I took a film studies class this last semester, and it was the best and worst decision of my life. It was great because not only was my professor the bees knees, but I also found a passion for movies and now have the ability to look at them in a whole new way. It was awful because I now find myself over-analyzing every freaking movie I watch. We had to read this fun book that basically tells you that every movie has the same basic outline, and once you know this, you can’t un-know it. You’re welcome, I suppose.
Blake Snyder’s "Save The Cat! Goes To The Movies The Screen Writer’s Guide To Every Story Ever Told" is an extremely well-written book. Snyder goes over, in detail, every category of every movie. These categories are Monster in the House, Golden Fleece, Out of the Bottle, Dude With a Problem, Rites of Passage, Buddy Movie, Whydunit, Fool Triumph, Institutionalized, and Superhero.
Each of these categories is more or less a formula for the ideal sci-fi movie, or the classic comedy movie, for example. He thoroughly explains why each movie falls into those specific categories while giving a synopsis and informing the reader what they can do if they want to write that type of show. This book is excellent for anyone because the reader can jump around to get the information they need. Snyder covers a variety of different films and explains the formula for each movie genre.
After reading Snyder’s book, I find myself over-analyzing every movie I watch. I find myself categorizing the movie and then picking out the specific details that made that movie fit into the category it was in. For example, the first time I watched Joel and Ethan Coen’s "Fargo," I simply found it a good movie. However, after reading Snyder’s book and analyzing the movie again, I was able to figure out for myself what made "Fargo" the “Cop Whydunit” film it was.
A Whydunit film is a film “in which the audience knows the 'secret' and is waiting for our by-the-book detective to catch up.” After re-watching the movie, I must agree. I noticed how, in the movie, the audience sees the criminals kidnap the babies and take them to a cabin the cops go out and look for the criminals. Additionally, there is a scene where the criminals are driving, and their car breaks down, so they get out and walk up the road. Just as they are out of sight, the protagonist (the cop) drives up and investigates the left-behind car, not knowing it's the criminals'. She leaves the scene when she gets a more important lead on the case.
Snyder’s distinct writing style was both professional and laid back, which made the book easy to follow. It was incredibly informative. He gives you a rundown of what happens in each movie, sometimes right down to the exact minute something occurs, that makes a film fall into the category it does. Snyder also gives tips and debunks myths about each of the 10 categories, and provides screenwriter tricks and tips to follow in order to write a successful movie.
Each formula Snyder has, I've noticed, is a lot like that of author John Green. Green has figured out a specific formula that allows him to have best-selling novels. In each novel, there is always the protagonist/narrator who is usually male and socially awkward. The female protagonist is out of the males league, but she ends up falling for him. Someone always dies, and some fight happens once the protagonists hit disillusionment. This is the same in almost every John Green novel. Much like how Snyder points out how every category of the movie is the same, yet people continue to watch and enjoy them.
"Save The Cat! Goes To The Movies The Screen Writer’s Guide To Every Story Ever Told" provides insight into the world behind the movies we all know and love. The formulas he has noticed are even comparable to those of author John Green, in which things are always the same with some variation but always the same outcome, and people still watch them over and over again. Throughout the novel Snyder keeps a consistent voice and a connection to his audience keeping the reader engaged. It is also a book in which you do not have to read in its entirety to get the information you need.
You can skip around to find what you need, or you can read the entire book because it all flows so nicely. This book is suitable for anyone who enjoys movies to read if they want to get an inside scoop on the film business, if they are writing a movie themselves, or even if they are forced to read it for a class and write a three page analysis on it, everyone will find it somewhat entertaining and informative. Although after reading the book they will never be able to enjoy happily watching a movie ever again because they will sit there and analyze it until they find no enjoyment in the film they are watching and analyzing.
