Mean Girls Script Breakdown

Dir- Mark Waters

Year – 2004

Running Time – 94 Minutes

Screen writing Genre –Rites of Passage (Adolescent)

The Film

Not the most complex of films, Mean Girls gives some young talent a chance to impress with some great comedic performances. It captures the spirit of American High School well and is both fast paced and well structured.

What’s in a name?

A fairly straight forward one here. Means Girls not only refers to the three main plastics but also the idea that all girls can be mean to each other.

What makes it great?

The key strength of the film is a smart and pacey script which moves along well. The film is structured excellently and hits all the beats pretty much spot on. It’s a great example of a simple premise raised up a level by the performances and writing.

Mean Girls as an (Adolescent) Rites of Passage Movie

I was toying with that as an ‘Institutionalised’ movie but really it’s the story of Cady’s emotional growth from being a ‘child’ to a more mature and wise teen (if that’s possible). We see her struggles and the ‘wrong way’ she chooses to undertake her passage. By the end of the film she has accepted certain things about herself and worked out the puzzle of high school. By the end of the film she has successfully moved from child to a more adult state and is rewarded with a relationship.

Time Line

Opening Image – We start with camera making it look like parents talking to a child going for her first day at school. It is revealed that it is in fact Cady who is going to a ‘real’ school for the first time. She is emotionally green and naïve.

Theme Stated – We see Cady eating lunch in the toilets on her own and various different factions around the college. Our theme is about the question of fitting in. How do you do it? And what should you compromise?

Set-Up – Throughout this section we get the different elements of the school set up. We see all the different factions and are introduced to the ‘plastics’. We see Cady starts as a social outcast.

Catalyst – When Cady chooses to sit at the ‘plastics’ table she has decided to start the journey to a new world.

Debate – Cady debates what to do. Should she have lunch with the plastics? Should she spy on them for her other friends?

Break into Two – When Cady lets slip a comment about one of her friends that ends up in the Burn Book there is no going back and we have moved into the upside down world of high school politics.

B Story – Our love story is fairly straight forward as Cady begins to fall for Regina’s ex-boyfriend Aaron. Here Cady begins to change herself (such as faking being dumb) to make Aaron notice her and to place her within his vicinity. She will realise this is not a good idea by the end of the film.

Fun and Games – The full on high school life kicks in. The plastics act out various bitchy plans, there are parties and Cady starts plotting after Regina tricks her about Aaron. We even have a talent show.

Midpoint – Things begin to escalate but the real serious moment which stops all the fun is when Cady blurts out to Aaron that Regina is cheating on him dead on minute 46.

Bad Guys Close In – The bad guys in this case are actually Cady herself. She begins to lose herself in the role of a plastic and becomes meaner and meaner. She eventually takes over the role of Queen Bee of the plastics.

All is Lost – Cady’s own party signals her downfall. She throws up on Aaron, her real friends disown her and Regina sets a trap with the Burn Book that throws the entire school into chaos.

(incidentally there's a nice line at Cady's party - when Aaron says to her "I've been looking everywhere for you" she replies "Yeah, me too" which highlights her inner journey and confusion about who she is).

Dark Night of the Soul – Cady realises she has lost herself and through a long scene in the gym all the girls begin to recover themselves. Cady is now all alone.

Break into Three – Cady returns to school and is now the outcast and along again – but this time for very different reasons.

Finale – Cady recovers herself, apologises and begins to rebuild bridges. She wins the Mathletes title and attends the school dance wearing her medal. When she wins Queen of the dance she completes her recovery by breaking the plastic tiara and handing it out to everyone.

Final image – Cady gets the guy and has fully returned to being herself. She is now wiser and more mature and the rest of the girls have evolved as well. At least most of them have.

127 Hours Script Breakdown

Dir- Danny Boyle
Year – 2010
Running Time – 94 minutes
Screen writing Genre – Rites of Passage (adolescent passage)

The Film

Danny Boyles follow up to the Oscar winning Slum Dog Millionaire takes a completely different approach. It is based on the book ‘between a rock and a hard place’ which deals with the experience of Aron Ralston who finds himself trapped in a canyon in and fighting for survival after a rock falls onto his arm in Utah.

What’s in a name?

A fairly obvious title, ‘127 Hours’ refers to the amount of time Aron was trapped in the canyon. The title acts to emphasise the idea of the importance of time and the massive effort it took to survive.

What makes it great?

Without proper direction this could have been an incredible dull film. Clever editing techniques are used to keep us interested and really draw us into the claustrophobic world that Aron is trapped in. When He finally escapes the feeling of elation the audience feels has rarely been bettered. An outstanding performance from James Franco turns this into one of the most gripping films to be released for years.

127 Hours as an Adolescent Rite of Passage Movie

A rites of passage movie concerns stories about painful, but necessary growth and the emotional journey someone takes to get through a difficult period in their life. They nearly always end with the hero realising that life must go and it’s just a case of “that’s life”. 

127 deals with the heroes struggle to leave his old ‘empty’ life behind and embrace his role within his circle of friends and his family. Basically, the film concerns an arrogant and selfish loner who needs to realise his mistakes and grow up in order to feel fulfilled. This story is common among the trials and tribulations of the move from adolescents into full adulthood.

Time Line

Opening Image – A busy chaotic scene as a lone person gets ready for a trip. Then moving to the contrast of slow and peaceful as civilisation is left behind.

Theme Stated – We get several hints to the theme. First our ‘hero’ forgets to call his mother. Aron also leaves his knife behind. This links in with ideas of carelessness and feeling he is invincible. Basically, what we are dealing with here is the theme of needing to change knowing when to ask for help.

