Reviews taken from readers comments on different pieces of writing (shorts and features). All comments listed are from genuine reviews and feedback. [ bottom ] Updated: 08/04/2009 ........It's strong, Sean. The writing is really sharp and professional..... The description is clear and concise..... ..........love it............... .....That's another good one! You're on a roll...... .....F$%king Brilliant!.....Nice work.....
.....Love the opening line: "This is my story. I
hope is doesn't feel like some bad country and western song." ........WOW! That was amazing!!! Dam you make me want to pick up a camera and shoot right NOW!!!! I have to figure out how I can do this now. I am working on this ASAP!!!
.....By the by, I love your writing. He passed along
some of your stuff, and for 8 pages, Cuckoo Conspiracy is insanely
well-written. 8 pages! And so many characters that are just great...... .......This is the short script version of Pyscho...... ......The scenes are wonderfully written, they are very captivating, and artistically enthralling.... .....I love the script, you write suspense wonderfully...... ......Once again, the action sequences stand out. The script, which I compared in my last review to "Aliens", is one
breathtaking sequence after another...... .
officials to flee to the moon is original, creative, and believable. ....Concept/story: Great concept might need a little push to distance it's self from Aliens (Great Movie). The creatures behave similar in their attack methods and soldiers trapped in a space station. I fear these similarities will be too much for some studios. ....There is a lot of action, no doubt on that. But it is definitely a Sci-fi. .....Which I think would make a fantastic new series with your script as the 2 hour pilot..... ......Sean your first ten pages are real solid. Great hook, good opening scene... very exciting. You're writing is vertical, your action and slug lines are tight. .. good luck with it.,.. . .....a very enjoyable piece that will work nicely on the screen.... ....It was an enjoyable read and I think that you have enough there with a little more work to
make a real top notch thriller out of your sp......
...Technology Run Amok OK, this premise has been done many times before, and it will be lighting up screens for years to come....
.....Man vs. Machine/Technology is popular I think because we fear what we don't understand.....
....I like the basic story here and how it is updated to the things we "fear" in 2005. Using a female lead is a good twist and Grace is a good, strong character.....
....The opening was a good bit. I thought I was going to watch a war drama and bam! here is a tech story.....
....This is not the kind of script that I feel I am capable of writing. ....Sean Ryan obviously is very comfortable with the material and it shows.....
.....Good read with a potential for a good film..... ....This idea has been around for a while. However, you put your own spin on it which was refreshing..... ....I enjoyed it and you get HIGH PRAISE for having a female protagonist..... Polish it up a little more and you could really do something with this one.... .....A talented playwright with a germ of a good plot.....
....I really enjoyed this script.....
....edge of your seat.... This was a good story that kept me on the edge of my seat. The writer did a good job of keeping the large amount of characters in this script unique. T..... Good Story!.....
....Good read... I enjoyed it can't really say much more than that.....
...Very Much Improved.... I have the pleasure of getting this revised version of Utopia. Since I reviewed the previous version, I can gladly say this sp is very much improved in the rewrite. Exciting, action packed opening.....
....Heading for the top.... Really enjoyed this, it would make a great movie. You have captured a sense of what I use to love about action/sc-fi movies. .....
....Entertaining.... Cliched? Yes. Stilted dialogue? Yes. But no matter how many flaws, this is ENTERTAINING, and ultimately saleable......if I were a studio head looking for a good B-picture, I'd buy this in a heartbeat......
....That's a heck of a video game you've got there... you'll be able to slip this script past the Marketing Department (the ones who make the decisions on films like this anyways), and get this made........
...On reading the script I could visualize films such as, Starship Troopers, Aliens and Star Trek, all mixed together. I found at some points in the script, the script felt like, Jurassic Park in space......
....Great concept, but start things faster.... a decent sci-fi horror film.
....Aliens... There is an enthusiasm in the writing that is infectious.....
.....Nice... I'm quite Impressed, honestly I thought this would be an aliens want to be but it wasn't considering the first time an alien comes is in the middle of the script. ...... Overall, the script was well constructed, and the dialogue was good.....
