2020 OSCARS: Parasite (2019) - Increasing Suspense

[Quick Summary:  After a poor family of 4 insert themselves into a rich family's life under false pretenses, they are blackmailed, fight back, and chaos ensues.]

I was very impressed by this well written script! I did not see that twist coming.

Also, the writers did a wonderful job increasing suspense through character.

First, they established 4 greedy members of the Kim family who all want jobs with the rich Park family.  They are willing to stoop to whatever it takes.

Second, the Kim characters sow seeds of doubt.

Prior to the scene below:
- Nice Mr. Dong-Ik Park has his chauffeur Yun drive young Miss Ki-Jung Kim home.
- Ki-Jung decides to try to make Yun look bad so there's a job opening for her dad.  She leaves her underwear in the car.
- Notice how this small act of malice spirals (increasing) and we are uncertain what will happen next (suspense)!

ex. INT. DONG-IK'S CAR - DRIVING - NIGHT

Dong-Ik is going through some papers in the back when one drops under the seat. As he reaches down to grab it --

He sees a vague WHITE SHAPE beneath the passenger seat. He picks it up. A pair of women's underwear. Ki-Jung's.

Dong-Ik looks disgusted. He stares hard at the back of Yun's head before putting the underwear in his pocket.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: The suspense increases because we know that the character's actions have real consequences.  We know the other shoe will drop but we don't know when.

Parasite (2019)
by Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won
Story by Bong Joon Ho

2020 OSCARS: 1917 (2019) - A Good Descriptive Line

[Quick Summary: With his friend, a young corporal must make it across enemy territory to deliver a desist order and preventing the death of his brother.]

I wished I liked this script better, but I did not.
It was well-written, yet I didn't care as I aught.
However, the brief description below is quite good,
Especially the one with "understood."

ex. INT. DUGOUT - CONTINUOUS

...Erinmore speaks slowly, desperate to impress upon Blake and Schofield the gravity of this situation. Nothing can be misunderstood.

ERINMORE (CONT'D): If you don't, it will be a massacre. We would lose two battalions.  SIxteen hundred men, your brother among them.

Schofield hides his shock. But Blake looks at Erinmore, determination etched in his face: understood.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: The gimmick of this film was that it was "one continuous shot" in order to keep the audience with the characters...but does it matter if I don't care that much about them?

1917 (2019)
by Sam Mendes & Krysty Wilson-Cairns

2020 OSCARS: Marriage Story (2019) - Using a Minor Character to the Fullest

[Quick Summary: After Nicole, an actress moves to LA and files for divorce, Charlie juggles seeing their son in LA and running a NYC theater company.]

TWO THOUGHTS:

1) This is a tight, well written script by a writer who knew what he wanted to say.

2) I liked the scene below.  It shows us how to use a minor character to the fullest.

First, notice the mere introduction of an unknown character increases the stakes and tension.  Who is this new guy? Why does he rattle Nora?  For better or worse?

Second, this particular minor character is external evidence of an internal change, i.e., new attorney signals a change in Charlie's strategy. 

Notes:
-Nicole is divorcing Charlie. Her attorney is Nora.
-Charlie's easy going attorney is Bert.  His new attorney is Jay Marotta.
-Nora is briefing Nicole before going into the courtroom.

ex. INT. LOS ANGELES COURTHOUSE, HALLWAY. MORNING

...NORA: I made sure the date of separation came AFTER the pilot pick-up to protect that money -- (suddenly) Fuck me.

NICOLE: What?

She follows Nora's gaze to Jay Marotta who marches down the hallway, conferring with Charlie.

JAY MAROTTA: It's not television. It's not a wise judge played by a great character actor. These are just people open to manipulation like anyone else.  You think it's justice, but it's not.

NICOLE: Who is that?

NORA: Charlie shouldn't have done this.

NICOLE: What do you mean? Where's Bert?

NORA: It means everything we've agreed upon is now off the table.

Jay and Charlie take a bench a ways away. Jay says Hi to some other lawyers.

NICOLE: But we've got LA, right --

NORA: Not with Jay Marotta representing him. This is a street fight now. And I'm going to have to ask for things we wouldn't normally ask for. We'll need as much leverage as possible to negotiate with.

Nora rises with a pinched smile --

NORA: This system rewards bad behavior.

--and greets Jay.

Nicole looks over at Charlie who doesn't meet her eye.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I thought that this was a very elegant, non-flashy way to ratchet up the intensity. 

Marriage Story (2019)
Written and directed by Noah Baumbach

TODAY'S NUGGET: Grease (1978) - Costume Explains the Character

[Quick Summary: Sandy, the newest senior student, has a rude awakening when she encounters her summer crush, Danny, at her new high school.]

My favorite line in this script was this description:

--Cha Cha Di Gregorio in six-inch spike heels.  She is wearing a yellow dress that is so ruffled it can move without her.

The statement about her costume shows me everything about who the character is.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: If at all possible, look for a costume like this to tell us about the character.  It cuts down on having to explain him/her.

Grease (1987)(4th draft, 6/9/77)
by  Bronte Woodward
Screen story by Bronte and Allan Carr
Adapted from the Broadway musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey