Simply Being | Simple Being

Book, Script, Film

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So I have a thing for reading film scripts online. I have read the scripts of The Namesake, The English Patient, Notting Hill, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Sideways, Alfie, etc. In case of The Namesake and The English Patient, there is an interesting twist. I watched The Namesake and then read the script. In case of The English Patient, I first read the script and then read the book. Haven’t watched the film yet.

It is an interesting exercise for the mind. I like the act of reading film scripts because it allows my imagination to take flight, add colors and sounds, and really make the film in my head. Afterwards, when I watch the film, there is an exercise of comparison and it is amazing how much richer the imagination is when it comes to bestowing life to characters on paper. Obviously, not many films can do justice in such an elaborate fashion. I am yet to watch The English Patient and do that comparison exercise.

Most scripts are fairly boring in that they don’t have a very rich narrative. But The English Patient had such a beautifully written script – the film came alive in my head in a way that it probably may not be able to on screen. Plus, I have heard such dismal reviews about the film that it puzzled me at the beginning. How can such a lovely script culminate in such a *boring* film?

A film that I enjoyed incredibly is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I loved the concept of two people meeting midway in their lives – as one ages forward and backward in the strangest way possible and the other goes on to meet her natural decline – yet Life conspires for these two characters to meet at their respective primes – and light up the lives of each other. I wonder how the script will play out… hmmm.