Same script different director - how different could two films be

MooseJam

I watched Batman and Robin there yesterday , I went to see it when it came out and I remember it being bad but wow it was 100 times worse than that, anyway everybody seems to blame joel schumacher and I was wondering if that was fair because the script was awful - is it even possible to make a good film with a bad script - does the director get too much credit these days - thinking about it I would imagine the scriptwriter deserves more credit for a good film, what do you think. Two directors one script how different could two films turn out ?

Pigman II

The problem with Batman and Robin is that it was made for 6 year olds but ended up being watched by 15 year olds. It was designed primarily to sell toy cars and action figures to young boys and as such Schumacher made exactly the kind of movie the studios asked for.

However the movie was marketed completely incorrectly. Stuff like promo photos of Uma Thurman (out of context) in her tight green leather suit and getting getting the smashing pumpkins to do the video for MTV only helped to convince the public that this movie was primarily for teenagers when clearly the finished product was anything but.

But to answer your question no I don't think the scriptwriters deserve more credit. It requires a more unique ability to be a great director than to be a great screenwriter.

lorcan69

the scriptwriters form a strong basis to a good film but good directors are those who can take that script and manipulate it to be there own. In some cases entire scripts have been changed just because the director was not happy with it.
in a lot of cases this works out but directors can also have their bad days.

it is this ability to change the script that ensures the directors get more credit. Scriptwriters know that they will always be in the shadows but most of them prefer it that way.

I feel they shouldnt get more credit as it may stop them from striving to come up with new and exciting scripts!!

johnny_ultimate

A complex maths equation illustrates the necessities of a good Batman film. In a simplified form:

Batman, minus Robin = Profit!

Six films in (seven if you include the Adam West one) and it has yet to be proven incorrect.

Brimmy

It's impossible to make a good film out of a bad script. It is however easily possible to make a bad film out of a good script.

Directors deserve every credit they get but you can't detract a great film from the scriptwriter. Without them the Director or Producer would have nothing to work with.

ziedth

Brimmy wrote: »

It's impossible to make a good film out of a bad script.

I don't know about that, did you ever see a film that you know deep down in your bones you should hate but somehow enjoyed?

For example look at maybe some chic flicks that I got a few laughs of, off the top of my head I enjoyed that film the Lakehouse with Keanu Reeves and sandra Bullock.

Could that be explained as a bad script somehow managed to be a watchable film.

Brimmy

I actually enjoy chick flicks. I don't expect anything from them though so that's why. The scripts are passable, nothing spectacular but they are written to appeal. That isn't to say that the films are good, they're just not terrible. The script serves as the basic foundation for the entire movie, if it's not solid then the film as a whole wont be solid. It's why we see things like Director's Cuts etc where the scenes are usually reshot in a different way or the order of the scenes are redone. The script is usually never rewritten.

Seriously I'd challenge anyone to make this watchable http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxKByXGC890

lostexpectation

is the boxset anygood?

Running Bing

MooseJam wrote: »

I watched Batman and Robin there yesterday , I went to see it when it came out and I remember it being bad but wow it was 100 times worse than that, anyway everybody seems to blame joel schumacher and I was wondering if that was fair because the script was awful - is it even possible to make a good film with a bad script - does the director get too much credit these days - thinking about it I would imagine the scriptwriter deserves more credit for a good film, what do you think. Two directors one script how different could two films turn out ?

I am a firm believer in auteur theory so I fully believe the Director should take the credit and the blame.

The script was ****e? Why did the director not demand it be changed or refuse to do the film if he felt he couldnt make a good film out of it?

The performances were ****? Why couldnt the director get good performances from the cast or ask for different actors?

Bottom line is a film is a directors vision. Either B&R turned out exactly like Joel Schumacher wanted in which case he is a raving lunatic bastard or it didnt turn out like he wanted in which case he let it get away from him, lost control and/or did his job ineffectively.

A script is just a skeleton for the film, an instruction manual. Its up to the director to implement those instructions and flesh out the film.

Mikey23

Getting away from Batman for a minute, the two most recent Exorcist films are an interesting study for film students. Largely the same screenplay (retooled a bit, but still...) but different takes in terms of look and feel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exorcist:_The_Beginning

Running Bing

Mikey23 wrote: »

Getting away from Batman for a minute, the two most recent Exorcist films are an interesting study for film students. Largely the same screenplay (retooled a bit, but still...) but different takes in terms of look and feel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exorcist:_The_Beginning

Id wager that you would be hard pressed to give the same screenplay to *any* two film makers and get two identical or even very similar films.


Even for the most studio-centric McMovie-ised directors film making is a personal experience. Some of the greatest films ever have quite mundane screenplays which in the wrong hands would be nothing more than average films. Likewise some of the worst films have screenplays that in the right hands could be something significant.