How to Write an EMOTIONAL Blockbuster | Video Essay
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 лют 2023
- Top Gun: Maverick proved that Blockbusters still matter, but for some reason, the screenplay never gets as much love as the rest of the movie. But now is the time to change that!
With the Oscars fast approaching, let's take a deep dive into the story of Top Gun: Maverick, and why the superb screenwriting found throughout the film that revitalized cinema is better than you think.
We'll be breaking down the character arcs of Hot Shot Pilots like Maverick and Rooster, as well as going into how the perfect story structure of the film makes Top Gun: Maverick one of the all time great's of blockbuster cinema.
Written & Edited ---------------------------- Dylan Gregory @TheWritersBlockOfficial
Music by --------------------------------------- Karl Casey @WhiteBatAudio
#howtheywrotetopgunmaverick #topgunmaverickanalysis #topgunmaverickstoryline #topgunmaverickstoryanalysis #topgunmaverickvideoessay #thewritingoftopgunmaverick #topgunmaverickoscar #topgunmaverickbestpicture #topgunvideoessay - Фільми й анімація
What do you think??? Is it Oscar Worthy? Or am I over analyzing this movie???
It's up for 6 Academy Awards, so it sure seems like it, although the only one most people probably care about is Best Picture since none of the actors were up for anything. Original Song, I doubt anyone actually cares about that since it's really more just something stitched over the movie in a few key places or just the credits, it's not like the movie's a musical. Adapted Screenplay, I guess because it's a Sequel it's just pushed there, not sure what that's all about. I saw something about the original being based of an article an Israeli man wrote so maybe that's why. Editing, that's certainly important to the movie, a thing most people probably won't consciously notice when done well. Sound is pretty important to the success of the film, a thing many probably don't notice enough however to get excited about a win there. Visual Effects, again, the best stuff is when you don't even notice it, and I don't know the full story, but isn't most of it practical except for explosions? Aren't the actors strapped in on a seat behind the actual pilots pulling all these maneuvers? Although if that's the case, you do need to replace a lot of reflections that wouldn't be there, so maybe there's a lot of Visual Effects. Either way, I feel it'll get beat out there with what it's up against.
But back to whether or not it deserves Best Picture. I've heard that often Best Picture never really represents the common consensus of what is high art or representative of the collective mindset of the time. I haven't seen half the other nominees, but when looking back at 2022 in 2032, who is going to remember something else as strongly as Top Gun: Maverick? I'm not saying there isn't good stuff on that list, and you don't need to be a summer blockbuster movie to make an impact, but given the critical response and box office, Maverick's a crowdpleaser and more likely to impact future filmmaking than probably most of the others on the list.
As you said, the movie doesn't decide to do the current trend and make fun of how cheesey it can be, it just is, so sit back and have some fun. The movie doesn't even name the enemy nation, like, it's not the Russians, it's not North Korea, it's not half the Middle East, it's just this rouge thing out there in the world, and we gotta stop them. How ridiculous! And yet, totally unimportant to the plot because all that matters is that they're the badguys, (AMERICA! F*$# YEAH!). At the same time, it can be sad, and you can feel the pain of Iceman's death, even if you're like me and remember next to nothing from the original movie, (I don't want to see Tom Cruise sad, he's got such a nice smile. XD) which only lends creedance that you don't have to have actually seen the original to enjoy and be affected by the film.
The movie also puts you in the cockpit instead of just shooting outside it; you're flying the mission with these pilots, which is not exactly new, but probably a more forgotten tool to use in storytelling, and since you've been following along their training sessions and gotten to know them, you care when things go wrong. The movie is also fairly simple to follow, it's not a Nolan piece with 50 moving parts over the course of nearly 3 hours and eventually they all culminate into a finale that you may or may not get (not that he isn't a master at his craft, but as an example, it's one of the things he's more notoriously known for). It's going to have more rewatchability factor in the end because you're not stuck down in the depths of drama for hours, you're being entertained. Perhaps that's why the Academy was toying with the idea of adding a "Most Popular" category because most people don't see every movie ever, but also unaware of the fact that just simply being entertained can also be artfully done. Obviously movies have changed a lot over the course of 100 years, and I don't really care about an award ceremony, but you know, it wouldn't be so bad if this won best picture.
Oh, and it's never stated in the movie, but I'm sure that Rooster is named that because he's cocky. Perhaps because he's in the presence of Maverick, it's putting a kink in his reaction times, it's bringing up a lot of bad memories, but it's got to be more than just to be another bird since his dad was Goose. You're left to interpret why everyone's call-signs are what they are, even in a more simple movie, everyone's got a backstory. Like, I have to think Phoenix has something to do with burning up her engines but still managing to survive or perhaps survived multiple crashes, I don't know. Hangman of course is always leaving others out to dry, even if that's not what that means, but it sounds good. Payback clearly had a grudge once, or it's ironic and he never actually gets payback. Fanboy is clearly an Aviation nut, really knows his history, met a renowned figure in the Air Force, whatever it was, he couldn't contain it, and then everyone just ragged on him for it and the name stuck. Omaha is clearly either from Omaha, really likes his steaks, or he's a big Payton Manning fan. Everything's kind of left to interpretation for the characters' call-signs and that's great... Except for Bob; that was epic. XD
Well said. I'm considering doing a video discussing why Best Picture is such a weird award (moreso than any other oscars category).
