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4th Year Anniversary Variant Cover Editions
Today marks the fourth anniversary of my journalistic life. It seems like yesterday that I started doing this. Over the course of four beautiful years, I've reviewed tons of movie scripts, covered a lot of upcoming movies and interviewed some great film industry individuals. I also gained access to dozens of screenplays, viewed for free a lot of flicks before anyone else and met some interesting contacts in the movie business. The benefits of this 'cool' hobby have been overwhelming. A lot of folks in my real 'life' have criticized my column writing as futile and useless. To them: Up Yours! I'll definitely have the last laugh. My proudest achievement has been surrounded myself with great writers. Let me introduce you to the latest addition to my team, Miss Jones. A former Wellesley and MIT Student, this foxy lady can write even though she hails from the middle of nowhere, Little Rock, Arkansas. She will make her presence felt in this very column. Behold her first ever script review...
Maid in Manhattan Script Review
"Cinderella, move out the way girl! There’s a new under appreciated lower income bracket beauty in town. She’s hip. She’s Latina. She’s a single mother, and she’s (you guessed it) a chambermaid. The prince, well, he’s a politician. I can overlook such a shortcoming, especially when considering this politician will be played by Ralph Fiennes. Although he has a charming persona and British accent in his favor, how Fiennes will favor in this easygoing quite mindless role, I'm eager to see. I must admit from the start, though, I can't wrap my mind around that idea just yet. Marisa Ava Maria Ventura will be brought to life by Jennifer Lopez in what should be as good a fit as her with the former Puff Daddy. Okay, give me a break. I'm not the only one who thinks they should be together! Word has it that the movie will be called Maid in Manhattan, but whether we're looking at a chambermaid or a maid in Manhattan, at the end of the day, Marisa Ventura will be (you guessed it) a maid. So, the sustenance.
Maid in Manhattan, directed by Wayne Wang (Joy Luck Club), is undoubtedly a modern day Cinderella/Pretty Woman rip off, although it manages to also tie in that (reporter) question and (VIP) answer scene indignant to Roman Holiday. The same one from which Notting Hill also took a few nibbles. This script peeks into the life of an ‘unself-conscious’ Hispanic beauty who works as a high class hotel maid. She happens to be pretty darn good at it too, and is in fact, being considered for middle management. Christopher Marshall, a handsome assemblyman hailing from Albany, NY, unknowingly jeopardizes that. Following the rules of a good fairy tale, he and Marisa fall in love at first sight. Chris catches Marisa in the midst of her illegally trying on a hotel guest’s Gucci dress, which apparently brings out all of her wondrous assets. The only problem is that Marisa not only borrows this guest’s dress to get a date with Chris, but also her name and social status. A revered politician who dates a maid may present a bit of a political hardship, or so they think, under current societal pressures. Chris eventually finds out, they argue, they make up, and then live happily ever after. Sorry to tell you, parents really do not lie when they say, "there is nothing new under the sun."
Outside of that commonly accepted notion, screenwriter John Hughes meanders around this old theme in a most refreshingly entertaining way. After all, this is the same man who bestowed upon the world The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, among other 1980’s teenager/young adult cult classics. Hughes brings to the script a subtle focus on economic disparity and even delights the reader with a young Hispanic genius-in-training, Marisa’s son, Ty Ventura. Being the societal rebel I am, I applaud the effort. To say that this screenplay was both easy to read and visually stimulating would be an understatement. Hughes’ somewhat novelesque approach to scene and character setups makes for a quick and giggle intensive read.
Right from the beginning, the reader/audience should be hooked. We first meet Marisa in a rundown New York apartment sect that has been effectively contrasted to money bank Manhattan. She and her son get ready for work and school/camping trip, respectively.
MARISA
"Abuse of Power: The New Nixon Tapes"?
You're going camping, Ty. C’mon.
He goes into his messy stuff pile and pulls out a Gameboy.
TY
Here.
As he ties his shoe.
TY (cont’d)
Did you know that Paul Simon wrote "American
Tune" as a reaction to Nixon’s election?
MARISA
No. You taking the puzzles?
