2021 OSCARS: The Father (2020) - Describing the Character's Mental Attitude

[Quick Summary: Anthony has difficulty remembering, to the dismay of his daughter Anne.]

An outstanding (and newly minted Oscar winning) script!

More than any other script in my recent memory, this one makes you FEEL Anthony's memory loss:

a) He can only hold on to bits and pieces, so he is discombobulated when new information arrives or has to retrieve old information that is no longer there.

b) The cyclical, repetitiveness of daily living becomes frustrating and frightening.

c) The writers included Anthony's mental attitude, even though we can't see it, and thus is supposedly forbidden under "screenwriting rules."  It works well here.

For example, in the scene below:
- Anthony keeps thinking his watch is missing/stolen/lost.
- He does not really remember Paul, his son-in-law.
- I've underlined the lines below with Anthony's mental attitude.

INT. LIVING ROOM 2 - DAY

...ANTHONY has noticed Paul's watch. He seems fascinated. He's wondering if it might be his.

ANNE: Laura.

ANTHONY: Mm?

ANNE: The young woman who came to see us just now.

ANTHONY: Oh, yes.

ANNE: And we went to see the doctor...

PAUL: And? What did he say?

ANTHONY: Has anybody seen my watch? Can't seem to find it.

ANNE: Again?

ANTHONY: I've been looking for it for some time.

ANNE: You must have put it in your cupboard. Don't you think? In your hiding-place...

ANTHONY starts, afraid that PAUL has heard the word 'cupboard' and will discover his hiding-place.

ANTHONY: What are you talking about, Anne? I really don't know what you're talking about. What cupboard? Mm? There's no cupboard. No cupboard.

He takes ANNE aside.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: If it helps the reader, don't be afraid to describe the character's mental attitude.

The Father (2020)
by Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton

2021 OSCARS: Borat 2 (2020) - A Simple Light Bulb Moment in a Satire

[Quick Summary: To bribe the US, Borat is sent to deliver his daughter as a tribute to Vice President Mike Pence.]

Satire (n.): The use of irony, ridicule, sarcasm, etc. exposes, denounces, derides vice or folly.

The trick with satire is that it has to be funny. Otherwise, it's a lecture.  

Or in this case, the point gets lost in the extremely crass behavior. Which is probably the point.

But I didn't laugh and I didn't enjoy reading it.  (But to be fair,  I'm probably not the audience for this either.)

There was one heartfelt light bulb moment I did like. Tutar, Borat's daughter, is literally wearing blinders when she learns her father (and country) had been lying to her:

INT./EXT. BABYSITTER'S CAR/ STREET - MOMENTS LATER

The babysitter is driving. Tutar, wearing her BLINDERS, is freaking out.

TUTAR: What are you doing?

BABYSITTER: We're driving. Women can drive.

Tutar begins to cry.

BABYSITTER (CONT'D): Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. It's okay.

TUTAR: You can't drive, you can't drive, you can't drive!

BABYSITTER: I can drive! I can!

TUTAR: It's impossible for woman to drive!

BABYSITTER: Nope! Nope! No!

TUTAR: You are a man! Dressed like a woman!

BABYSITTER: No, no!

TUTAR (screaming): Help me!!! It's a woman driving the car!!!

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: Does this irony land better because of the extreme preceding behavior? I don't think so.  So is the extreme-ness necessary? Or funnier?

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2020)
by Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Swimer, Peter Baynham, Erica Rivinoja, Dan Mazer, Jena Friedman, Lee Kern
Story by Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Swimer, Nina Pedrad

2021 OSCARS: The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) - A Bright Spot of Humor

[Quick Summary: Seven protestors at the 1968 Democratic Convention were put on trial for "conspiracy to cross state lines in order to incite violence."]

I had a hard time getting engaged in this courtroom drama filled with big politics.

I wished there were more personal moments, like this spot of humor where Jerry, one of the defendants, confronts Shultz, one of the federal prosecutors:

EXT. PARK BENCH - DAY

...JERRY: Fine, then you buy our phones, you wire up a dope dealer, be a man. You don't send a woman to ensorcell me --it means "enchanting"-- only to have her crush my soul.

SHULTZ: How long did you two know each other?

JERRY: Ninety-three hours. It could have been a lifetime.

SHULTZ: For a fruit fly. Enjoy the weekend.

JERRY: Is that even ethical? Aren't there ethics rules?

SCHULTZ: Did she engage with you sexually?

JERRY (pause): We were taking it slow.

ABBIE: He's gonna be alright.

...SCHULTZ walks away toward his daughters. JERRY calls after him--

JERRY (calling): Does she ever mention me?

SCHULTZ, with his back still turned, just shrugs...

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I found this moment so human. Despite the seriousness of his situation, a guy just wants to know if a girl likes him.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
by Aaron Sorkin

2021 OSCARS: Sound of Metal (2020) - Using Structure to Showcase Internal Conflict

[Quick Summary: A workaholic rocker is at a loss when he loses his hearing.]

This is a noteworthy script, especially how it captures a futile attempt to control the moment in a season of change.

Rubin tries to hold on to the past, while reaching for the future, but cannot do both.

In the scene below:
- Rubin needs to sell his Airstream for ear surgery.
- Rubin is trying to move forward (surgery) while holding on to the past (his equipment).
- Notice the scene is structured to show Rubin's internal conflict (he wants both) and forces him to make a decision (he can only pick one)

INT. AIRSTREAM - MOMENTS LATER

The man writes a number down and slides it to Ruben. Ruben looks at the paper and grins...

RUBIN (Waving hand all around): Man, you know exactly what I have here right? I mean really. I don't need to sell this. I REALLY don't. I'd be happy to keep it dude.

Ruben looks dead into the mans eyes. The man shrugs stiffly.

MAN: I understand. So Listen -

The man writes a number and slides a piece of paper across the table to Ruben. 

MAN (CONT'D): This is it. That's all I'm doing so-

Ruben gazes at the piece of paper. Looks up at the guy.

RUBEN: ...So I have a proposition for you. honestly it's the only way I'd even consider- (Gesturing to the paper) This. But here's the deal though...You and I both know that this is worth a hell of a lot more than what you're offering...it's fully wired as a recording studio. You know how much, just that is worth?

The man begins to protest-

RUBEN (CONT'D): Hey, Common. Just don't. I know the fiar price for this and I know you do too and this, (Pointing to his number) -is a fucking joke.

The man shrugs coldly.

RUBEN (CONT'D):  But I have an idea. What if I were to give it to you at this price?

The man looks up...

RUBEN (CONT'D): With the condition that I have the option to buy it back from you for ten percent more than you're paying me within like...a couple months from now.

The man looks at Ruben like he's nuts. From Ruben's POV...

MAN (SILENCE W/T SUBTITLES): Why?

RUBEN: But it's got to remain it it's current condition, everything in place (gesturing)

The man considers as Ruben waits. The son gives a thumbs up. Ruben wants to rip his throat out.

MAN: I can give you a month-

Ruben signals to the guy to write it down. He does. Ruben looks at it.

RUBEN: Five weeks. Pay pal's ideal.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: It's very helpful that the structure forces a decision, which surfaces the character's conflicts and priorities.

I am surprised by how deeply the script moved me, and how the scenes have lingered with me. 

Sound of Metal (2020)
by Darius Marder and Abraham Marder