Tip and Quote of the Week: Embrace White Space

Embrace White Space

The biggest thing aspiring writers can do to look professional is to embrace white space.

Keep action and dialogue to 3 lines or less.

Keep it MOVING.

If you put your pedal to the metal from page one and don’t let go, it will go a long way (and sometimes cover up or lessen some of the problems the script might have).

"The way I write is very much without kind of a goal. I have something I'm interested in and then I decide I'm going to explore it. I don't know where the characters are going to go, I don't know what the movie is going to do or what the screenplay is going to do. For me, that's the way to keep it alive."

-Charlie Kaufman

Sources: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/screenplay.html#Qt2XAKBwUuITJCDb.99 and http://www.screenplay.com/default.aspx.

A former Hollywood Lit Manager, Michael Ferris started ScriptAWish.com as a way to help other writers get their foot in the door and has helped several writers sell their scripts (like Travis Beacham of PACIFIC RIM) and set up projects with producers like Academy Award Winner Arnold Kopelson. The mission of ScriptAWish.com is to help aspiring writers get their scripts into shape and then get their foot in the door. His new venture is a collaboration with several professional screenwriters called StudioGhostwriters.com and is intended to help producers get their movie ideas on paper or their drafts polished for production.

"Titanic" 2012 TV Mini-Series Review

"Titanic" movie poster.

"Follows the lives of the ship's passengers, from all walks of life, as they travel on the maiden voyage of the ill-fated Titanic. From the wealthy family of the Earl of Manton, the designers of the ship, to the stokers in the engine room - who will make it onto the lifeboats?" Written by Anonymous (Link below.)

Glen Blackhall (L) and
Jenna-Louise Coleman.

Meant to appear on the anniversary of the fateful ship's sinking (it did show, I just didn't see it until now), produced by Nigel Stafford-Clark (Warriors, The Way We Live Now), written by Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park, Vanity Fair, The Young Victoria), "it sets out to paint a portrait of a whole society, telling the stories of a wide range of characters, both real and imagined, from every social level. Their narratives are developed and gradually interwoven over the first three episodes, each of which ends in a cliffhanger as the ship begins to founder. The fourth and final episode draws all of the different stories together and reveals to the audience who survives." (Link below.)

Maria Doyle Kennedy (L) and Toby Jones.

The cast was pretty amazing: Linus Roache, Geraldine Somerville, Perdita Weeks, Toby Jones, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Peter McDonald, Steven Waddington, Glen Blackhall, Antonio Magro, Jenna-Louise Coleman, Noah Reid, David Calder, Sophie Winkleman, and Dragos Bucur (who has the coolest name ever and appeared nude in a movie so expect that review soon. ;D)

Perdita Weeks -
look at that beautiful hat!

I thought the pacing was good. Each episode ended with a cliffhanger, so you had to keep watching. It was interesting how they showed certain people's perspective. Even though the cast is quite large, it felt like the ship wasn't really that big. There was so much focus on certain people that you forgot how many people were on it, so it was not as dramatic a catastrophe as I think the tragedy actually was. I did cry a lot though, so maybe it is more of a hindsight thing. They could've added more people and made it a longer series. I would've watched the whole thing, it was beautifully done.

Dragos Bucur.

The clothes were very good. I loved the hats and the dresses Perdita Weeks character, Lady Georgiana Gregs, wore. They were beautiful.

I think the person in charge of the music may have had a harder time than most trying not to sound too dramatic because it would definitely have reminded me of the James Cameron flick. Even still, they probably could've made it a bit more rousing and tense.

I can't compare this to other TV series because I don't watch TV, but I might start watching that Downton Abbey and The Borgias. The only thing I have watched to compare this to is the Cameron movie. It isn't as stirring as that movie and it had a claustrophobic feel to it, but it was still good. 

Sources: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1869152/plotsummary, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanic_(2012_TV_miniseries), and http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1869152/.

Peter McDonald.

"The Phantom of the Opera" at the Royal Albert Hall Review

"The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall" movie poster.