Not only are you probably curious as to who this ten year old Nixon aficionado is, but quite frankly, I'm sure you want more laughs. No worries. Maid In Manhattan is full of them relayed via dialogue, awkward moments, and what I envisioned to be highfalutin characters who would be just funny to look at. While Marisa is a fun and loveable character with a bit of an attitude, displayed here while talking to a difficult sales clerk:
MARISA
... Well, being that we're sisters in the service
business and all, and being that I can detect
bullshit from bullshit, and being I'm in kind
of a rush, I'd say you Romeo you get off at
5:00, hang up the phone, and start making
sales, which is after all the reason you’re
here. We've all got lives to live. You know
what I'm sayin.
Marisa rides on the back of her best coworker friend, Steph. Honestly, if it weren't for Steph and a few other characters we meet, this script would be about as bland as steamed white rice... although that does have a hint of this yummy pasty flavor if you close your eyes and try real hard.
ANYWAY, let me introduce you to Steph.
INT. HOTEL-LOCKER ROOM BATHROOM-DAY
A lineup of stalls. A smoke alarm dangling from the ceiling, disarmed. And a cloud of smoke in the air.
MARISA
STEPH?!? You in here!?
Marisa trucks down line and bangs on the last stall open. Steph sitting on the closed toilet, smoking.
See. You just have to love Steph. Everyone either knows, or has come in contact with at least one Steph. If not, you’re probably her.
As of now you've noticed that I have yet to mention Ralph Fiennes character, Chris Marshalls, in depth. Unfortunately, he simply isn't that much of joyride. He’s very much the people’s politician, in contrast to his self-centered sidekick, Jerry. Alright. So, Chris showcases his ability to speak French in a comedic exchange between him and two women who are known as the gossiping French poodles, and he even spits out two besa me’s in a lust ridden episode with his newfound Latina love. The besa me’s obviously do the trick, as she was giving it all up shortly thereafter.
Still, Chris is just too ordinary. This character is depicted as the typical nice American politician who longs for a more intimate relationship with his New York constituents. He also takes on the role of surrogate father figure to Ty which is heartwarming and all, but still, it’s ordinary!
CHRIS
... You know, Ty. Your mom was telling me
that you gave a speech the other day
and it didn't go so great.
TY
Hated it...
CHRIS
So do I sometimes.
TY
What do you do?
He talks quietly. Bringing Ty aside...
And he reaches into his pocket and pulls out just the tip of a twisted paperclip.
CHRIS
I hold onto this.
Naturally, this little speech helps Ty to find his inner strength as a public speaker later on in the script. The PG-13 opportunity couldn't be passed up, I'm sure. Nevertheless! Humor is this movie’s strong point. Perhaps, the ostentatious setting that this movie requires will also give it weight. Most of the movie is setup in what are 5 star hotels having 6-7 figure guests who rattle off fashion designers’ names as if they were close associates. Gucci outfits here, Donna Karan stockings there, Asprey and Devon jewelry everywhere! So, do be on the look out for what should be a very glamorous looking movie. And, of course, J. Lo and Fiennes going head to head, beautiful body to beautiful body. How will this work? I don't doubt the ability of this duo to deliver, but I am just a bit soured by Fiennes' character, as I mentioned earlier. More romantic stimuli to further develop Chris into other than the trite and open minded politician would have sufficed, or maybe my being a hopeless romantic is shining through all too clearly. Either way, I must admit, the plot works.
Having said all that, I make it to the bottom line, which is, should you pay to see this sometime in December when it is slated to frolic in movie theaters across the country? Ask yourself this: Would you pay to see a funnier The Wedding Planner? Are you an avid damsel in monetary distress movie patron? Would you like to be enlightened about the life of a maid and the hotel caste system as a result? Are you just a plain hopeless romantic? If you answered yes to any of the above, you should definitely see this movie. For you won't be disappointed."
(This has been a Miss Jones production.)
Stay tuned...
That's all folks...
Jean-François Allaire (aka DeadPool)
Questions, comments, praise etc. Email me at deadpool@tnmc.org
Jean-François Allaire is TNMC's first columnist. At only 24 years old he has become a respected entertainment journalist, with his columns appearing in Corona's Coming Attractions and Scr(i)pt magazine. He also writes a monthly column in Screenwriters Monthly entitled 'The Last Word.' Hailing from Montreal this young writer is determined to dig up all the details on the movies before they hit your local theater. If you're part of a movie production then you really need to be talking to him.
