-play to begin with? does that disqualify it?

i think back to the fucking future is just a little too high at 56. don't get me wrong, i loved that movie when i was 12, but that's the thing, i was 12. come on.

i agree that there should be two lists - adpated and original. there is a huge difference.

Originally posted by you be betty:

Originally posted by renton007:
I'd add Lebowski

YES
why wasn't that on there?

Coz it's shyte…..just like Rushmore.

Two movies that our American friends raved about that both myself (English) and wife (Irish) couldn't stand…turned off midway on both.

How did ROADHOUSE do? It must've been @ #102.

<img src="http://www.mst3ktemple.com/images/posters/roadhouse.jpg" alt=" - " />

Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:

Originally posted by you be betty:

Originally posted by renton007:
I'd add Lebowski

YES
why wasn't that on there?

Coz it's shyte…..just like Rushmore.

Two movies that our American friends raved about that both myself (English) and wife (Irish) couldn't stand…turned off midway on both.

Really…and you didn't like Rushmore, either? Lebowski is one thing, but I mean…Anderson…then again, a lot of people don't really get his movies. But I guess those that feel the connection really love 'em.

I'll agree about Rushmore. Everyone seems to love it but it did nothing for me. I really liked The Royal Tennenbaums though.

Rushmore is Anderson's best work, imo. Bottle Rocket is also great.

I have to say when I first saw the thread topic, Network was the film that jumped to mind. I don't think there's ever been a better screenplay.