"In 1986, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera arrived on the West End stage at Her Majesty's Theatre. Fast forward 25 years and Phantom has achieved global success, millions of viewers, a film adaptation in 2004 and a musical sequel. Now viewers have the chance to experience this phenomenal show right from their own screens. Filmed at the Royal Albert Hall, this stunning performance brings the show to a bigger stage and celebrates its role as one of the biggest shows in theatre history, with speeches, performances and appearances by the original cast and some of the show's most notable Phantoms, including Anthony Warlow, Peter Joback, John Owen-Jones, Colm Wilkinson, and Michael Crawford. Starring Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess, Phantom tells the story of a deformed musical genius who lives in the catacombs of the Paris Opera House. Shunned by society, the Phantom seeks revenge in cruel and often violent acts. The Phantom is in love with chorus girl Christine Daaé and has been secretly training her to replace La Carlotta as the opera's reigning diva. However, when Christine is thrust into the spotlight, she is also reunited with childhood friend Raoul. Passion, obsession and chaos ensue as Christine finds herself torn between her love for Raoul and her strange pull towards the mysterious and dangerous Phantom." Written by LadyN1 (Link below.)

"The Phantom of the Opera
at the Royal Albert Hall" dvd cover.

Sierra Boggess as Christine.

That was a beautifully orchestrated version of the musical. I loved the clothes as well. It definitely reminded me of the first time I saw this on Broadway nearly seven years ago now. It was awesome. I loved the sets and everything. The Phantom I saw in real life, Howard McGillin (site here), is probably still my favorite, but this one, Ramin Karimloo, was great as well, though I thought a bit young for the role, but he had a beautiful voice.

Raoul, played by Hadley Fraser, was handsome as well and was very spirited onstage (he should update his IMDB profile - hint hint). Christine, played by Sierra Boggess, was also beautiful and I thought a better actress than Sarah Brightman.

Scene from "The Phantom of the Opera
at the Royal Albert Hall".

This should definitely appeal to those who didn't like the movie version of this popular musical. While I liked the movie version, many others didn't, most say because they thought the actors in it weren't good enough singers to have participated. There were little bits in it that made it more like the movie version rather than the original onstage musical, but they were practically unnoticeable unless you're obsessed like I once was.

I really appreciated how the makeup artists tried really hard not to make the makeup look overmuch as it usually is in a play. That would've been ghastly.

(L to R) Hadley Fraser, Ramin Kaminloo,
and Sierra Boggess.

The only thing I would say that I didn't like about the production was how technologically advanced they tried to make it. There were LED screens for the backdrops and it was interesting to look at from far away and surely easier for the stage crew as they didn't have to load heavy set pieces onstage. But when you got up real close it became pixelated and really freaking ugly, whereas a real set would probably have only looked cheap up close rather than nonexistent. So that's where I would say I preferred a real set to an LED screen if I was watching a musical or stage play on screen, but if I had been there I don't know if it would have bothered me as much. It probably looked cool.

The libretto is available here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/25668194/Phantom-of-the-Opera-Script-Libretto.

Sources: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2077886/fullcredits#cast, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2077886/plotsummary, and http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2077886/.

Ramin Karimloo as the Phantom.

Tip and Quote of the Week: Cut Out the Boring Parts

Cut Out The Boring Parts

Why do we never see Batman take a leak between fighting crime?

Because great scripts are real life with all the boring parts cut out.

With both your movie and your scenes, always enter late and leave early.

If a scene, a character’s action, or even a line of dialogue doesn’t move the story forward or add depth to a character, it can be cut.

"When I write a screenplay, and when I direct, I always pull lines out."

-Stanley Tucci

Sources: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/screenplay.html#Qt2XAKBwUuITJCDb.99 and http://www.screenplay.com/default.aspx.

A former Hollywood Lit Manager, Michael Ferris started ScriptAWish.com as a way to help other writers get their foot in the door and has helped several writers sell their scripts (like Travis Beacham of PACIFIC RIM) and set up projects with producers like Academy Award Winner Arnold Kopelson. The mission of ScriptAWish.com is to help aspiring writers get their scripts into shape and then get their foot in the door. His new venture is a collaboration with several professional screenwriters called StudioGhostwriters.com and is intended to help producers get their movie ideas on paper or their drafts polished for production.

Tip and Quote for the Week: Master Writing Great Dialogue

Master Writing Great Dialogue

If you're an aspiring writer trying to break into the industry, great dialogue that pops off the page is the single best way to capture Hollywood's attention.

JUNO had an alright story, but the reason people went crazy over it was the dialogue seemed fresh and new and unique at the time.

In Hollywood, great dialogue is hard to find – master that, and you’re head and shoulders above the competition.

