Poll

Which writer's dialogue do you like the most?

David Mamet
Paddy Chayefsky
Quentin Tarrantino
Joss Whedon
Kevin Smith
Aaron Sorkin
Other
They're all to great
Hate them all and like Christopher MaQuarrie's garbage!
Shane Black
Coen Bros.
Billy Wilder

Author Topic: Top Screenwriters with the Best Dialogue  (Read 3405 times)

JakeIsntFake

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Re: Top Screenwriters with the Best Dialogue
« Reply #10 on: July 20, 2013, 09:39:33 PM »
I happen to like Christopher McQuarrie's "garbage." THE WAY OF THE GUN brings me great joy. Thank you, and good day.

"Shut that c**ts mouth or I'll come over there and f*ck start her head!" I had Jack Reacher in mind when I put that up. I'll give him TWOTG, but Jack Reacher and The Tourist's dialogue are too bad.
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goodguy

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Re: Top Screenwriters with the Best Dialogue
« Reply #11 on: July 21, 2013, 12:54:44 AM »
Hal Hartley

verbALs

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Re: Top Screenwriters with the Best Dialogue
« Reply #12 on: July 21, 2013, 02:43:53 AM »
I happen to like Christopher McQuarrie's "garbage." THE WAY OF THE GUN brings me great joy. Thank you, and good day.
It's a thing of beauty. A bizarre thing of beauty admittedly. And I came to it from having had a fine time with Jack Reacher. McQuarrie's probably too rich a sauce for "film lovers".
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JakeIsntFake

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Re: Top Screenwriters with the Best Dialogue
« Reply #13 on: July 21, 2013, 08:48:52 AM »

Quote
And I came to it from having had a fine time with Jack Reacher. McQuarrie's probably too rich a sauce for "film lovers".

I thought Jack Reacher was terribly overwritten and was always trying to be clever. Thats why I put him on here.
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WillMunny

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Re: Top Screenwriters with the Best Dialogue
« Reply #14 on: July 21, 2013, 09:45:49 AM »
Woody Allen
then it would be right to mention I.A.L. Diamond alongside Billy Wilder.

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Re: Top Screenwriters with the Best Dialogue
« Reply #15 on: July 21, 2013, 10:32:13 AM »

Quote
And I came to it from having had a fine time with Jack Reacher. McQuarrie's probably too rich a sauce for "film lovers".

I thought Jack Reacher was terribly overwritten and was always trying to be clever. Thats why I put him on here.
Emeric Pressburger- defining the spirit of a country not his own.

Re- Jack Reacher; overwritten dialogue, characterisation or plot?

You put Kevin Smith on your list. You undermined your own argument about appreciation of screenwriting.

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JakeIsntFake

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Re: Top Screenwriters with the Best Dialogue
« Reply #16 on: July 21, 2013, 10:47:48 AM »

Quote
Re- Jack Reacher; overwritten dialogue, characterisation or plot?

You put Kevin Smith on your list. You undermined your own argument about appreciation of screenwriting.

First of all, I said dialogue only. You added the other two which I don't have a problem with from McQuarrie.
Second of all I only put Smith on the list because he was on another list I read. I didn't vote for him and, you nor anyone else has to.
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verbALs

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Re: Top Screenwriters with the Best Dialogue
« Reply #17 on: July 21, 2013, 11:01:23 AM »
Jack Reacher:
Quote
I mean to beat you to death and drink your blood from a boot.

Wow. I see what you mean.  ;D

He's working in genre and not intending to subvert the genre a la Shane Black. I am expressing how much I enjoyed JR but I went to it with certain expectations lowered. Smart non-subversive genre writing is a tricky skill and part of JR's success is creating a character when Tom Cruise's star vehicle expectations weigh so heavy on your shoulders.
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JakeIsntFake

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Re: Top Screenwriters with the Best Dialogue
« Reply #18 on: July 21, 2013, 12:38:21 PM »
I found the bombardment of 'clever dialogue' stiff and unnatural, the same problem Devil had with my vote Aaron Sorkin.
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AAAutin

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Re: Top Screenwriters with the Best Dialogue
« Reply #19 on: July 22, 2013, 08:20:25 AM »
Smart non-subversive genre writing is a tricky skill and part of JR's success is creating a character when Tom Cruise's star vehicle expectations weigh so heavy on your shoulders.

Hear, hear.

 

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