Looking back at films like Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs," built around heavy dialogue, yet still gave such a quality film experience and an entertaining story, I can't help but wonder if a script of that caliber can survive in this day and age even if it's plot is gold.
Do you think a modern day Reservoir Dogs (not that exact script, per say, but one dialogue packed) will be embraced and enjoyed in these times?
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Hostage is in Pre-Production. One guy tied to a chair, two guys questioning him. One room.
The director is filming it in 7 sequences.
Can’t wait to see the end result. Super dialogue heavy.
Oh, I wasn't aware of that information, Kay. It is a shame though. Personally, I really don't mind a dialogue heavy film, once the plot is good and it takes me on a journey.
That's awesome, Craig! Big congrats first of all! I can see how a film like that would be based around dialogue. Hope the filming process runs smoothly. I myself, can't wait to see the end result :D
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Yes, of course! Done well anything is possible. Generalizations ignore context... so hard to truly say. Whatever you do, it does not have to be “Tarantino-like.” Gawd... Make it different. Please! Lol! If your setting and story world supports a lot of dialogue then it fits. Lots of series are dialogue heavy—tv shows set in law firms or crime investigation or hospitals or newsrooms, etc. Some major films are dialogue heavy and/or exposition heavy too. Watch The Big Short. They do a great job of explaining the complicated mortgage and financial crisis that crippled the U.S. in 2008 in an entertaining and easy-to-digest way.
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Of course. But first, Reservoir Dogs had a lot of action, too.
There are a lot of great films just from the last few years that are seriously dialogue-driven films. Most are smaller films that don't make it to theatrical release. You can pick any year, actually, and there are always a lot of great films that have a lot of dialogue - really witty, and really smart dialogue. Most are not big-budget action/adventure films, or horror films.
It's always about the story.
Just from the last couple years off the top of my head: Ray and Liz; The Farewell; Vice; If Beale Street Could Talk; Non-Fiction; First Reformed; The Favourite; Who We Are Now; A Private Life; Colette; Sorry To Bother You; Love After Love; You Were Never Really Here. Some of those were big-budget wide-released, actually.
And don't forget the Kill Bill films came way after Reservoir Dogs, and Jackie Brown did, too. Those are some heavy-dialogue, heavy action films, too.
But it's always about the story. I love great stories - heavy-dialogue, moderate-dialogue, and little and even no-dialogue.
Best fortunes in your creative endeavors, Imo!
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I think when people say dialogue-heavy in regard to Reservoir Dogs they really mean heavily-stylized dialogue. I think there’s always a place for that in the correct hands, but likely only high-concept stories could survive being turned into mic-drop étouffé.
I hope to see more films along that narrative. I feel like at times, due to the way the modern attention span and interests has become, the industry shies away from those type of dialogue driven films. I've seen some of them that's been suggested, but I'm definitely going to give a watch to some of the others. Sounds like the perfect weekend to put some creative time into watching some films.