Movie Analysis: “Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens” — Dialogue
Another in our bi-weekly series in which we analyze movies currently in release. Why? To quote the writing mantra I coined over 5 years ago: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. You will note which one comes first. Here are my reflections from that post about the importance of watching movies:
To be a good screenwriter, you need to have a broad exposure to the world of film. Every movie you see is a potential reference point for your writing, everything from story concepts you generate to characters you develop to scenes you construct. Moreover people who work in the movie business constantly reference existing movies when discussing stories you write; it’s a shorthand way of getting across what they mean or envision.
But most importantly, you need to watch movies in order to ‘get’ how movie stories work. If you immerse yourself in the world of film, it’s like a Gestalt experience where you begin to grasp intuitively scene composition, story structure, character functions, dialogue and subtext, transitions and pacing, and so on.
Let me add this: It’s important to see movies as they get released so that you stay on top of the business. Decisions get made in Hollywood in large part depending upon how movies perform, so watching movies as they come out puts you in the same head space as reps, producers, execs, and buyers.
This week’s movie: Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan & J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt, based on characters by George Lucas.
Our schedule for discussion this week:
Monday: General Comments
Tuesday: Plot
Wednesday: Characters
Thursday: Themes
Friday: Dialogue
Saturday: Takeaways
For those of you who have not seen the movie, do not click MORE as we will be trafficking in major spoilers. If you have seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens, I invite you to join me in breaking down and analyzing the movie.
Seeing as the movie is awash in nostalgia and this is — presumably — his last SW movie, let’s focus on some notable sides of dialogue featuring Han Solo:
Finn: We’ll figure it out. We’ll use the Force.
Han Solo: [irritated] THAT’S NOT HOW THE FORCE WORKS.
— —
Finn: [asking about Phasma] What should we do with her?
Han Solo: Is there a garbage chute… or trash compactor?
— —
Rey: This is the Millennium Falcon! You’re Han Solo!
Han Solo: I used to be.
— —
Han Solo: We came to rescue you, it was his idea.
[Rey hugs Finn]
Han Solo: Escape now, hug later.
— —
Rey: What are you going to do?
Han Solo: Same thing I always do, talk my way out of it.
And of course: “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
Any dialogue from SW:TFA stick with you? Head to comments to share your thoughts.
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