Screenwriting : Movies that leave a mark by Stephen Floyd

From a writer’s standpoint or from a common sense standpoint?

“Johnny got his gun” scared the crap out of me.

From a writing point of view, “Dark Knight”.

You Were Never Really There, is one of those films for me. Taxi Driver, obviously and Schindlers List.

Requiem for a Dream made me want to stay in bed for three weeks.

When I was a little kid, King Kong scared the bejeebers outa me. Been scared of monkeys ever since.

I effing hated Annihilation. To each his own! I once saw East of Eden in a theater and was really moved by it. That Dean guy could act!

Agree 100% with Joker.

From a script perspective, The Babysitter is one of the most fun I've read. Watching Nightcrawler showed how a character can be the central focus of a movie in the best way possible.

Both have really impacted how I write.

In my defense, Eric, I didn’t say I liked Annihilation, but when I left the theater it stuck with me like a heavy meal, and for that I respect it.

I really enjoyed Annihilation. Probably two of the films that left indelible impressions on me in recent months (long after having watched them) have been Hereditary and Suspiria. Suspiria wasn't frightening, to me, but it was unsettling. The texture of the sets, the decay in the walls and materials, everything was at once foreign and engrossing to me. And I love rain in a film, which is such a strong presence in this film. Haven't seen Joker yet, but can't say the trailers have intrigued me. It feels like the kind of film that I know is well crafted but which I don't actually "enjoy". Babel was one of those films for me. I knew it was a "good" movie in terms of craft and performance, but I didn't enjoy it as a viewer.

I enjoyed Annihilation though. I don't know, it just took me on a trip, and wasn't a bad ride.

But to answer your question, Stephen, hmmm..."Fruitvale Station" had a big impact on me. Really resonated, you know. Just thinking about it now, my heart sinks :'(

The Mist. I hated this film so much when I watched it. I was livid with the ending. I was young and it destroyed my programming on how a film should end. It stuck with me and even now as an older and maybe wiser person, I am still upset by it. That was the point though and I see that now. Will I ever watch it again? no, I don't want to have to look at what a parent might have to do in that situation. I don't think it was even what he did, more that when the story went past that moment I felt cheated out of a happy ending because it was right there anyway. Now I see it differently but remain affected by the experience. Film sometimes is more than entertainment and we don't have to like it to be effected by it.

Blade Runner did that for me. I was 15 and furious that the bad guy didn’t get his. What’s more, I was made to like him. I never looked at narrative the same again.

I watched The Shining and Apocalypse Now when I was twelve and both scared the hell out of me, I don't think I have to say why? Watched Pasolini's Salo about twenty years ago and was the most unpleasant film watching experience. Still feel uneasy when I think about it.

"Dressed to Kill" from Brian de Palma. It scared the shit out of me.

"Requiem for a dream"

Rutger Oosterhoff Absolutely! Did the same for me too. That moment in the elevator, right?

Yes!

A Clockwork Orange always leaves an impression on me even though I've never finished the whole movie. I just don't like it man... I'm sure there's some deeper symbolism connected to the acts of violence they commit, someone told me you have to read the book to understand the movie. But it left an impression because it just didn't sit right with me. Some people love it, I can't get through it.

Clockwork Orange is a doozy. Kubrick wasn’t careless and surely had reasons, but it may be worse to understand the film than be left wondering.

The made up words are a local slang to the characters, the words are derived from Russian I believe. It is what id known as a conceit. My favorite Christmas eve movie.

Yeah the slang is like a weird mix of Russian/Shakespearean. The film is pretty close to the original American version which omitted the last chapter.

Get Shorty is my favorite movie of all-time ... It's also the reason I'm a Filmmaker, so I guess you can say it left an impression on me. I've always described it as a "New-Age Classic" from MGM. A throwback to the comedies of old, but done with the flair that only Elmore Leonard's writing can bring. GREAT Adaptation by Scott Frank. GREAT Direction from Barry Sonnenfeld. GREAT Cast led by its lead, the GREAT John Travolta. Add in the brilliance of Dennis Farina, Rene Russo, Danny DeVito and Gene Hackman. Shot exceptionally well with all those cranes and dolly shots by the late, GREAT Donald Peterman. Music by Booker T and the MGs! That movie - and John's performance - willed me to make films. GOD BLESS and * STAY FRESH!!! *

To SHOW YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE IT, I own the Jacket John Travolta wore in the movie ...

.... And the shoes he wears in the barber shop scene that immediately follows the credit sequence. ;)