Overall Stars: Characterization: Excellent Story: Good Moving on, like the Al Pacino stuff, a bit much but
cool to see. The movie influence on Jim makes sense with his thinking. Tom is
right behind him, a bit more dense though. Tom seems slow. Plot wise, it tells
alot about their decisions - some goofy cats right here. This feels like Simon
Pegg and Nick Frost. I know... I know... but it does, unless Flannery and Reedus
come calling and beg to take this spec off your hands. I'm dreaming a little
here but that's what we're here for. Shite, I'm praying to meet Jeremy Iron's
agent so I can pass him my spec. Characterization: Good Additional Comments: Overall Stars: Very nice work. Story: Good Characterization: Excellent. Your characterization is excellent; one of the best jobs I've seen yet. Dave tends to be more impulsive than John. Even Cathy, with her small role, is painted vividly. The parents are done nicely as well. Very nice work. However, it tends to be easy to paint characters when one relies heavily on the use of voice-over. With a constant, running voice-over narrative, it's straighforward to say "I don't like so-and-so because so-and-so is an abusive drunk." That being said, you paint your characters so well that I think you would need just a fraction of the voice over you employ throughout the screenplay. Just a thought. At any rate, I got a good feel for all of your major characters. Nice job. Dialogue: Good Overall Stars: Overall Stars: ...
It's kinda like three kings .....
.... I really did enjoy the story. And I'm not kidding you when I tell you that
I found it to be a refreshing change given some of the other screenplays I've
read......
.....Perfect
movie for the Video Game Generation..... .....The authors of this SP have a strong sense of action, and make no mistake, this is an action picture. In the first 12 pages we have an anti-terrorist briefing, a speech by the President, two anti-terrorist ops and an attack by aliens on the moon....
.....An interesting premise with
terrorists and monsters on the moon needs something more.
....This
film's pitch is: It's "Die Hard" on the moon, with a touch of "Alien.".....
UTOPIA 1 reminded me of Aliens, so it is in good company. There is a lot of cool, fast-paced action in this script......
....In the spirit of "Aliens"..... "Utopia-1" has plenty of action, which would be sure to appeal to genre fans. The screenplay is in the vein of "Aliens" and "Starship Troopers," but successfully manages to distinguish itself from those other films.....
......This is an action-packed intergalactic adventure. The storyline is well
developed and unfolds at a steady well-paced clip. I think the story, itself, is
well executed and polished. .....You've got a possible big budget bonanza here!
...... ....Really enjoyed it...... This thing really trundled along and just got better...I liked it even though it was alot like 'Aliens' revisited but you can't have to many aliens! ..... Well done. Great job! ......
.....The script started with a lot of potential and really generated my
interest from the start. It laid out a very unique look of the future..... ......ENGAGING ACTION/SCI-FI COMBINATION!....
You clearly have a strong familiarity with the conventions of sci-fi action blockbuster movies and the script contains some good banter and action events.... a promising sci-fi shockbuster ......
.I
really enjoyed this script. The characters were believable, the dialogue
was good....
....Though war movies are an acquired taste for many, I've always enjoyed the
genre. It's so easy for a writer to be gratuitous with the violence while
abandoning all attempts to give characters some depth. For the most part, you
did not make this mistake. ....I think you've put together a well-paced, interesting story that -- if directed properly -- could be a solid war flick. A job well done...... ....This must have been satisfying to write..... ....This story had a great concept behind it. A skilled soldier leads a team to kill Hitler. Creative obstacles/events include the Hitler body doubles, traitors, dummy grenades, unskilled tank driving.....
....As far as the story goes, it was pretty interesting. I liked the whole idea of trying to kill Hitler ....
.... think this is a script with a good concept .....
.....Alien With a
Vengeance..... .....The writing was great and precise.....
....Was There A Page Without Action On It?...
Wow. This one really
moves fast. .....This certainly is a timely theme, though .....wow!! Well done! ....Very nice twist at the end and very cool on the military stuff... I think it's gold. Peace!....
.....I have just read and unzipped a space opera called Utopia one......
......fun read and page turner.... The screenwriter definitely has a talent and zeal for the action genre. ..
Overall Stars: ......The story is rather simple, but it's well laid-out. ........ ..... Main characters (Tom and Jim) are good. .......Garda Murphy is well characterized and a good character so long as this retains its comedic tone and doesn't fall into really awful melodrama. ....... I love, however, adding Grace to the ending as a symbol of their new life and a woman and a job prospect that is actually open to them. That's a really nice touch, character-wise. .........To start things off, I really did enjoy this script. I rarely come across a read that actually has me laughing out loud but this one did it. I got a very BOONDOCK SAINTS feel and that was a good thing. You turned that movie into a straight comedy and it went rather well. Your characters were relatable and not over-the-top...... .......The scene with the old woman really did have me laughing aloud. Good job....... ........Overall, good job. Comedies that work and actually make you laugh are hard to come by these days but I think you might have done it. Your characters are believable and so are their situations. Both certainly help your cause. Good job and good luck!.......
