The best movie of 2011, without a doubt, is “Super 8″. Like the 80’s movies that appear to have inspired it (such as “E.T.”), “Super 8″ follows the classic rules of screenwriting. In Michael Hauge’s book Writing Screenplays that Sell, Hauge illustrates what is necessary to make a great movie. Like several of the 80’s era films mentioned in the book, “Super 8″ is also one where the viewer can easily relate to the characters, particularly the hero, Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney). As the hero, Joe faces obstacles, and needs courage to achieve his goals. This is a high concept movie, meaning it will attract viewers based on plot, rather than movie star power.
According to Hauge, a good movie should combine originality and familiarity. In part, “Super 8″ is about teenagers growing up and learning about themselves, but it also has a unique alien storyline.
Well-developed minor characters are also an important component of a good movie. “Super 8″ offers this with Louis Dainard (Ron Eldard). We see that Louis Dainard and Jackson Lamb (Kyle Chandler) do not want their kids involved with each other, and the story behind this is slowly unfolded. Ron Eldard’s few scenes allow the development of his chararcter. In turn, Dainard’s character has an effect on the development of Alice (Elle Fanning), Joe, and Jackson.
There are some great choices for best movie of 2011, and each movie’s minor characters are an important factor in determining which one sails above the others. “Win Win” has many things going for it, but the movie can be eliminated as best picture due to the minor characters. In “Win Win” Bobby Cannavale is fun, Amy Ryan a scene stealer, but their characters are not meant to touch the viewer emotionally, as Ron Eldard’s is in “Super 8″. Another possible contender is “Xmen: First Class”. Magneto (Michael Fassbender), has a very interesting back story, but some of the other characters are not as interesting or well developed. “Midnight in Paris”, which very much deserves to be considered as a best movie possibility, is unable to do what “Super 8″ can. As a comedy, it will not touch viewers quite as much.
“Super 8″ also offers character identification. The feel of the first romantic crush, wondering if the other person likes you back, is something we can all relate to. Fighting with a sibling, and having a poor relationship with a parent, are also relatable things.
“Super 8″ has been very popular with both critics and audiences, and this is largely due to following good screenwriting techniques.
Sources:
Writing Screenplays that Sell, by Michael Hauge