Screenwriter's Series: Drew Goddard
The Screenwriters Series will examine the filmography of a screenwriter with the hope of finding out what helped them break into the industry or continue to find success. "Story By" credits will not be used: only films with official WGA Screenplay credit per IMDb will be used. This includes screenplays with multiple writers that may or may not have collaborated.
THIS MONTH'S SCREENWRITER: Drew Goddard
MOVIE: Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
Starring:
Jeff Bridges as Father Daniel Flynn
Cynthia Erivo as Darlene Sweet
Dakota Johnson as Emily Summerspring
Jon Hamm as Laramie Seymour Sullivan
Cailee Spaeny as Rose Summerspring
Lewis Pullman as Miles Miller
Chris Hemsworth as Billy Lee
Nick Offerman as Felix O'Kelly
Xavier Dolan as Buddy Sunday
Director: Drew Goddard
Budget: $32 Million
Box Office:
Opened: $7.1M
Final: $17.8M
Plot:
Four different characters with mysterious motives converge for one fateful night at the El Royale, a hotel famous for being in both Nevada and California. To give away anymore about the plot would take away from the fun.
The Script:
Don't be afraid to take risks with your script. Goddard has never been afraid of this and that trend continues here. He isn't attached to any character and while it would have been easy to introduce the Manson inspired character of Billy Lee earlier in the film to give it a classic villain, he is only lightly teased throughout the film and doesn't rise to his villainous potential until the last thirty or forty pages. And when he does, he is as wild and unpredictable as the story that preceded his arrival. Not only does this keep the reader engaged, it gives Goddard time to introduce us to the characters at the motel. Despite the majority of these characters being unsavory and potential villains in another film, they end up being the good guys compared to Billy Lee. It's pretty dark when you think about it but it gives the film a quality to help it stand out.
My Review:
This movie is a criminally underseen gem and has my favorite Jeff Bridges performance of his career. From the brilliantly edited opening, the story is engaging as it weaves twists and turns through an unpredictable story as we learn what brought all these characters to the eponymous hotel. And that's before Chris Hemsworth shows up in the final third of the film and completely steals the show as Billy Lee. All of the madness is set to a killer soundtrack too. Do yourself a favor and check this one out ASAP.
Critical reception:
74% on Rotten Tomatoes
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Nominee- Best Writing
Trivia:
Goddard and the cast took a pay cut in order to get the film made.