Report Card: "Dallas Buyers Club".

Yes folks, it's that time of year again.
The studios have sent me their screeners with care.
So it's sure that my report cards soon will be there.

For the uninitiated, Report Cards are my way of reviewing films or plays as I witness them. attempting to give the reader as little plot information as possible to be able to make an informed judgment as to whether or not he or she should make the effort to see them.
I do this because I go out of my way every year to be avoid being bombarded with clips and other reviewers' plot summaries so I can be surprised by what I see.
I also try to present you with a screenwriter's point of view.
Something most reviewers are incapable of providing.
If you agree with what I have written after you see any of these films, Report Cards can be a valuable tool for you.
That's my intent.
So, unless something far more fascinating to write about comes along in the next few weeks, this space will be bombarded with Report Cards.

The first film is "Dallas Buyers Club""
It stars Matthew McConaughey.
Every year, it seems to be in somebody's deal to appear in every movie.
This year, it's Matthew McConaughey.
I've seen about five films so far, and he has been in three of them.
The film is about the rise of the  AIDS epidemic in the 1980's.
All the way back to Rock Hudson.
The ad campaign, from what I've seen of it, is quite violent.
This is a bit of a mislead.
There is maybe a minute-and-a-half of violence in the whole movie.
And minor violence at that. 

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Extremely.
A+.

Compelling even?

Occasionally.
B+.

Is it controversial?

Quite.   Questions of morality jump out at you from all over the place.
A+..

Is it a story worth telling?

Absolutely
A.

Is it good storytelling?

Very. It starts a little slow and depressing, but really snowballs after that.
A.

Is it well written?

Very well written.
A.

Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?

All of the above.
A.

Is it too long? Too short?

Just right.
A.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Yes, and yes.
A.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Nothing predictable.  I was quite ignorant about the subject,  and the particular aspects of it that they got into, and found it to be a very positive  education.
A+.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

There is quite a bit to chew on.
A+

Is it funny?

When it tries to be, which isn't often.
A.

Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?

I could have waited to see it on HBO..
C.

Is it impressive ?

Quite.
A.

Overall grade: A.

This is a very impressive film.
We're off to a very good start..

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not
e-books. But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one. If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

******