"I've found that good dialogue tells you not only what people are saying or how they're communicating but it tells you a great deal - by dialect and tone, content and circumstance - about the quality of the character."
- E. O. Wilson

Sources: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/screenplay.html#Qt2XAKBwUuITJCDb.99 and http://www.screenplay.com/default.aspx.

A former Hollywood Lit Manager, Michael Ferris started ScriptAWish.com as a way to help other writers get their foot in the door and has helped several writers sell their scripts (like Travis Beacham of PACIFIC RIM) and set up projects with producers like Academy Award Winner Arnold Kopelson. The mission of ScriptAWish.com is to help aspiring writers get their scripts into shape and then get their foot in the door. His new venture is a collaboration with several professional screenwriters called StudioGhostwriters.com and is intended to help producers get their movie ideas on paper or their drafts polished for production.

Get book here.

"The Hunger Games" Movie Review

"The Hunger Games" movie poster.

"In a dystopian future, the totalitarian nation of Panem is divided between 12 districts and the Capitol. Each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal retribution for a past rebellion, the televised games are broadcast throughout Panem. The 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors while the citizens of Panem are required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim (Willow Shields), is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives." Written by Suzanne Collins (Link below.)  

So, I have just seen the much raved about "The Hunger Games" movie. I must say that I am not sure it was worth all of the talk.

Things I liked:

-The cast was amazing! I loved Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss! She was beautiful, sexy and very strong! Josh Hutcherson was absolutely adorable though I would've liked him to have been a bit more love sick for Katniss. I love Stanley Tucci no matter what he does - he looks better in blue hair than Katy Perry does. Woody Harrelson was very good in his role, as well as Elizabeth Banks and Lenny Kravitz - he really surprised me. Donald Sutherland is a very sinister President Snow.

Stanley Tucci (L) and Jennifer Lawrence.

-The costumes were amazing! Though sometimes things were a bit garish in the Capitol it was still like watching an avant-garde runway. Loved the clothes!

-The sets were also amazing! I was wondering how they would do the Cornicopia. I would've loved to have seen it in gold, but the giant silver thing was fine.

-I don't remember the soundtrack very much, but the four-note tune that Rue and Katniss sang was very haunting. It reminded me of the song from "Pan's Labyrinth".

-The mockingjay pin was really nice.

-The design work on the posters and promotions was genius!

Jennifer Lawrence (L) and Josh Hutcherson.

Things I disliked:

-They made Gale really annoying from the get-go. He would never have chased away such a great prize as a 100 lb. doe! That would've sold for quite a lot! Not to mention the amount of food!

-I would've liked to have seen Madge in it. I connected with her, though she's not in the books that much.

-I think they jumped the gun with the riots starting before the games were even over. I was under the impression that they started in the second book.

Things I ABSOLUTELY LOATHED:

-The shaky camera thing!!!! I would've liked to have seen this movie rather than going "well, I'm sure that's exciting but I can't tell what the hell is going on!" The director should have his eyes gouged out! Who thought that was a good idea, really?! I could understand it during the hallucinations and when Rue was dying, but the whole damn movie?

-And so many close-ups! I felt like I was in Katniss's skinpores!

It was alright. It was enjoyable. I'm really glad I had read the books first to fill in the holes but also viewing this before reading them might have ruined the scenery in my mind. But the casting was perfect. So I give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I know one thing that would make me happy:

Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark.

Can I take him home? Pretty please?! He's so cute!!!

P. S. Those complaining about the "Battle Royale" similarities - they stole their idea from "Thunderdome" so F-off! And they don't have Josh Hutchinson!

Script available here: http://www.the-editing-room.com/the-hunger-games.html.

Favorite Lines:

Peeta Mellark: I just keep wishing I could think of a way to show them that they don't own me. If I'm gonna die, I wanna still be me. Does it make any sense? 

Katniss Everdeen: Yeah. I just can't afford to think like that.

Katniss Everdeen: So you're here to make me look pretty. 

Cinna: I'm here to help you make an impression.

President Snow: And so it was decreed that each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up in tribute, one young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice.

Stanley Tucci.

Caesar Flickerman: Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire!

Caesar Flickerman: And what did you say to her in the end? 

Katniss Everdeen: I told her that I would try to win. That I would try to win for her. 

Caesar Flickerman: Of course you did. And try you will.