4th Year Anniversary Variant Cover Editions
Today marks the fourth anniversary of my journalistic life. It seems like yesterday that I started doing this. Over the course of four beautiful years, I've reviewed tons of movie scripts, covered a lot of upcoming movies and interviewed some great film industry individuals. I also gained access to dozens of screenplays, viewed for free a lot of flicks before anyone else and met some interesting contacts in the movie business. The benefits of this 'cool' hobby have been overwhelming. A lot of folks in my real 'life' have criticized my column writing as futile and useless. To them: Up Yours! I'll definitely have the last laugh. My proudest achievement has been surrounded myself with great writers. Let me introduce you to the latest addition to my team, Miss Jones. A former Wellesley and MIT Student, this foxy lady can write even though she hails from the middle of nowhere, Little Rock, Arkansas. She will make her presence felt in this very column. Behold her first ever script review...
Maid in Manhattan Script Review
"Cinderella, move out the way girl! There’s a new under appreciated lower income bracket beauty in town. She’s hip. She’s Latina. She’s a single mother, and she’s (you guessed it) a chambermaid. The prince, well, he’s a politician. I can overlook such a shortcoming, especially when considering this politician will be played by Ralph Fiennes. Although he has a charming persona and British accent in his favor, how Fiennes will favor in this easygoing quite mindless role, I'm eager to see. I must admit from the start, though, I can't wrap my mind around that idea just yet. Marisa Ava Maria Ventura will be brought to life by Jennifer Lopez in what should be as good a fit as her with the former Puff Daddy. Okay, give me a break. I'm not the only one who thinks they should be together! Word has it that the movie will be called Maid in Manhattan, but whether we're looking at a chambermaid or a maid in Manhattan, at the end of the day, Marisa Ventura will be (you guessed it) a maid. So, the sustenance.
Maid in Manhattan, directed by Wayne Wang (Joy Luck Club), is undoubtedly a modern day Cinderella/Pretty Woman rip off, although it manages to also tie in that (reporter) question and (VIP) answer scene indignant to Roman Holiday. The same one from which Notting Hill also took a few nibbles. This script peeks into the life of an ‘unself-conscious’ Hispanic beauty who works as a high class hotel maid. She happens to be pretty darn good at it too, and is in fact, being considered for middle management. Christopher Marshall, a handsome assemblyman hailing from Albany, NY, unknowingly jeopardizes that. Following the rules of a good fairy tale, he and Marisa fall in love at first sight. Chris catches Marisa in the midst of her illegally trying on a hotel guest’s Gucci dress, which apparently brings out all of her wondrous assets. The only problem is that Marisa not only borrows this guest’s dress to get a date with Chris, but also her name and social status. A revered politician who dates a maid may present a bit of a political hardship, or so they think, under current societal pressures. Chris eventually finds out, they argue, they make up, and then live happily ever after. Sorry to tell you, parents really do not lie when they say, "there is nothing new under the sun."
Outside of that commonly accepted notion, screenwriter John Hughes meanders around this old theme in a most refreshingly entertaining way. After all, this is the same man who bestowed upon the world The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, among other 1980’s teenager/young adult cult classics. Hughes brings to the script a subtle focus on economic disparity and even delights the reader with a young Hispanic genius-in-training, Marisa’s son, Ty Ventura. Being the societal rebel I am, I applaud the effort. To say that this screenplay was both easy to read and visually stimulating would be an understatement. Hughes’ somewhat novelesque approach to scene and character setups makes for a quick and giggle intensive read.
Right from the beginning, the reader/audience should be hooked. We first meet Marisa in a rundown New York apartment sect that has been effectively contrasted to money bank Manhattan. She and her son get ready for work and school/camping trip, respectively.
MARISA
"Abuse of Power: The New Nixon Tapes"?
You're going camping, Ty. C’mon.
He goes into his messy stuff pile and pulls out a Gameboy.
TY
Here.
As he ties his shoe.
TY (cont’d)
Did you know that Paul Simon wrote "American
Tune" as a reaction to Nixon’s election?
MARISA
No. You taking the puzzles?