I read a very early draft of this some time back. I like it then, but love it now. You have made some amazing and major revisions since then. There are some really funny and visual moments in this. Very good dialogue throughout that is as real as I have read. The two main characters are perfect, young and dumb but likeable. I really thought you were going to do the predictable and have them die. But I was delighted to see them win and evolve. I really can't suggest that you change a thing as it all seems to work well. I really see this as a movie. An Indy directors dream. More fun than those other Irish films I love like the snapper and the Van (amongst others). Just a great, fun, screenplay. That I hope gets picked up. The hard work and passion shines through.
You've created a pair of likeable, funny characters in Tom and Jim; I enjoyed their banter and I really wanted them to get a life.
….Nice work and an enjoyable piece….
This script had some great moments of character comedy. Loved the first line, the Butch & Sundance moment, Kathleen seeing Tom nude and acting like a fool.
This is much tighter it's as if the different scenes are crystallising and thereby becoming clearer, I like the Butch cassidy reference at the beginning you manage to pull it offwell,……
…..Could really see this on the big screen and hope you get snapped up. A starting directors dream(try and pitch it in Ireland, it may be easier). Great movie possibility……
…..Great feeling to the piece, sort of Lock, Stock and Full Monty…..
……This is a really good screenplay. Likely characters, real dialogue, funny scenes…..
…..was into this from the very first page. The characters are very likeable and well developed. The dialogue is some of the best I have read……
The Lone Rangers opens strong with a cliff hanger robbery homage to Butch and Sundance that pulled me right into the story
And that's a lot of Feck. Seriously, this is a solid effort and a quick read.
That said, it's an extremely good screenplay with interesting characters and a great plot progression
This is a fun story w/ a chaotic plot. The characters are well-drawn in that sense of being uniquely familiar. The dialogue is a great example of banter that shows the character, yet reflects the track of the story.
Characters are nicely developed, and their action is logical and consistent . Some strange coincidences move the plot into higher gears, until all is resolved in the best way. Dialogue is interesting and amusing. There is enough physical action to follow the decisions that characters make, and it is sufficiently clear why everything happens the way it happens
I dig this SP. It's fun and you achieved exactly what you set out to do.
these guys are loveable screwups, but screwups nonetheless
I think you have been successful re. your stated aim. The characters are very endearing and sit naturally within the story. In a positive way it all seemed very familiar - probably due to UK TV plays and the type of films I see.
The dialogue was good but perhaps the f word can be used a little less.
Overall it has some cool attitude.
From the onset of the script, I was drawn into finding out how the two main characters wound up in such a predicament
this was a good screenplay. It was nicely paced and very well written. It reminded me a little of the sort of films Film Four used to produce in the late 80's/early 90's.
This script is a whole hell of a lot of fun. You have absolutely nailed the tone of this script, and I bought into it completely. I love the way these two have these lofty goals, and love even more the way things turn out for them. Spot on. The betting shop robbery was detailed pretty masterfully
Good luck going forward, I can really see this being made into a movie
The story, structure, dialogue, narrative, characters are all top notch! Congratulations on revising many potential flaws, without losing any of the humor or charm. I learned just how effective a good revision is here. What are we waiting for? It's ready to go. Two revised thumbs up!
Your two main characters were likeable. I thought that was a great twist with the surrounding of the bank.
Good screenplay. I enjoyed it.
First of all, this screenplay is ideal for a low budget, perhaps DV feature. You did a great job introducing the reader to a relatively new world through great imagery and wonderful setting descriptions. My main problem came with the ending. It was too "sugar coated"……The rest of the SP is excellent and I wish you luck in its future
I thought the dialogue was very realistic and natural.
A well written story but the beginning was typical and a little much....the characters were strongly written and i enjoyed your correct use of dialogue...the ending was well thought out and the script closed on the perfect note...good job on that..the angle that would make this sell is its uniqueness
I'd work on the ending and you might come up with the little independent movie that you're shooting for. Good luck –
Most of these are minor concerns to an otherwise well done script.
Nice work and good luck
This was a really cute story. Felt connection to the two leads, Tom and Jim. Even though they were described as losers, I felt a connection and an empathy for them. I was rooting for them. Loved the dialogue. Really liked the way the story unfolded, really drew me in. Liked the ending too. This story really worked for me. Liked the flashbacks. Overall, this was a charming story that hooked me.