Haymitch Abernathy: This is the time to show them everything. There'll be a bow, make sure you use it. Peeta, you make sure to show your strength.

Caesar Flickerman: So Peeta. Tell me. Is there a special girl back home? 

Peeta Mellark: No. No, not really. 

Caesar Flickerman: No? I don't believe it it for a second, look at that face! Handsome man like you! Peeta. Tell me. 

Peeta Mellark: Well, there, uh. There is this one girl that I've had a crush on forever. But I don't think she actually recognized me until the Reaping. 

Jennifer Lawrence
as Katniss Everdeen.

Caesar Flickerman: Well, I'll tell you what Peeta. You go out there, and you win this thing, and when you get home she'll have to go out with you! 

Peeta Mellark: Thanks, but I, uh. I don't think winning's gonna help me at all. 

Caesar Flickerman: And why not? 

Peeta Mellark: Because... she came here with me.

Peeta Mellark: So what happens when we get back? 

Katniss Everdeen: I don't know. I guess we try to forget. 

Peeta Mellark: I don't wanna forget.

Effie Trinket: May the odds be ever in your favor.

Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392170/.

"The Departed" Movie Review

"The Departed" series of movie posters
featuring Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio.

"In South Boston, the state police force is waging war on Irish-American organized crime. Young undercover cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate run by gangland chief Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). While Billy quickly gains Costello's confidence, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), a hardened young criminal who has infiltrated the state police as an informer for the syndicate, is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit. Each man becomes deeply consumed by his double life, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations he has penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the mob and the police that there's a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly in danger of being caught and exposed to the enemy-and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save himself. But is either willing to turn on the friends and comrades they've made during their long stints undercover?" (Link below.)

Jack Nicholson (L)
and Matt Damon.

Not much to say, except this Martin Scorsese film blew my mind! Also, it won the Oscar for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Directing, and Best Film Editing (although I don't think it should've gotten that one - even I noticed those mistakes) in 2007.

Script available here: http://www.screenplaydb.com/film/scripts/departedthe200609/.

"The Departed" movie poster
featuring Jack Nicholson.

Favorite Lines:

[Brown is telling Billy why he signed up for the police] 

Brown: So she tells me, "You never finish anything. You finish the police course, you get taken care of again, baby." So after graduation, I get a blowjob again. 

Billy Costigan: That's great. Your mother sounds like a wonderful woman. 

Brown: Fuck yourself. 

Billy Costigan: Look at it this way: You're a black guy in Boston. You don't need any help from me to be completely fucked. 

Ellerby: Go fuck yourself. 

Dignam: I'm tired from fucking your wife. 

Ellerby: How is your mother? 

Dignam: Good, she's tired from fucking my father.

Leonardo DiCaprio.

Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/.

"Shutter Island" Movie Review

"Shutter Island" movie poster.

"Federal Marshall Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his new partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) travel to a government-run mental institution for the criminally insane on Shutter Island, near Boston, when there is a report that one of the prisoners has gone missing. Daniels has his own reasons for wanting to get to the island and carries baggage of his own. He is still traumatized from what he saw when his army unit liberated one of the Nazi concentration camps at the end of World War II and is still haunted by the more recent death in a fire of his wife. The head of the hospital, Dr. John Cawley (Ben Kingsley), treats him alright but others give the agents a less than warm reception. Daniels particularly wants to find out what is going on in one of the wards, reserved for the most serious offenders. As Daniels begins to peal away the layers of deceit, it becomes obvious that not all is as it seems." Written by garykmcd (Link below.)

Leonardo DiCaprio.

Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane and directed by Martin Scorsese, I really enjoyed this movie. (Book review found here.) I thought it was very well-done. The script was great. Someone had already told me the ending so I knew what was coming and could see the various ways the scene would look to the detective and to someone who knew what was really going on.

The ending makes me wonder though. I'm trying not to give too much away, but it seems as if he did it on purpose and he walked away with the orderlies just fine. Like he knew what was coming and was welcoming it. I can understand why he would not to live with what he knew. I don't know if I could.

Ben Kingsley.

I recommend this movie if you liked "The Machinist", "The Sixth Sense", or "Unbreakable".

I'm definitely gonna read the book now. I hope it's as good as the movie.

Script available here: http://screenplayexplorer.com/wp-content/scripts/Shutter_Island.pdf.

