Story. Screenplay. Sale.
Jonathan Empson writes ‘mercifully short reviews’, the best of which we republish here on The Story Department.
The Woman in Black Mercifully Short Review by Jonathan Empson Widowed and depressed lawyer Arthur (Daniel Radcliffe) is sent to a remote village to sort out the paperwork in a deceased woman’s crumbling old manor house. There, instead of supermarket coupons and catalogues full of velour comfortwear (this is vaguely Edwardian in setting) he discovers … Read more
A Dangerous Method Mercifully Short Review by Jonathan Empson Set in the decade before WWI, this is the story of Carl Jung’s (Michael Fassbender) early application of Sigmund Freud’s new theories of psychoanalysis, as Freud didn’t seem to have much interest himself in actually treating patients. (While Freud seems to be played by James … Read more
Man On A Ledge Mercifully Short Review by Jonathan Empson Weathered, chiselled, stony, of pleasing proportions but getting trampled all over… No, I’m not talking about the ledge, I’m talking about Sam Worthington, playing Nick Cassidy, the man standing on it. We first meet Nick as he checks into a Manhattan hotel, orders a … Read more
The Artist Mercifully Short Review by Jonathan Empson George Valentin (think Gary Cooper+Rudolph Valentino+pencil moustache) is a megastar of silent films when he meets wannabe starlet Peppy Miller on the set of his latest action caper. There’s a spark between them but George is already married, albeit to a woman who’s as cheery as … Read more