Am I wrong to think the premise of this article is wrong?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/movies/18story.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
I see stories all over the place, with differing narrative structure, differing themes; sprawling epics spanning dozens of years and containing scores of characters down to personal dramas spanning seconds. There are as many ways to tell a story as there are minds to conceive. Why does Hollywood think the story is dying? Have they looked outside their windows? Have they talked to anybody? Have they read anything?
One thing I enjoyed about The Queen was that one of the most important characters in the film was the British public. Their outpouring of love for Diana was also a show of fealty for the monarchy, made manifest by the scene at Diana's memorial where the little girl offers flowers to the Queen. If you're not careful, you might forget the role the people played in that movie, lost as you are in the Victorian opulence and comical Royal manners. I enjoyed that revelation as I always do; that point in the story where things make sense, and you find out a little more than you expected to find in that thang.
There is nothing wrong with the story; the story is just fine. Well crafted, entertaining stories litter the planet like grass, and as sure as the sun comes up on this lush ball of rock, there will be more. What Hollywood wants is a reliable revenue stream.
I see stories all over the place, with differing narrative structure, differing themes; sprawling epics spanning dozens of years and containing scores of characters down to personal dramas spanning seconds. There are as many ways to tell a story as there are minds to conceive. Why does Hollywood think the story is dying? Have they looked outside their windows? Have they talked to anybody? Have they read anything?
One thing I enjoyed about The Queen was that one of the most important characters in the film was the British public. Their outpouring of love for Diana was also a show of fealty for the monarchy, made manifest by the scene at Diana's memorial where the little girl offers flowers to the Queen. If you're not careful, you might forget the role the people played in that movie, lost as you are in the Victorian opulence and comical Royal manners. I enjoyed that revelation as I always do; that point in the story where things make sense, and you find out a little more than you expected to find in that thang.
There is nothing wrong with the story; the story is just fine. Well crafted, entertaining stories litter the planet like grass, and as sure as the sun comes up on this lush ball of rock, there will be more. What Hollywood wants is a reliable revenue stream.