FARGO, just a totally perfect screenplay from front to back
in your opinion, completely subjective, no metrics and no judgment, what are the best written movies of all time? I don't care if you have never seen a screenplay in your life, just which story itself is the most moving and complete and perfect to you?
Primer, I will die on this hill. And go back into the box and do it again.
Fargo is my answer to this question too. It blew my mind when someone pointed out that it actually has a pretty normal 3 act structure with one twist, that you’re rooting for the antagonist, and that the antagonist in Fargo is Marge.
There are movies that are structurally perfect like Back to the Future and there are movies with truly incredible dialogue like Before Sunrise and it’s just so hard to find the perfect marriage. Coen Brothers manage to do it over and over though.
Millers Crossing
Dr. Strangelove
Ex machina.
Casablanca.
Both are brilliant.
this is an excellent take
The Shawshank Redemption
Yes. FARGO is both structurally perfect and full of incredible dialogue. All their films have great dialogue but I think overall it's the best-plotted Coens movie bsky.app/profile/dmnd...
The Cohens nailed it in OH Brother as well. The 5 miute standing ovation at the Uptown premier is one I will never forget.
I feel like if we're talking about great screenwriting, William Goldman should be in the conversation, and while lots of folks would surely mention Princess Bride, I'm going to go back to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid as being an utter chef's kiss of a screenplay.
What about Lebowski, man?
yes
Even the throwaways are indelible.
“Jose Feliciano, you got no complaints.” “We’re not a bank, Jerry.” “Ah, what the Christ!”
For sheer fun chaos I really enjoyed reading “Clerks” when I was in high school
Sunset Boulevard
“Go Bears.”
Jojo Rabbit
There are many contenders, but I’ll simply say “Hot Fuzz”
Fargo has been my all-time fave for a long while now, and I stand by it
Young Frankenstein
haven’t seen it in a while but i remember thinking there wasn’t a wasted line in american beauty
"Rita Hayworth and the Shawshanks redemption."
Yeah, as I said in my reply to OP: every time I finish watching that movie (which has been 1000 times by now), I always think "God damn, that is a good movie."
They've made like a dozen near-perfect movies and Fargo is the best one.
100% agree on Fargo, and I’ll add that the Fargo tv series is very crisply written as well
If Spacey hadn't ruined it for everyone I'd do Usual Suspects.
As is, I have to give props to that gem of 70s cinema 'The Last of Sheila,' a puzzle box so ingenious the title is a clue!
The Usual Suspects
And O Brother too
The ending of Fargo tho? Perfection
