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Elston Gunn takes a look at a script called 5-25-77, guess what it's about
Hey folks, Harry here with Elston Gunn, who decided to take a look at a script and review it on up here. YEAH! Our lucky day, I love it when Elston gets to do more than just the Weekly Recaps... He's a great guy! Now, strange enough, I've read this as well. It's pretty good, however, I feel it isn't quite as strong a project as FANBOYS by Ernie Cline. Unfortunately, a bit of Ernie's sail gave out upon the sight of Jar Jar, personally... I've been trying to get him motivated again, he's got a great script... it would make a GREAT movie. If only he'd GET OFF HIS FUCKING ASS AND MAKE IT! Carpe Diem!
To call 5-25-77 a coming-of-age story would be an understatement. To
say it’s simply a comedy about STAR WARS would be wrong. To say it’s the
journey of a seventeen-year old boy named Pat who yearns to one day be a
filmmaker and who tries to share his love of films with the people in his
life would be a good start.
Patrick Read Johnson (director of ANGUS, creator of DRAGONHEART) has
written a script that will speak to film lovers and wannabe filmmakers
across the board. The lead character, Pat, is a daydreamer, yet he makes
things happen. He comes from a broken home with lots of siblings and goes
to a school where, of course, popularity is power, and those who are openly
passionate about movies are few and far between. When he was a boy, Pat
would make little movies in his backyard for his parents and friends to see.
His dad was his worst critic, but his mom was in awe. When Pat was older,
his mom arranged for him to go to California to visit a movie set and meet a
hero of his, who gave him an invitation to come back. Which brings us to
the morning of May 25, 1977 where Pat wakes up--from a dream that only a
sci-fi lover can have--with only one goal for the day: to see STAR WARS.
However, Pat didn’t just want to see STAR WARS, he wanted his
girlfriend and best friends to see it as well...or anyone for that matter.
It’s important for him to share what he knew would be a great experience
with these folks. But, sadly, no one can go when he wants to see it. Thus,
a long, wild journey across a small town in Chicago commences. Think along
the lines of AMERICAN GRAFFITI and less of DETROIT ROCK CITY. Pat’s
girlfriend has to work (for his nemesis, no less), there’s a mix-up with
some money, a funeral to attend, some love to be made, a hand to get unstuck
out of a girl’s mouth--a little Murphy’s law to say the least.
The script is funny. Heartwarming as it may be, it is a comedy after
all. There are fresh jokes and great use of old ones. Not to spoil
anything, but my favorite comes from a scene taking the parallels between
sex and baseball to a hilarious new definitive level. Timing is everything
and if it’s pulled off here, the scene will be a classic.
After some flashbacks, dream sequences, missed showings of STAR WARS
and a wild party, Pat finally admits why he is obsessed with watching and
making movies, and why he wants to escape his small town to live out his
ambitions--a good moment. I don’t want to give anything away, but near the
end of the script I wondered, “Will he ever get to see STAR WARS?”
Surprisingly, I also asked myself, “Does it really matter?” What did matter
were a couple of underlying messages: “family matters, friends matter, doing
what you absolutely have to do matters.” Pat didn’t want to be a filmmaker,
he *had* to be one. Yeah, it may be cliche, but even this cynic was letting
it sink in.
If I’m not mistaken, this script will be produced independently with
hopes of distribution somewhere down the line. I don’t know. What I do
know is if there is as much heart in the directing as there evidently was in
the writing, 5-25-77 could be a cult classic. It’s all there: love, hate,
high school, death, comedy, sex, friendship, family, confrontations, growing
up and life decisions--not to mention a fresh soundtrack (finally, a 70s-set
story without “Disco Inferno,” “I Will Survive” or the Village People) and,
of course, STAR WARS. I feel it’s almost a story tailored to the readers of
Ain’t It Cool News or Dark Horizons or Cinescape or Coming Attractions or
any website that devotes itself to movies and movie news. Geeks or not, we
love the movies, that’s why you’re reading this--odds are you’ve dreamed of
making them too. A friend of Pat’s told him, “To everyone else, movies are
something to do when you’re tired of real life. To you, real life is
something to do when you’re tired of watching movies.”
