What Makes a Movie Great?

“Suit the action to the word, the word to the action.” -William Shakespeare

Have you ever watched a movie with a good basic premise, and a good cast, and wondered why it wasn't compelling? Did you think with these beautiful locations, this interesting storyline, and these talented actors, that the movie should be great? Or, at least better than it is?

The difference may be the writing. A movie's screenplay is the road map for the entire story, and it sets the course that the director will follow, and it dictates how the director will lead those great actors. The screenplay gives those actors their dialogue. The screenplay dictates the types of locations needed to carry the story as described. Even if the screenplay is adapted from a great book or novel, the screenplay is an entirely different type of writing, that often condenses, synthesizes, or even eliminates entire pieces of that novel, creating the specific written directions and dialogue that will become the movie. Imagine making a 600+ page Harry Potter novel fit nicely into 150 minutes onscreen. Indeed, the right words, with proper pacing, and interesting conflict, dramatic action, and compelling suspense, will often culminate in an excellent story, packaged as a well-written screenplay. Just as one might say “if this Steven Spielberg movie was great, then this other Spielberg movie will be great,” movie lovers can look at the screenwriter of a movie they enjoyed and possibly find other similarly excellent movies.

A great example of “following the screenwriter” to see where it leads is Aaron Sorkin. Sorkin is famous for stand-out TV series such as The West Wing, and Newsroom, so that is possibly how most people have heard of him. His movie screenplay credits, however, are equally impressive and include some gems that one may not recognize as Sorkin’s work. His 1995 screenplay The American President received a Golden Globe nod for screenplay, but more important, provided the impetus for The West Wing. Several ideas that were culled from the movie became sub-plots in many episodes. That film is also an example of key people continuing with a quality concept, as Martin Sheen was “promoted” from Chief of Staff in the movie to President on The West Wing.

One of Sorkin’s earliest critical and financial successes was A Few Good Men, famous for memorable lines such as Jack Nicholson’s “You can’t handle the truth!” This 1992 movie was a Golden Globe nominee. Flash forward to today’s Oscar nominees, and Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 from 2020 is on the coveted list. Sorkin’s other major films in that span of 28 years include Charlie Wilson’s War, The Social Network, Moneyball, Steve Jobs, and Molly’s Game. He also directed Molly’s Game and The Trial of the Chicago 7. In total, these films garnered four Oscar nominations and eight Golden Globe nominations with three wins. Sorkin was also involved in two other major films, performing non-credited “re-writes” on The Rock, and Enemy of the State. In addition, his TV show The West Wing earned nine Emmy nominations and four Emmy wins over the life of the show.

Sorkin is clearly a talented screenwriter, and if you like his crisp and sharp dialogue in one movie, chances are you will enjoy the same in another of his efforts. That phenomenon of quality writing across multiple works is not limited to Sorkin. If you liked When Harry Met Sally, you may enjoy Sleepless in Seattle, or You’ve Got Mail, each written by Nora Ephron. If you like goofy comedies, then check out Harold Ramis’ work in Delta House, Meatballs, Caddyshack, and many others.

If you like your movies on the dark side, Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill: Vol. 1, and Inglourious Basterds are each memorably so. Also on the darker side of things are the movies 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, and Full Metal Jacket, each written by Stanley Kubrick.

Spanning a much wider spectrum from light-hearted to dark are the works of William Goldman, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President’s Men, The Princess Bride, and Misery. Steve Kloves adapted all but one of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels into screenplays, and of course, almost everyone knows a movie or two by George Lucas.

So, the next time you genuinely enjoy a movie, whether it is a blockbuster, or a lesser-known surprise, check out the writer that created or adapted the screenplay. You may find yourself to be a fan of their other works that you had yet to discover.