MovieChat Forums > Cleaner (2008) Discussion > A classic example of a script needing on...

A classic example of a script needing one or two more rewrites.

posted 12 years ago by MCFreddyLove
12 replies | jump to latest

What a shame. You round up an amazing cast and they have nothing interesting to do. A weak script is Renny Harlin's Achilles' heel. The Long Kiss Goodnight could have been an awesome film. Bruce Willis did most of the heavy lifting in Die Hard 2 to make it watchable. And even Cliffhanger could have been bearable with a tighter plot. I think Harlin could be making blockbusters, but it has to be all on the page for him to make it work. (Oh, great. Now that I've mentioned Die Hard 2 I'm reminded of one of the biggest plot holes in modern filmmaking.)

"If you do nothing long enough, something's bound to happen."
—H. Jon Benjamin

[–] LTUM 12 years ago

so you come on here and make a claim and then go off talking about OTHER FILMS lmao

i liked this one. your post sounds incoherent.

they had plenty going on, with regular twists and solid motivations.... i don't see what's to complain about

my favorite voice over ever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8MGBn3KawM&feature=related

[–] GaelinW 12 years ago

I believe the complaint was about the film's director, with supporting examples, rather than just a complaint about this one film.

If you can't walk and talk/text at the same time, do the rest of us a favor and get out of the way.

[–] LTUM 12 years ago

'believe' is the operative word.

because nobody can tell for sure what the H he was talking about

incoherent

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2dKNeLqNas

[–] GaelinW 12 years ago

I said, "I believe" to be polite. But the truth is YOU can't tell what the OP is talking about. It's clear as day to me. I don't necessarily agree with what's being said, but I at least know what's being said.

Let me translate:

What a shame. = Darn. The OP apparently had high hopes for this film.

You round up an amazing cast and they have nothing interesting to do. = Great cast, lousy, boring movie.

A weak script is Renny Harlin's Achilles' heel. = That this was a lousy movie, continues a trend for Renny Harlin, ie the Director of the film. Harlin's movies always seem to suffer from weak scripts. His direction only emphasizes their weaknesses.

The Long Kiss Goodnight could have been an awesome film. = Example of Renny Harlin movie with weak script.

Bruce Willis did most of the heavy lifting in Die Hard 2 to make it watchable.= Another Renny Harlin movie with a weak script.

And even Cliffhanger could have been bearable with a tighter plot. = Third example of a Harlin Movie with a weak script.

I think Harlin could be making blockbusters, but it has to be all on the page for him to make it work. = Harlin could be a bigger and better director if he picked better films to work on.

(Oh, great. Now that I've mentioned Die Hard 2 I'm reminded of one of the biggest plot holes in modern filmmaking.) = Crap!. Now the OP can't stop thinking about Die Hard 2 and what a lousy film it was.

If you can't walk and talk/text at the same time, do the rest of us a favor and get out of the way.

[–] LTUM 12 years ago

aight i'm gonna do something here then i expect you to leave me TFAlone

i am gonna post his OP here

What a shame. You round up an amazing cast and they have nothing interesting to do. A weak script is Renny Harlin's Achilles' heel. The Long Kiss Goodnight could have been an awesome film. Bruce Willis did most of the heavy lifting in Die Hard 2 to make it watchable. And even Cliffhanger could have been bearable with a tighter plot. I think Harlin could be making blockbusters, but it has to be all on the page for him to make it work. (Oh, great. Now that I've mentioned Die Hard 2 I'm reminded of one of the biggest plot holes in modern filmmaking.)

