re: What are the top screenplays ever written?

quote:

---

Also, Social Network

---

I’m a Sorkin nerd, so didn’t want to litter my list with more than just the one of his, but Social Network is outstanding. I tried to throw some examples that were a bit different or at least from different eras. It’s why I mentioned Sunset Boulevard and not Casablanca.

I straight up just had a brain fart leaving Chinatown out. I love Robert Towne’s work. Polanski’s too, though I guess you’re not supposed to say that out loud. Speaking of Chinatown, though, I watched a documentary on Orson Welles the other day and the sad end to his career.

He was working on a film indefinitely that couldn’t get about a director working on a film that couldn’t get made—very meta. Anyway, John Huston played the protagonist which was clearly Welles. Apparently they were great friends. Had to have been to put up with the—I hate to say—“production” of this “film.” Welles never finished it, but apparently someone eventually put it together. You can see it on Netflix now—it’s called “The Other Side of the Wind.”

Tarantino writes great scripts, obviously, but since he directs em, it’s hard to know how many changes he makes on set—if any. So I’d probably choose True Romance of his since Tony Scott directed it, and the dialogue is still great.

Hard to pick a favorite Charlie Kaufman screenplay too, though I think I agree with Jay and Eternal Sunshine.

The Prestige is one of my all time favorite films, so could go with that for Jonathan Nolan, but Memento had to be just about perfectly written to be executed on screen.

Thanks for all the great responses.