Review of Lucky Number Slevin

LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN - STORY: Due to a series of unfortunate events, a young man becomes embroiled in a war between NY mafia heads.

LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN - MESSAGE: A good plan and cool-headed deception can eliminate even the biggest threat. True justice can be accomplished with enough courage. Good or bad actions have like consequences. No problem too big to solve.

LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN - WIN: The child remained calm and didn't have fear in the face of threat. Showed a life of crime brought about unhappiness in the mob bosses. Showed the strength of true love. Slevin met obstacles head on. Nice spirit of play and irony reflected in wordplay. Nice aesthetic touch with the exaggerated wallpaper and furnishings, which enabled locations to be very distinct from each other. The symptoms weren't the target, but the cause. Slevin had good differentiation between good intentions and bad ones. In the crime boss minions, showed that crime attracts the stupid. Showed that crime can be taught (and isn't inherent.)

LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN - LOSE: Promotes free love, alcohol use and non-nutritious white bread. Glorifies assassin and doesn't show the natural spiritual decay from having such a job. Gave the mob crowd personalities which are too emotionally upbeat.

LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN - EFFECT ON ME: Made me want to explore the use of wordplay in my script. I felt as though I'd experienced a good, well-crafted story. It gave me a sense that one person can do something about even those things which seem unsolvable. I felt like someone who has been taken out on the dance floor for a spin.

REVIEW OF THANK YOU FOR SMOKING

THANK YOU FOR SMOKING - STORY: The PR guy for big cigarette companies overcomes challenges to the moral questions of smoking and his defense of it.

THANK YOU FOR SMOKING - MESSAGE: Smokers are the effect of public relations spin. One must ultimately do the right thing, no matter how painful. Unsavory actions needed to get ones' job done are a choice made to "pay the mortgage." That cigarette companies can continue to exist despite the fact that smoking kills is merely a symptom of a deeper problem in our society, having to do with our personal ability or inability to face and deal with the truth.

THANK YOU FOR SMOKING - WIN: Negative facts about smoking came out. The hero resorted to honesty to make a point. He had the integrity to do his job despite having been fired and to refuse to pander to a boss who had stepped on him. Traces bad actions down to greed or need of money.

THANK YOU FOR SMOKING - LOSE: Promiscuity with journalist was treated as ok (although blabbing to her was not.) I would have liked to see the point made that nicotine and alcohol are drugs (taken as a solution to pain or boredom) and what drugs do (although the nicotine patches did do a fair job of showing that.) The effect on a person mentally and spiritually due to cigarettes is not explored; the only negative side of smoking brought up was the decreased health of the body. Also, the head cigarette baron was a kindly old gentleman, and I doubt that is true to reality.

THANK YOU FOR SMOKING - EFFECT ON ME: It encouraged me to continue to write films which have a definite message, because there is a place for us writers to say what we want to say in an entertaining way.

Review of Take the Lead

TAKE THE LEAD - STORY: A dance instructor seeks to give disadvantaged youth a chance at a better, less troubled life by teaching them the discipline and social skills involved in ballroom dancing.

TAKE THE LEAD - MESSAGE: Teaching the arts bring out the best in us.

TAKE THE LEAD - WIN: Communication and setting a good example were used to persuade different behavior, not force. The idea that people can change for the better is supported (instead of the false idea that being a loser is genetic.) The other idea that is supported is the fact that if you do what helps a person, they will be helped and will rise to the occasion -- the trick is being smart about getting in touch with the person, caring and seeing what will really help them.

TAKE THE LEAD - LOSE: I believe the detention kids would have been in worse shape to start with. Challenging and dancing are more positive traits, not expected of truly troubled children.

TAKE THE LEAD - EFFECT ON ME: I came out of the theatre dancing, happy, uplifted. I had a renewed faith that the arts are important for children and adults.