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Nebulous

Well, the Nebulas are up all over the place, & it makes me wonder: how on EARTH do you choose which is the better script out of these movies?

1. The Incredibles, by Brad Bird (Pixar, Nov 2004)
2. The Butterfly Effect, by J. Mackye Gruber and Eric Bress (New Line Cinema, Jan 2004)
3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, by Charlie Kaufman & Michel Gondry (Anonymus Content/Focus Features, Mar 2004)
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien (New Line Cinema, Dec 2003)

So I was very much not a fan of The Butterfly Effect, but as to the others — whoa! Fabulous movies. How do you choose just one? Is Eternal Sunshine better because it’s off-beat, is The Incredibles better because it’s good, old-fashioned narrative? Is LOTR the best because it has so much darn story in it?

They’re all excellent, all have different purposes & — consequently — different effects. And awards are interested in effects, right? Awards mark what reacted most strongly in the audience, what resonated best, what left an impression? I think they do, anyhow. Of course, technical prowess feeds into effect, but it’s EFFECT we’re all after, as artists.

Are we to say that heartwarming re-affirmation of family values is the most desirable outcome? Or do we say grown-up acceptance of life’s inevitable tragedy is more valuable because it makes us think? Or epic vastness and a storyline that satisfies is our greatest goal?

Seriously. Not possible.