CS Weekly Archive> DVD > 12/14/07

A Fixer-Upper

by jason davis

Screenplay by Drew Pillsbury

Though obscured by an indulgent screenplay that revels in out-of-sequence storytelling and pointless dips into meta-fiction, Broken has at its heart a poignant story of reflection that suggests writers Drew Pillsbury and Jeff Lester know a thing or two about getting distracted from their goals.  Hope (Heather Graham) moves to Los Angeles from the Midwest to pursue a music career and finds herself, one drug-abusing relationship later, waiting tables in an all-night diner.  The notion that she sees each of her past sins in the faces of her customers is an interesting one, but the script tries too hard to be clever with its illustration of a life gone off the tracks.  Unlike Memento, the fragmented timeline makes no comment on the story, and the scenes of Hope’s self-destructive life with the unstable Will (Jeremy Sisto) are interspersed with objective reality and Hope’s imaginings to create a convoluted mess that could have been more engaging if the storytellers weren’t so concerned with cheap theatrics.  There are no supplements.

Broken
First Look Pictures
Not rated; 97 min.
$26.98

Buy it now

Jason Davis has been the DVD Manager for CS Weekly, a contributing editor for Creative Screenwriting Magazine, and has written for Cinescape.com, MSN.com, and created the TV series Studio 13, which ran on Lorne Michaels' Burly TV network. He lives in the small space left over by his ever-expanding library of books, movies, and music.

Broken courtesy First Look Pictures

From the Trenches
Working screenwriters discuss in their own words a particular aspect of screenwriting, from the mechanics of writing to the personal and professional impact that writing has had on their lives. > VIEW ARCHIVE

The Big Picture

Features that cover all aspects of screenwriting, from our "Seven Best" lists to analysis of old favorites and new classics. > VIEW ARCHIVE

Weekend Read
Film, book, web site and technology reviews from a writer’s perspective. How can these items help a writer on his or her journey, or make that journey more enjoyable? > VIEW ARCHIVE

DVD Review of the Day
DVD reviews from a writer’s point of view. What aspects of this script and features of this DVD illuminate the writing, development, and storytelling process? > VIEW ARCHIVE