Sample Screenplay Analysis: Mission: Impossible 3

Introduction

You may ask, "Why Mission: Impossible 3?" Writing is not generally held to be the primary concern — or indeed a concern at all — of the business interests responsible for producing would-be blockbusters. Furthermore, sequels, franchises and adaptations are widely derided as proof that Hollywood lacks imagination and cares only for the profits supposedly promised by delivering reliable doses of familiarity and repetition to similarly unimaginative audiences.

I chose M:I 3 as the subject for this sample of my analysis and recommendations, however, for two simple reasons. First, I wanted to demonstrate that all movies, even seemingly mindless action spectacles, need to be meaningful and have something on their minds in order to function effectively as entertainments, and that misguided contempt for average moviegoers therefore benefits no one. And second, I wanted to discuss a movie that has been widely enough seen that there's a decent chance you'll be familiar with the story points I raise below. M:I 3, therefore, is perfect. It's a recent release, and partly because of the popularity of its franchise, it achieved fairly significant viewership despite some failings as a story — and yet alongside those failings, it also exhibits a number of strengths that are worth emulating and learning from.

The analysis and recommendations I deliver to all my clients follow the same general outline regardless of genre, because the fundamentals of storytelling never change.

1. Theme: The underlying idea that should connect and unify all elements of the story. Screenwriter and teacher William C. Martell defines a story as what happens when a character has to solve an inner problem in order to solve an outer problem. The theme encompasses the values or moral of the story, which is generally expressed through the character arc the protagonist goes through in order to resolve the narrative. Every movie requires a well-dramatized theme in order to emotionally engage and satisfy its audience.
2. Plot: The concept of the story and the sequence of events that forms the narrative, including but not limited to matters of act structure, pacing, genre expectations and marketability. Fundamentally, acts embodies the stages characters go through in trying to solve their problems.
3. Character: The strength, depth and distinctness of the characterizations, the degree to which the characters are relatable if they need to be, the quality of their relationships, and the length, story integration and effectiveness of their arcs. Character arcs and narrative conflict together provide theme and emotional resonance.
4. Dialogue: The quality of the dialogue, including but not limited to issues of whether it advances the conflict and enhances characterization while remaining consistent with established character. Does each character sound unique? Can a reader cover the characters' names on the page and still know who's speaking? Is the dialogue not only good, but memorable?
5. Form: The quality and seamlessness of the reading experience, and the writer's mastery of language and the screenplay form. Is the format correct? Are word choices effective? Does the script read well?
6. Recap: A summary of the salient points of my analysis and an itemization of the possible ways I suggest that problems with the story might be corrected. Because the topics of every section are intertwined with those of every other section, this recap is particularly helpful — it brings everything together in one place in a checklist the client can use to make sure he or she addresses every issue with the screenplay and gets the maximum value from my services.

The subject of every section is intertwined with the subject of every other section, so while I will use this outline to organize my analysis, each section will inevitably also discuss aspects of every other topic, as can be seen in the sample analyses on this site. That's why section six can be very helpful — it brings everything together in one place.

Because this is a sample rather than a full analysis paid for by a client, however, I am only going to provide the first two sections. Likewise, there will be a little more plot summary than in a standard analysis, and I will on occasion refer to time signatures rather than page numbers. In all ways, however, I will restrict myself to discussing the writing of the film rather than the acting, the cinematography or any other element that could not be found in the final screenplay.

So let's get to the sample analysis!