Just be on the lookout for this one. It at least helps show some of
you aren’t alone in cringing whenever someone says, “Hey, it’s just a
movie.” 5-25-77 was a good read and I anticipate it’s screen translation.
I was compelled to think of movies that have excited me like 2001 or PLANET
OF THE APES did for Pat--movies that also made me want to be on the other
side of the process. It’s hard. For me, SUPERMAN started it all, I
suppose. How about you?
Elston Gunn
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One fanboy's journey... A film geek's epiphany. That's pretty cool. Sounds promising and all, though I'm not big on a 70's compilation CD style soundtrack. Hopefully this film gets produced and made. I think the film that did it for and made me love movies was "Edward Scissorhands." That movie speaks greater volumes to me than any other film I've seen in my life. Eddy, I feel your pain. Mr. Sartre, doped up on cold medication...
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Apr 13, 2000 3:59:47 AM CDT
I know only tossers say I'm first but this is the first time I'v
by roger u. roundly
This sounds like a good movie. ( OK SO I ONLY POSTED THIS AT ALL COS I WAS FIRST).
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I love it when geeks like the ones above rush to type in 'I'm First' and then they see they have been pipped at the post. GUTTED!
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I've read it, and second Elston's opinion on the script, and hope it's makes its way onto the big screen. However, Elston forgot to mention some of the parallels with the father, (shown through a simple sentence, and a quick rise to anger) and how great the confrontation with his nemesis is, or the Monolith. It's a pretty good script, and I hope Patrick Johnson does do the film independently, because I'd hate to see his vision for it overpowered by some exectuive with no vision, and no comprehension of meaning.
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Revenge of the Nerds turned me into a film geek.This movie sounds good.I loved Detroit Rock City (i know the guy who robbed the store).I remember sleeping outside to see A New Hope Special Edition and that wasn't half the craze as in the 70's.Plus 70's music is my favorite.House of the Rising Sun!
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For those that DON'T know Patrick Reed Johnson personally, let me clue you in. If ever there was a case of a guy who thought his shit didn't stink, this is the guy. He leaked this so-called "story" to Ain't It Cool News WELL OVER A YEAR AGO (as well as to a dozen other websites) in a pathetic attempt to drum up support for a project that no studio in their right mind would support. Gary Kurtz this, Gary Kurtz that, the fact remains that NO ONE IS INTERESTED. Granted, the concept IS a good one (well, at least as far as this film fan is concerned), but the script itself defines self-indulgence. "Pat's story" is hopelessly lame and the character comes off as one of those guys, whether you're a fanboy or not, you'd just want to pound in high school. In any case, this guy, Patrick Reed Johnson, has made something of a career for himself over the years milking his so-called fame in AOL chatrooms in an effort to justify his would-be career. Spaced Invaders? Baby's Day Out? ANGUS? Should this guy even warrant your attention on any level? I think not.
But what the hell do I know?
Oh, if you wish to e-mail Mr Reed Johnson directly, you can e-mail him at Anamorph@aol.com.
Good luck. -
Sounds cool , but what does Mr. Lucas and his hive of lawyers think about this idea?
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Are there still people out there - adults no less - who honestly look to the hokum with respect? It may have pioneered many special effects but beyond that, SW is possibly one of the worst movies ever made.
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Star Wars is the one that turned me, baby. This looks really good. But I can just hear the radio commentary. Every single ass hole on 97.1 here in LA will be ripping on the film and how anybody who likes it or Star Wars is a no p***y-getting geek of magnitudinous proportions. Make this goddamn movie, and shove it in the face of those who don't understand.