I enjoyed this script. The two lead characters were funny and easy to empathize with. Audiences like it when the underdog bites back, so having two lovable losers going for broke gave the story a little edg
I read an earlier draft of this script, and thought it had a lot of potential. This draft took it up a notch. I liked the new opening with the robbery. It piqued my interest in Jim and Tom immediately, and it froze at just the right moment, creating an underlying suspense to the whole run up to the robbery. I laughed out loud in the trial robbery scene in the supermarket. The scene with the Asian youth was a nice touch, better than the old scene in the record store. Normally, I'd take exception to the length of some of your dialogue scenes, but the dialogue is so great I didn't mind them. It flowed so naturally.You have a real gift for dialogue and character. Tom and Jim are slackers with soul. Their desire and goal of a better life made their antics endearing. Even the secondary characters like Janet and Phillips were well drawn and vivid. Murphy was like a modern day Fagin, using young delinquents for his own gain. His comeuppance was satisfying. I can easily see this as a very successful indie. Great job!
I really like this screenplay, it';s different, but not because me myself can relate to this being that it's like about me sort of with the movies and music, etc. me and my friends always are coming up with plans that never work out yet some do but the ending was cool i thought was great and it was just easy and not boring to read.good stuff.
The dialogue runs smooth and these two characters do sound the part.
I continue to like this engaging script and its fun characters. The writer really brings this duo and their wacky friends to life. The incidences are a bit coincidental, but who cares cause this is rollicking fun. Watching them bungle their way through their crime spree was very entertaining. There are funny lines and bits throughout as when Tom's mother says the rules are that she takes care of the girls and the father 'gets the nutcase'. It's funny that 'We don't make sense'. We really care about Tom & Jim and are rooting for them. So, the ending was also good because we want to see them succeed. I still like that Utopia 1 is playing at the movies. Some phrases I didn't understand: 'celtic tiger me arse' and 'She was cat'. Consider changing them as they are lost on us yanks. Overall, a really fun and entertaining story. Hope it makes it to the big screen.
I quite liked this script. The desperation of Jim and Tom of trying to escape their small town was portrayed really well (so was the friendship between them). The dialogue was a major strong point of the script, except maybe when some of the blocks of pure swearing
I have read quite a few screenplays in my time. Some good and some bad. But I really enjoyed this low budget piece. Two likeable lads, trying to get through life, stuck in a small town. You lead them down the obvious path of crime, where I expected to see the usual movie stuff to happen. But it doesn't, I laughed out loud during the bookie raid and the shop (attempted) robbery.Dialogue is perfect. Reminded me of movies like the snapper (R. Doyle eat ye heart out) and must admit the swearing made me laugh, as I have known people who talk like that. I finished it wanting more, more from Jim & Tom, maybe a sequel. Great set-up starting with the raid, as it's makes us suspect they will die. Hope to see this on the DVD shelf someday.
Loved the dialog. Some laugh-out-loud one-liners. Loved the characters of Tommy and Jimmy. Vividly drawn. Easy to root for. Quick and smooth read..
.....some of the best dialog I've read on this site....
The writer obviously has a gift for capturing the dialogue of unemployed Irish twenty-somethings. It's fun to read, but there could be some pruning and more action here. Also, there are typos aplenty everywhere and some more polishing is definitely in order. this is one of those scripts where the point is their pointless lives, but sometimes they leave me feeling like it's all so...pointless? But still a fun read. --
I liked this script a lot and think it would work as an indie filmmaker's debut picture. The budget wouldn't be huge since the story relies completely on the friendship of its two leads
I have to admit that this script appealed to me. I liked the daily kind of look into the lives of Tommy & Jimmy and their slacker existence - there was fun in it. Reminded me a bit of the energy of The Commitments and The Snapper
This was a well written script. The dialogue had a nice natural feel to it. Tommy and Jimmy were likeable wasters who didn't come off as total losers.
Loved the dialogue….
I enjoyed spenging time with Jimmy and Tommy. The story moved well. I would have liked a couple more little adventures mixed into to the script to really get a taste of life in Ireland among the struggling.
To start with, I enjoyed the screenplay. While I am not Irish, it was cool to envision the actors speaking the lines with an Irish accent. The dialogue definitely seemed believable. It is definitely something that could be filmed low budget and be believable.
I liked the plot line of the two guys being stuck in a small town, which could actually be anywhere in the world, and through sheer luck being able to get out of there to build a better life for themselves.
Guarda Murphy's remark made me laugh out loud for two minutes. .. I was expecting the boys to get blown away. I'm glad they survived. I liked the chaps…..
…'The Lone Rangers' was a well-written screenplay with quick, snappy dialogue…..