Set-Up – Our intrepid lone explorer seems invincible as he moves around the landscape, we will soon find out he isn’t. We get some characterisation through the short conversations he has with the two girls he meets.

B Story – Kicks in early. Our B story is our hero’s general relationship and feeling towards others around him. As Aron flashes back to scenes concerning people he knows he will learn his lesson and fulfill the theme of the movie.

Catalyst – The rock falls onto his arm.

Debate – He fights with the rock trying to get free. What to do?

Break into Two – at minute 22 we know are stuck in the canyon and the upside world has begun.

Fun and Games – Aron tries to free himself with ever increasingly elaborate plans. He lays out all his ‘toys’ on the rock to see what he has to work with. He, and we aren’t desperate yet.

Midpoint – The realisation sinks in that he can’t get out. Supplies are running low, the mood of the film becomes more intense and desperate. Aron makes his first semi-attempt to cut his arm off with the blunt knife.

Bad Guys Close In – Time is running out, Aron will die of first if he can’t get free. Literal dark clouds arrive and flood the canyon. We get a false escape in his dream, it’s all getting very desperate.

All is Lost – Madness and death are closing in any the minute. All the batteries, watches and timers are either running low or showing us the end is near.

Dark Night of the Soul – Aron begins to see his life flash before his eyes and he sees all his mistakes.

Break into Three – He knows he has to change. Light arrives in the canyon and Aron knows what he has to do.

Finale – With his remaining strength he cuts off his arm and escapes the canyon. Falling to his knees he screams “help me” “I need help”. This is the first time he has asked anyone to help - he has finally learnt his lesson.

Final image – Family, Aron has changed and become a better man for it. The change is undoubtedly lasting.

Lost In Translation Script Breakdown

Dir- Sofia Coppola

Year – 2003

Running Time – 102 mins (approx)

Screen writing Genre – Rites of Passage

The Film

Lost in Translation came out of nowhere and introduced Scarlett Johansson to audiences in her break through role. It also gives Bill Murray to show a different side to acting ability. The film was nominated for a host of awards and won a total of three Baftas, three Golden Globes and the Oscar for best screenplay. Bill Murray also narrowly lost out to Sean Penn in the best actor category.

What’s in a name?

Lost in Translation is a very apt title for a film about two people not only in a strange country, but also who seem to have their wishes ignored by those around them. The title also sets the mood well and hints at the subtle comedy drama element of the movie.

What makes it great? 

There are some absolutely beautiful camera shots and some lovely long takes but the thing that really makes this film work is the dialogue and chemistry between the two leads. The characters of Bob and Charlotte are scripted and played perfectly and really make us care about them. Many of the scenes are simple conversations between the two of them and it is the power of the words that keeps us interested.

Lost in Translation as a Mid-Life Rites of Passage Movie

A rites of passage movie concerns stories about painful but necessary growth and the emotional journey someone takes to get through a difficult period in their life. They nearly always end with the hero realising that life must go and it just a case of “that’s life”.  The mid-life sub genre concerns people reaching a certain age and often reaching for something they feel will solve all their ills. Bob is clearly dealing with mid-life issues but, though much younger, so is Charlotte.

Timeline

Opening Image – Although it is the first image, Charlotte on the bed alone is not the films real opening image. Our opening is Bill Murray looking tired in his cab on the way to the hotel.

Theme Stated – Bob is confronted with a parcel of floor samples at the hotel. Our theme concerns self identity and what we are meant to be. Is Bob meant to be foremost an Actor or Husband and Father? Charlotte is struggling with the same issues. Both are characters are currently in limbo and lost with the hotel representing a sort of limbo.

Set-Up – We meet Bob and look around the hotel. We learn he has a family and he is a movie star. We also meet Charlotte and see she is restless. We learn Bob is here to do an advert. We get the idea that both Bob and Charlotte are two lost souls.

Catalyst – Charlotte sends Bob a drink in the hotel bar.

Debate – Bob and Charlotte discuss why they are in Tokyo and what is happening in their lives. Charlotte jokes he is having a midlife crisis

B Story – comes before the break into two. Bob and Charlotte start their friendship and the love story.

Break into Two – Starts when Charlotte talks to Bob about a possible “prison break” and her husband leaves for a few days.

Fun and Games – At minute 40 Bob and Charlotte take on Tokyo together and grow closer over the course of the night. There is some seemingly innocent flirting over karaoke and Bob takes her home.

Midpoint – Bob gets a phone call from home, which puts him in a strange frame of mind and makes him feel he is no longer in a loving relationship.

Bad Guys Close In – The bad guy in this case could be time, as it’s running out for both Bob and Charlotte but the pace of film doesn’t really suit this. Instead the bad guy is the threat of sex and what it could do to both of them.

All is Lost – Bob sleeps with the lounge singer.

Dark Night of the Soul – Bob knows he has messed up, Charlotte is angry and Bob and Charlotte spend the day sniping at each other. 

Break into Three – The fire alarm at the hotel takes us into act three.

Finale – The question is raised as to if Bob should stay with Charlotte. The Jesus and Mary Chain song relates Bob conflict about walking away from the greatest girl he has ever known because it is the right thing to do.

There is a strange chase to the airport as Bob meets charlotte in the street and we get the iconic kiss.

Final image – Bob in the cab again, glad he came but knowing he is going home to his family and that it’s the right thing to do.

Interpreted via the theory and structure of Blake Snyder.