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Well, of course EVERYTHING started with Star Wars that fateful summer (I was six). It was like seeing a color nobody had discovered yet. Things even a child's mind never imagined possible. And then when I was ten I saw E.T. and it was (at the time) the most emotional experience of my life. I WAS Elliott. I had a red-hooded sweatshirt, I played with Star Wars toys and Space Invaders and lived in the suburbs. And when I left the theater it occurred to me that, "Somebody made that. I just laughed and feared and cried harder than ever before, and somebody somewhere just made that up." Soon after, I read an interview with Henry Thomas (who as Elliott, was ME) and he said he'd always wanted to be in a Star Wars movie and he figured this was the closest he could get. And I thought, "Yeah! Me too!". And that's what I've been pursuing ever since.
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While I am one of the few people who can quote lines from Superman (no Fletch for me), for me, Star Wars is the movie that defined what going to the movies was all about.
I saw the movie on opening day. My mom, a woman with great insight, took us out of school to make the first matinee. The house was packed with a lot of adults and some kids. And I remember clearly that when the Death Star blew up the entire audience leapt to its feet. Never have I seen such a spontaneous group moment. Having seen what films can do, I've been in love with them ever since.
Now if someone could please tell me when Superman-the Movie is coming to DVD, I'd appreciate it. -
Henry Thomas should be Anakin!
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I know! It's crossed my mind too! I still wonder why Spielberg didn't cast him instead of Jeremy Davies in Pvt. Ryan.
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I would have to say watching an illegal copy of E.T. on my uncle's Beta machine while the movie was still in theatres introduced me to the wonder that is the movies. It wasn't until junior high that I actually started to have taste and think up better arguments against some of the negative reviews of Siskel & Ebert other than "But movies are just supposed to be fun!" And it was late high school and college where I started exposing myself to movies outside my safety zones. (Foreign films, art house, silent movies, etc.)***On another note: I don't care how self-promoting or egotistical whoever wrote this script is. I care if it's got potential to be a good movie.
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Is that like a tiny state in Nebraska?
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What the hell is your problem? You're the one who sounds bitter and jealous. As a matter of fact you sound like a real loser. Why would you want to come on TB and air out some obvious vendetta you have for Patrick? Oh yeah....cuz you're a L-O-S-E-R...who's not even brave enough to toss up his real email address.
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Now, let me get this straight...
My fervent critic Longbaugh, who I happen to know has yet to sell even one of his many "screenplays" and who thinks that he can be "inside" by buying drinks for writer/director Chris McQuarrie and tagging along with DrasticMedia.Com journalist Mark Ebner (who, as it happens, is apparently working with Harry on a book about... well... you'll see.) This same Longbaugh who once inhabited the fairly legendary chat-room known as The Hollywood Cafe in which he would publicly attack any and all comers while privately currying favor with same in instant messages... This same Longbaugh who would eviscerate my films in the room while asking me, behind the scenes, to please read HIS material... This same Longbaugh who asked me if I could show his work to some agents and managers (which I did-- at my peril, as it turns out. "What the hell is this crap?", the agents cried.) This same Longbaugh who really just wants to be a part of the same thing we've all been dreaming about being a part of for so long-- The world Harry has lived for for years-- The world most of you who come to this site feel a special emotional connection to-- (be it hope, frustration, rage, bemusement) THIS SAME LONGBAUGH is attacking a little film I'm trying to make that celebrates the hope and wonder associated with those celluloid flights of fancy that have moved us and thrilled us and inspired us all to think beyond the confines of our frustrating little towns, our frustrating little lives, indeed our frustrating little planet.
