How to ID Award-Deserving Storytelling?

Some of us might know why we think Black Swan or The Social Network is good story-telling. Often times we can feel it. But in Hollywood, story-tellers are busy looking at the architecture of the story. We’re analyzing the moving parts, using words like character arcs, climax, theme, and rising tension.

And knowing a little more about these terms and their causal relationship with each other, can not only help you decide what you think about the recent Award nominees, but you’ll sound pretty smart on the upcoming Award nights evaluating the array of candidates.

1) Theme

Wait, does every movie need a theme? Well, no, but every good movie should have something to say. Some point-of-view. And that’s the theme. The message. The moral. We’ve been graced before with poignant movies like The Godfather, where the theme is: Using power and might to protect a family only destroys the family. Even our pulpy flicks like Star Wars or Harry Potter thematically state how good can only triumph over evil with courage and teamwork. So when you think about a movie like Black Swan, True Grit, The Social Network, The King’s Speech, The Fighter, or 127 Hours, what are these movies saying? What's their message?

2) Climax

You know that big final moment at the end of the third act that brings all of the questions of the movie to a close. That's the climax and the way the character finally handles the story conflict dictates the theme. In the Godfather, Michael’s final choice to close the door on his wife shows how he has closed the door on his own family, killing the family man he once was, and becoming the Godfather. How do the choices that the protagonists face at the climax of the award pics affect their theme? What is Social Network saying when “Mark Zuckerberg” allows his best friend to be cut out of the company? What is Black Swan saying when Nina takes the stage for her final performance?

3) Character Arc

Not every movie has a character arc, Zack. Well, did you know that the lack of change is also an arc? Like when a character maintains his willpower in the face of adversity. He didn’t change, but he was tested, and he emerged without changing or caving. Or a character that reveals their true nature. That’s an arc too. A character arc is simply the relationship between who the protagonist is at the start of the movie and who they are at the end. And their final test that determines the nature of their arc: you guessed it, the climax! And the lesson they learn or that is demonstrated by their actions: right again, it’s the theme! How does Nina Sayers, Rooster Cogburn, Mark Zuckerberg, King George VI, Mickey and Dickie, or Aron Ralston change by the end of their stories? What does that say about the theme?

4) Rising Tension

What, that the movie gets more exciting as we get towards the end? Yes. But there is another side to this. A well-executed rising tension doesn’t just keep you wanting to know what will happen next. It presents you with two specific options. The good ending and the bad ending. And you suddenly find yourself hoping for the good ending and fearing for the bad one. And it’s that ping-pong game of expectations that causes you to wring your hands during a good movie. Ambiguity is not a movie’s friend, because it prevents the audience from imagining the horror of a bad conclusion and the joy of a good one. And guess what? This hope and fear directly ties in to the two possible ways a hero can handle the climax, which determines their arc and decides the theme. So connected! So what are our specific hopes and fears for the five previous mentioned award pic characters?

When you stop to think about how the craft of that story was put together, you might suddenly realize while you may love MOVIE A because of some specific element, MOVIE B is actually put together with a lot more finesse. You can certainly appreciate it. And again, you’ll sound great on Award’s nights.

I'll be evaluating these films more closely, but I'd love to know what you think about the Awards' candidates and which movies you think deserve notice and discussion. Leave me comments or write me an email.