Favorite Lines:

[Daniels has asked the staff about Rachel's activities before her disappearance] 

Teddy Daniels: Anything unusual occur? 

Nurse Marino: Define 'unusual'. 

Teddy Daniels: Excuse me? 

Nurse Marino: This is a mental institution, Marshal. For the criminally insane. Usual isn't a big part of our day.

Leonardo DiCaprio.

Dr. John Cawley: [examines Rachel's note] Ah, this is definitely Rachel's handwriting. I have no idea... what the "Law of Four" is, though. 

Teddy Daniels: It's not a psychiatric term? 

Dr. John Cawley: No, I'm afraid not. 

Chuck Aule: [reads the note] "Who is 67?" Fucked if I know. 

Dr. John Cawley: I have to say that's quite close to my clinical conclusion.

Warden: Did you enjoy God's latest gift? 

Teddy Daniels: What? 

Warden: God's gift. Your violence. 

[Daniels looks at him blankly] 

Warden: When I came downstairs in my home, and I saw that tree in my living room, it reached out for me... a divine hand. God loves violence. 

Teddy Daniels: I... I hadn't noticed. 

Warden: Sure you have. Why else would there be so much of it? It's in us. It's what we are. We wage war, we burn sacrifices, and pillage and plunder and tear at the flesh of our brothers. And why? Because God gave us violence to wage in his honor. 

Teddy Daniels: I thought God gave us moral order. 

Warden: There's no moral order as pure as this storm. There's no moral order at all. There's just this: can my violence conquer yours?

An image from the film "Shutter Island".

Warden: If I was to sink my teeth into your eye right now, would you be able to stop me before I blinded you? 

Teddy Daniels: Give it a try. 

Warden: That's the spirit.

Dr. John Cawley: Why are you all wet, baby?

Teddy Daniels: After she tried to kill herself the first time, Dolores told me she... she had an insect living inside her brain. She could feel it clicking across her skull, just... pulling the wires, just for fun. She told me that. She told me that but I didn't listen. I loved her so much.

"Shutter Island"
book cover.

"Shutter Island"
book cover.

Teddy Daniels: So, what's our next move? 

Chuck Aule: You tell me. 

Teddy Daniels: I gotta get off this rock, Chuck. Get back to the mainland. Whatever the hell's going on here, it's bad. 

[pause] 

Teddy Daniels: [sotto voce] Don't worry, partner, they're not gonna catch us. 

Chuck Aule: That's right, we're too smart for 'em. 

Teddy Daniels: Yeah, we are, aren't we? 

[pause] 

Teddy Daniels: You know, this place makes me wonder. 

Chuck Aule: Yeah, what's that, boss? 

Teddy Daniels: Which would be worse - to live as a monster? Or to die as a good man?

[gets up and walks off]
Chuck Aule: Teddy?

Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1130884/.

"Melancholia" Movie Review

"Melancholia" movie poster.

(In foreground) Kirsten Dunst (L)
and Alexander Skarsgard.

"On the night of her wedding, Justine (Kirsten Dunst) is struggling to be happy even though it should be the happiest day of her life. It was an extravagant wedding paid for by her sister (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and brother-in-law (Kiefer Sutherland) who are trying to keep the bride and all the guests in-line. Meanwhile, Melancholia, a blue planet, is hurtling towards the Earth. Claire, Justine's sister, is struggling to maintain composure with fear of the impending disaster." Written by napierslogs (Link below.)

(L to R) Kirsten Dunst,
Cameron Spurr,
and Charlotte Gainsbourg.

I thought this movie was absolutely beautiful. An art house film; two hours of slow pictorial beauty. Great cast as well: Kirsten Dunst, John Hurt, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling, Brady Corbet, Alexander Skarsgard, and his father, Stellan Skarsgard.

An image from the movie "Melancholia".

But melancholic, it certainly was. I really enjoyed this film, it was remarkable for the eyes and kind of an odd thing to put together, story-wise: "Let's put a wedding and the end of the world together." It was both written and directed by Lars van Trier. There's a feeling of extreme isolation as they wander around their perfect little world. Not realizing it's about to end.

Wedding scene from the movie
"Melancholia".