I mean, Harry's faint praise I can understand. After all, he's no longer as much an outsider as he once was, what with all the parties and arranged screenings and warming of guest seats opposite Roger Ebert (WHO, I might add LOVED Angus.) AND, let's not forget that the makers of FANBOYS actually WROTE HARRY INTO THEIR SCRIPT. (I'm just planning on shamelessly offering him the part of TODD, the assistant theater manager.) So it's understandable that Harry would like that project a bit better. Then again. Maybe my script isn't that good. Maybe It's not much better than Longbaugh's works. The point is this: Having made suffered through the making of 2 studio films, I'm trying to make something OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM. With PEOPLE outside the system. Sure, Gary Kurtz and Fred Roos are producing. But Gary's about as far outside the system as one can get these days, isn't he? (Some SW fans might say TOO far outside for their liking.)
I come from a little town in northern Illinois. I grew up with (in my mind) absolutely ZERO chance of ever even GETTING to Hollywood, let alone becoming a director. But I did it. And love or hate the films I did-- I did the best I could with the materials, budgets, scripts and producers I had to deal with.
On the day Longbaugh delivers the answer print of his first feature film he will finally be qualified to attack me. For now... he just sounds bitter.
As we pull our financing together, we'll be looking for production help (props, costumes, miniatures, period vehicles, extras, cast, FOOD) from all quarters.
As Longbaugh was kind enough to give out my e-mail address, please feel free to get in touch with me if you want to know more about the film.
Good luck to us all.
Patrick Read Johnson -
...and I think Patrick just shut your silly ass up.
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I'm only 15, so it makes perfect since that my movie awe began with everyone's favorite--Indiana Jones. I am still mortified that my mother let my brother and I view this film, but extremely glad. It has proven to be my favorite film of all time, just because of many happy childhood memories--Every halloween guess who I was. We named our cat Indy. I am pleased to announce that I have gone through three copies of the VHS, because the film virtually had decinigrated from being viewed so frequently. I just got the new (not really new--it came was re-released a few months ago) widescreen THX version, and for the first time I got to see this film in all its original glory. I wish those shit heads over at Paramount (or shall I say George Lucas :P) would hurry up and put the trilogy on DVD. I couldn't possibly give a shit about STAR WARS, I WANT INDIANA JONES! You know what would be REALLY cool? If they did a re-release of the INDIANA JONES trilogy in theatres as they did with the STAR WARS franchise--I'M FIRST IN LINE!
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Gary Kurtz is involved in producing this movie. He was Lucas's right hand man for episodes 4 and 5 and then dropped out before episode six. That's why you see cute little ewoks running around. He basically kept Lucas in line and kept the scripts cutesie free. He should be a great source for this movie! A small town in Chicago is the Merchandise Mart.
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Yes, that dates me. I was 10 and my dad took me to it. That's the one that made me love movies and it means I was 12 when the big enchilada came out in '77, prime Star Wars age. Great times
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Well...also coming from a small town in northern Illinois I say make the damn movie. Go against the grain. If they tell ya not to make it, make it anyways.
Longbaugh, hes just a pussy looking for attention. When is his directorial debut, hmmm...i thought so. What are his film credits...thought so too.
PRJ, make the movie, from what i hear its an incredible script that i would die to get my hands on.
And if you EVER need support from anyone in this area on this film just drop me a line at JohnnyRyall2001@aol.com...you know who i am... People here and everywhere else want to see this movie made and you are the guy to do it...
BaBa Booey to ya all...Matt -
Thank you, Patrick Reed Johnson. Your response has not only proven my point better than I could ever hope to, but also added a welcome bit of laughter in an otherwise uneventful day.
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Ghostbusters did it for me, but I think when I became dead serious about it was when i finished my own story and oh yes it will be a blockbuster when i get it made.
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Yep - Jake and Elwood... Landis arguably at his best... Ghostbusters was good, too - actually it was pretty goddamn spectacular and it was part of what made 1984 such a phenomenal year - but that came later.... oh, and Longbaugh - Spaced Invaders was a FUCKIN GREAT MOVIE!
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This sounds like it has the potential to be the biggest steaming pile of fanboy shit I have ever heard about. But on the other hand, I wish them all the luck. I'm sure many original concepts sounded like excrement before the idea actually is realized on the screen. May the force be with you...
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