....for posterity, on display for anyone else who comes along later and may not understand what we were discussing.

then, sorry to disappoint you but i 'got' everything the person 'said' (or tried to say is more accurate) but was commenting on the very VERY VERY EFFING disjointed 'paragraph' that person posted. that's all i was doing, making a point (myself politely, BTW) ...and, if you can't see THAT fact, then there's no helping you.

the person made huge jumps in topics without making that clear, or explaining what he was even referring to, no mention of other movies and didn't organize or introduce his thoughts well at all. one of the worst posts i have ever seen, and you are DEFENDING it? wow

and moreover, he doesn't make any sense, anyway! he complains that they gathered a great cast and there was nothing to 'do' ...okay is that an indictment of the script here? b/c he then says a weak script is the achilles heel, but then cites the example of long kiss goodnight which DIRECTLY CONTRADICTS THE VERY LAST SENTENCE HE MADE ABOUT ACHILLES HEEL. ....b/c LKG was exactly the opposite of a weak script, and everyone knows that film failed in the execution of it, and not b/c of the script. (so which is it? the script of the direction? see what i mean... this guy doesn't even know WTH he is saying)

then he goes off on the die hard rant which is absolutely unrelated and belongs on another board, unless he explains better why he inserted it in there

i could go on and on but this is a waste of my time, sorry

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2dKNeLqNas

[–] GaelinW 12 years ago

We are all disappointed when our expectations aren't met. Feel free to walk TFAway. But I, not you, get decide if and when I'm done with this thread.

So even though, you previously wrote "because nobody can tell for sure what the H he was talking about", you now write, ""you but i 'got' everything the person 'said' (or tried to say is more accurate) but was commenting on the very VERY VERY EFFING disjointed 'paragraph' that person posted"

We'll that's funny. No where did you mention "paragraph" before.

Seems the OP isn't the only one with communication issues..

If you can't walk and talk/text at the same time, do the rest of us a favor and get out of the way.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] lathe-of-heaven 9 years ago

(Just wanted to make sure that YOU saw this too... )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't worry... Little Touchy Under M'balls is just being a Classic TROLL, trying to upset people or berate them.

FWIW, I went back over the OP's post, and I felt that he stated very clearly exactly what he was trying to say. He made a number of short, but clear statements that were easy to understand. Yeah, maybe some of the points MIGHT have conflicted each other...

BUT... that has absoPHUK'Nlutely NOTHING to do with the way it was stated, which I could understand just fine.

Sooooooo, BLOW IT OUT YOUR @SS TrollBoy!



I have over 6000 films now, many of them very rare and OOP. I LOVE to trade. PLEASE ASK! 

[–] lathe-of-heaven 9 years ago

Don't worry... Little Touchy Under M'balls is just being a Classic TROLL, trying to upset people or berate them.

FWIW, I went back over the OP's post, and I felt that he stated very clearly exactly what he was trying to say. He made a number of short, but clear statements that were easy to understand. Yeah, maybe some of the points MIGHT have conflicted each other...

BUT... that has absoPHUK'Nlutely NOTHING to do with the way it was stated, which I could understand just fine.

Sooooooo, BLOW IT OUT YOUR @SS TrollBoy!



I have over 6000 films now, many of them very rare and OOP. I LOVE to trade. PLEASE ASK! 

[–] LTUM 9 years ago

Wtf are you talking abour lmao youre psychotic. You are the troll here, obviously.

[–] mensadevoid 9 years ago

I agree. It's easy to understand what he is saying. I guess he doesn't go into enough detail for everyone, but then again this is a message board not a professional writers forum with professional writers. To the the 2nd guy instead of criticising op off the bat perhaps u could have asked him for the info u felt he lacked. The basis of his statement was fine he just didn't offer specific detail. To the point Die Hard 2 comment belongs in another forum sums up your pov perfectly (in case u don't understand me, that movie perfectly belongs in this forum when the op is speaking of this movies director and comparing it to his other works)

[–] raginfanz 12 years ago

There are sooo many plotholes in Die Hard 2. I think they just didn't bother to even consider if any of the scenarios were realistic. Then again, did anyone watch Die Hard 2 for a complex and thought provoking narrative. They watched it for Willis and lots of explosions.