GITS Script Reading and Analysis Series: “(500) Days of Summer” — Dialogue

This week we are analyzing the screenplay for the 2009 movie (500) Days of Summer, written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. The script was nominated for the WGA Award for Best Original Screenplay.

You may download the script legally from the Fox Searchlight website here [draft dated April 16, 2008].

Here’s a nice treat, a special video Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel did for the movie:

Today we discuss the script’s dialogue:

* What do you consider to be the most memorable lines, either good or… not so good? Why did they work — or not — for you?

* Any notable callbacks (a line used once, then used again later in a different context)?

* How about set-up & payoffs?

* Any exposition that caught your eye for being handled exceptionally well?

See you in comments for a discussion about dialogue in (500) Days of Summer.

NOTE: This series is for educational purposes only!

For Part 1 of this week’s series, go here.

For Part 2 focusing on structure, go here.

For Part 3 focusing on characters, go here.

For Part 4 focusing on themes, go here.

If you missed the Tweet-Cast of (500) Days last night, don’t worry. I will be posting a transcript of it on Saturday.

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