I almost couldn't care about her family though. They are so mean to Justine at her own wedding and everyone's trying to control her. And the way they try to make her 'happy' by telling her all of these things "I paid for the wedding. You better be happy." or "You better come up with a tagline on your wedding if you have too damnit or this guy's gonna loose his job." or "I don't believe in weddings, be happy while it lasts." It feels really good to know that at the end even though Justine is a depressive person who can't seem to take care of herself, she's the only one keeping it together at the end of the film.

So I liked it and would watch it again! These posters are awesome!

Script available here: http://www.the-editing-room.com/melancholia.html.

"Melancholia" movie poster.

Favorite Lines:

Justine: Life is only on Earth. And not for long.

John: Gaby, I'm sorry to disturb you, but we're ready to cut the cake. 

Gaby: [behind the bathroom door] When Justine took her first crap on the potty, I wasn't there. When she had her first sexual intercourse, I wasn't there. So give me a break, please, with all your fucking rituals.

[crying into her meatloaf] 

Justine: It tastes like ashes!

Leo: [reading] It is a planet that has been hiding behind the Sun. Now it passes by us. It's called flyby.

Leo: Dad says there's nothing to do then. Nowhere to hide. 

Justine: If your dad said that, then he's forgotten about something. He's forgotten about the magic cave.

[last lines] 

Justine: [to Leo and Claire as Melancholia approaches] Hold my hand. Close your eyes.

"Melancholia" movie poster.

Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1527186/.

"Another Earth" Movie Review

"Another Earth" movie poster.

"On the night of the discovery of a duplicate planet in the solar system, an ambitious young student (Brit Marling) and an accomplished composer (William Mapother) cross paths in a tragic accident." (Link below.)

This was certainly a very interesting film. I would never have been able to come up with something like that. Another whole planet with my exact likeness on it, perhaps with a completely different life than mine.... almost too much for me to understand. Very exciting that Brit Marling, who starred in it and did a great job, also cowrote it with the director, Mike Cahill.

I thought it was beautifully filmed and the music was wonderful. There is even a scene where an actor plays a saw (the kind you use to cut wood) like an instrument which I have never seen before nor heard before.

I would've liked to have seen more science geek stuff like tides and gravity effected by the proximity of the earth being so close to another earth but that wasn't really the story here and I can understand why they would want to skip that.

"Another Earth" movie poster featuring Brit Marling.

I don't want to talk about the ending except to say that it is bittersweet and surprising. I very much enjoyed watching this film and hope there is more like it.

Favorite Lines:

Richard Berendzen: In the grand history of the cosmos, more than thirteen thousand million years old, our Earth is replicated elsewhere. But maybe there is another way of seeing this world. If any small variation arises-they look this way, you look that way-suddenly maybe everything changes and now you begin to wonder, what else is different? Well, one might say that you have an exact mirror image that is suddenly shattered and there's a new reality. And therein lies the opportunity and the mystery. What else? What new? What now?

Rhoda Williams: When early explorers first set out West across the Atlantic, most people thought the world was flat. Most people thought if you sailed far enough West, you would drop off a plane into nothing. Those vessels sailing out into the unknown, they weren't carrying noblemen or aristocrats, artists or merchants. They were crewed by people living on the edge of life: the madmen, orphans, ex-convicts, outcasts like myself. As a felon, I'm an unlikely candidate for most things. But perhaps not for this. Perhaps I am the most likely.

Beautiful image from the movie "Another Earth".

Rhoda Williams: You know that story of the Russian cosmonaut? So, the cosmonaut, He's the first man ever to go into space. Right? The Russians beat the Americans. So he goes up in this big spaceship, but the only habitable part of it's very small. So the cosmonaut's in there, and he's got this portal window, and he's looking out of it, and he sees the curvature of the Earth for the first time. I mean, the first man to ever look at the planet he's from. And he's lost in that moment. And all of a sudden this strange ticking... Begins coming out of the dashboard. Rips out the control panel, right? Takes out his tools. Trying to find the sound, trying to stop the sound. But he can't find it. He can't stop it. It keeps going. Few hours into this, begins to feel like torture. A few days go by with this sound, and he knows that this small sound... will break him. He'll lose his mind. What's he gonna do? He's up in space, alone, in a space closet. He's got 25 days left to go... with this sound. So the cosmonaut decides... the only way to save his sanity... is to fall in love with this sound. So he closes his eyes... and he goes into his imagination, and then he opens them. He doesn't hear ticking anymore. He hears music. And he spends the rest of the voyage sailing through space in total bliss... and peace.

Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1549572/.