Not only are you probably curious as to who this ten year old Nixon aficionado is, but quite frankly, I'm sure you want more laughs. No worries. Maid In Manhattan is full of them relayed via dialogue, awkward moments, and what I envisioned to be highfalutin characters who would be just funny to look at. While Marisa is a fun and loveable character with a bit of an attitude, displayed here while talking to a difficult sales clerk:
MARISA
... Well, being that we're sisters in the service business and all, and being that I can detect bullshit from bullshit, and being I'm in kind of a rush, I'd say you Romeo you get off at 5:00, hang up the phone, and start making sales, which is after all the reason you’re here. We've all got lives to live. You know what I'm sayin.
Marisa rides on the back of her best coworker friend, Steph. Honestly, if it weren't for Steph and a few other characters we meet, this script would be about as bland as steamed white rice... although that does have a hint of this yummy pasty flavor if you close your eyes and try real hard.
ANYWAY, let me introduce you to Steph.
INT. HOTEL-LOCKER ROOM BATHROOM-DAY
A lineup of stalls. A smoke alarm dangling from the ceiling, disarmed. And a cloud of smoke in the air.
MARISA
STEPH?!? You in here!?
Marisa trucks down line and bangs on the last stall open. Steph sitting on the closed toilet, smoking.
See. You just have to love Steph. Everyone either knows, or has come in contact with at least one Steph. If not, you’re probably her.
As of now you've noticed that I have yet to mention Ralph Fiennes character, Chris Marshalls, in depth. Unfortunately, he simply isn't that much of joyride. He’s very much the people’s politician, in contrast to his self-centered sidekick, Jerry. Alright. So, Chris showcases his ability to speak French in a comedic exchange between him and two women who are known as the gossiping French poodles, and he even spits out two besa me’s in a lust ridden episode with his newfound Latina love. The besa me’s obviously do the trick, as she was giving it all up shortly thereafter.
Still, Chris is just too ordinary. This character is depicted as the typical nice American politician who longs for a more intimate relationship with his New York constituents. He also takes on the role of surrogate father figure to Ty which is heartwarming and all, but still, it’s ordinary!
CHRIS
... You know, Ty. Your mom was telling me
that you gave a speech the other day
and it didn't go so great.
TY
Hated it...
CHRIS
So do I sometimes.
TY
What do you do?
He talks quietly. Bringing Ty aside...
And he reaches into his pocket and pulls out just the tip of a twisted paperclip.
CHRIS
I hold onto this.
Naturally, this little speech helps Ty to find his inner strength as a public speaker later on in the script. The PG-13 opportunity couldn't be passed up, I'm sure. Nevertheless! Humor is this movie’s strong point. Perhaps, the ostentatious setting that this movie requires will also give it weight. Most of the movie is setup in what are 5 star hotels having 6-7 figure guests who rattle off fashion designers’ names as if they were close associates. Gucci outfits here, Donna Karan stockings there, Asprey and Devon jewelry everywhere! So, do be on the look out for what should be a very glamorous looking movie. And, of course, J. Lo and Fiennes going head to head, beautiful body to beautiful body. How will this work? I don't doubt the ability of this duo to deliver, but I am just a bit soured by Fiennes' character, as I mentioned earlier. More romantic stimuli to further develop Chris into other than the trite and open minded politician would have sufficed, or maybe my being a hopeless romantic is shining through all too clearly. Either way, I must admit, the plot works.
Having said all that, I make it to the bottom line, which is, should you pay to see this sometime in December when it is slated to frolic in movie theaters across the country? Ask yourself this: Would you pay to see a funnier The Wedding Planner? Are you an avid damsel in monetary distress movie patron? Would you like to be enlightened about the life of a maid and the hotel caste system as a result? Are you just a plain hopeless romantic? If you answered yes to any of the above, you should definitely see this movie. For you won't be disappointed."
(This has been a Miss Jones production.)
Stay tuned...
That's all folks...
Jean-François Allaire (aka DeadPool)
Questions, comments, praise etc. Email me at deadpool@tnmc.org
Jean-François Allaire is TNMC's first columnist. At only 24 years old he has become a respected entertainment journalist, with his columns appearing in Corona's Coming Attractions and Scr(i)pt magazine. He also writes a monthly column in Screenwriters Monthly entitled 'The Last Word.' Hailing from Montreal this young writer is determined to dig up all the details on the movies before they hit your local theater. If you're part of a movie production then you really need to be talking to him.