…. This was one of the most enjoyable scripts I have read as late. The dialogue was truly realistic and captures the setting very well.I found myself laughing out loud during a couple of scenes (the supermarket , McDonalds, 8 track walkmans and the Butch and Sundance botch up in particular)……
…. Overall, a nice start and a great premise for an Indy film……
….. You've created two enjoyable lead characters and do a good job setting up their dead-end lives. There's a nice antagonistic dynamic between the two and the Guarda and a great payoff between the same Guarda and Mick that I wish was explored more. There are a lot of great characters and relationships (Jimmy's dad and cousin, Tommy's parents) that would enrich the plot if you pumped them up and gave them more active roles in your story…..
You got me hooked on these two boys right from page one. Although they were neer-do-wells, for some reason I liked them….. Stretch it out a bit, it has great comic potential. All in all a good read. Thanks
I almost didn't read because I've read two Irish theme SP's recently. Glad I did. This was funny. Characters, especially Tommy and Jimmy, were well written. Even though screw ups, they were charming in their way. Some good action shots with the boys but also a lot of talking. Might consider trimming some of the dialogue. The first robbery attempt was hilarious.
…. The dialogue is good. I could actually hear it this time. The characters are great and develop nicely. There are some very funny moment here, but there could be even more if some of the expository dialogue were replaced with scenes that show the events as they happen……
….. An entertaining screenplay, the story is well told. It has a good pace and wraps up nicely. The dialogue is sharp and witty, and the Irish accents and words were not too off-putting. I enjoyed the reference to other films, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Taxi Driver, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, to name a few. A movie buff’s dream…..
… I enjoyed this light-weight comedy a lot. I loved the intro, and was hooked until the end. The characters were fun, the dialogue fresh and genuinely humorous. The plot was good, but I think there is still room for improvement on the ending…… Otherwise -- good work. Beef up the ending a bit, and you're on your way.
A sweet, likeable, very makeable low-budget sp in need of some structure. The dialog and Irish-isms were wonderful and…. Tighten up the structure and these winning losers will really shine. –
.. I was into this story from beginning to end. Tom and Jim are embraceable characters that I really cared about, immediately. That's how strong your opening scene is. The stop action is well done and the dialogue is great. The scene at the McDonald's drive up is priceless and something we can all relate to….
.. This script works best when Jim and Tom are making a hash of things and there are some genuinely funny moments (the scene with Mr.Phillips reading out the lock combination and the Baryshnikov line had me laughing)….
.. This is a very nice, funny script. The Irish charm shines through the two main characters (Jim and Tom). They grow and become likeable as the story unfolds.I really liked how you started it with the robbery, hooked me from the start….….).I see from your notes you wanted to create a low budget movie. You achieved this beautifully. I could easier see thus as a first time directors dream. Great work……
This script moves right along. Great action packed beginning. It's comic from the get go as Jim objects to the reference to movies where the guys all bite it…..
…. This story is cute as hell. I loved watching these pathetic losers fumble their way through one misguided attempt after another- you created some great characters, I laughed outloud sometimes. My only criticism would be the very few typos……
… This had an unexpectedly sweet ending to it. I found myself actually really liking it, though it took me a while to warm up to the characters. The Irish brogue helped out a lot of the humor……
… your aim for a low budget flick (read indy) then you have succedded. I would just reccommend shortnening the pages a bit…
……. The Lone Rangers Review Take Three. It just keeps getting better and better. The action could still be more active. Try not abusing "is" so much. Don't write dialogue within your action. Break it out and write it as dialogue. "Is heard" and "can be seen" are unnecessary. If you wrote it, the audience heard and saw it. I love the dialogue and the funny visuals. I preferred the resort ending in the previous edition, but the new one isn't bad. There seems to be more tension in this version. Good job!…..
…. I loved it! This is a quirky tale of two life long friends in a small Irish town, trying desperately to get out. The humor is offered and not forced. This SP has a lasting charm and a consistant mood to it. I did find some things to criticize that may, or may not be of help. Boston's "More than a Feeling" will send your low budget through the roof….. I read this with a heavy Irish accent and a big American smile. I laughed my ass off on Pg 83! You are a very talented story teller. Two big thumbs up!
I just read " The Lone Rangers ". I thought it was really entertaining. I'm giving it EXCELLENT across the board. I cant post my review until tonite. Just figured I'd tell you . I hate waiting for reviews ( good or bad )! I laughed my ass off when the pellet gun set off all that shooting!
Very funny movie!.............................................
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