Also I love that you bring up the callsigns. Obviously that's how it actually works for pilots, but it also gives me huge Clone Wars vibes. The little ways you're able to retain personality in a military system that otherwise reduces you down to soldier/pilot/medic/etc. It's also just great worldbuilding. You feel like you could follow any of these characters when the camera isn't on them, and they would still be just as interesting and have just as fleshed out lives as Maverick.
And spot on with how the cinematography locks you into the perspective. This game really got me back into flight sims (Mainly DCS: World in the f16 and f14), and what flying in first person made me realize is that Top Gun Maverick somehow puts you in the experience more viscerally than actually looking through the HUD. I've been looking a lot about how films convey perspective, and I've found that actual POV shots rarely are that immersive. It's communicating the emotion that the characters are experiencing that really puts you in their shoes.
I’m so glad someone’s finally talking about how great the script was for this movie. The thing that blowed me away the most besides the amazing the sound design, the incredibly underrated score, Claudio Miranda’s fantastic cinematography, was how emotional and personal the story was. I knew the movie was going to be good but I didn’t expect it to be, in my opinion, a perfect movie. It told a story about regret, forgiveness, redemption, legacy and fatherhood that some scenes actually made me teary eyed with how mature and how thoughtful they were handling the themes. I love this movie so much and will always, ALWAYS, be in my top 5 favorite movies of all time.
So glad you enjoyed the video. Critics often appreciate things ASSOCIATED with high quality writing/filmmaking, rather than the quality of writing/filmmaking itself. I feel like this is why you'll get OSCAR-BAIT movies that are critically beloved but score really poorly with audiences. They have the ICONOGRAPHY of a good movie, but not THE CONTENT to support it
@@TheWritersBlockOfficial Exactly dude, I literally couldn’t have worded it better myself. Amazing video essay, you’ve earned a subscriber for sure.
One of very few movies I can watch over and over.
Your channel and analysis are a gem. Watched this movie for the first time tonight. Was beyond impressed and totally immersed and engrossed in the story. Extremely rare these days with modern movies. Immediately afterwards had to watch your analysis to understand why I'd enjoyed the movie so much. Keep up the great work!
Im so glad i could put words to your enjoyment. I never want to tell people whether or not they SHOULD like something but rather WHY people might feel the way they do. Thank you for taking the time to comment. It really means a lot an encourages me to keep going
first thing that comes to mind when I think of Top Gun: Maverick. Damn Good Movie.
I’ll have many issues with this video so I’m going to break it up into 3 parts:
1. I haven’t seen this movie yet, so thanks for the spoilers.
2. I feel lied to, this video was much more closer to 2750 words than 2700.
3. “To show the mission is possible”? Cmon that was a pretty good joke but it’s negated by the previous two points.
Man, this channel was a find
When I got you recommended, I had to watch every single video in a single day
Too good
Please continue this awesome work, I’ll be watching and rooting for you
Thats so kind and meaningful to hear! I'm really working to keep up the consistency. When the algorithm decides to push out a video, people really seem to connect. Now its just keeping consistent and learning the youtube game
Criminally underrated channel and great video!
Thank you! Hoping to get more of a foothold on the algorithm sooner than later. Fingers crossed
I enjoyed this video, thank you for making it! I really liked your point about the sincerity inherent in the move. I really enjoyed that; I do like a little quippy banter now and then (I love mystery shows, the banter-ier the better), but when that's the only thing in hollywood, it gets old. That's why I really like the first Narnia movie, and the Lord of the Rings, their absolute sincerity of emotion, and that's one of the reasons I like Maverick.
Thank you! And I totallycagree. I ought to do a video on the first Narnia movie. Theres something so (literally and figuratively) magical about it. And they never could quite recapture it in the sequels
Funny now it’s nominated for best screenplay!;)
(Also “theme is everything to a screenwriter” was a standout quote for me)
Im glad that line hit! In my own journey with writing thats the thing ive had to remind kyself over and over. If you nail theme, eveything else just starts to fit into place
@@TheWritersBlockOfficial well said! I will definitely take note of that my own writing too! What do you like to write btw (if I may ask;)
My passion really lies on trying to write mass appeal stuff but that has real depth. Which is also what I really enjoy analyzing on this channel.
I have seen this movie a lot of time and it's scperb film, it has all the elements , if I pick a best moment in the film it's Iceman and Maverick conversion , it's so emotional, f course the rest of the film is good, it's a smooth movie from start to finish.
The amount of emotion with very little spoken dialogue from ice is stellar
Excellent analysis!
2 months ago and only 3k views??? this deserves way more love.
It came out after the maverick hype had died down. Luckily other videos have gotten traction and my channel is steadily growing. Thanks for watching this one though. Means a lot!
@@TheWritersBlockOfficial checking out a ton of your other videos now, honestly great stuff!
@@M1lkTheF1rst That really means a lot! Thank you!. Working hard to provide good content that breaks down things in a nuanced way. Trying to add some positivity to the UA-cam Film Niche, and hopefully helping out with media literacy while I'm at it
I just wanted someone to say this!
I got you
Joseph Kosinski: Hey Tom, I have an idea for a Top Gun sequel
Tom Cruise: Tell me about it
Joseph Kosinski: How about we do a "Star Wars"?
Tom Cruise: I am in!
I mean a bit reductive. Sure its a similar mission at the very end but the majority of the movie being the training makes it mit very star wars at all
The only reason I don’t want to watch Top Gun is because Tom Cruise is a crazy Scientologist who tried to brainwash Katie Holmes