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Top 10 Script Collaborations

By Nguyen Le · February 27, 2014

“If you are want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”, says an African proverb I recently came across. By looking at these team-ups, I think you’ll agree. Most screenwriters you know roll towards success by being on their own, like David Koepp, Steve Zaillian, Ingmar Bergman, Paul Thomas Anderson etc. but there’s a totally different momentum towards it when one scribe pairs up with another. While the films these writers make may vary in quality and not receive universal love, together they’ve racked up quite the mileage and recognition in Hollywood. Click on to find out!

10. Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely

One can argue it’s smart to stick to a franchise because you grant yourself job security e.g. Neal Purvis and Robert Wade of the Bond series. With the Narnia series and Captain America under their belts, Markus & McFeely (now there’s a nice ring to it) prove that they are effective together – despite certain elements that still need work e.g. a more developed villain in The First Avenger and less drawn-out pacing in Prince Caspian. However, I’d like to see them more often outside of the franchise circle because I believe they are an even better team here, as evident through the under-the-radar Ben Kingsley starrer You Kill Me and personally Michael Bay’s best (no your computer is fine) film Pain & Gain. Looking forward to The Winter Soldier though.

From Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Abraham Erskine: Do you want to kill Nazis?

Steve Rogers: Is this a test?

Abraham Erskine: Yes.

Steve Rogers: I don't want to kill anyone. I don't like bullies; I don't care where they're from.

9. Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor

First of all, congratulations Alexander for being nominated with Nebraska. Though I haven’t seen the film yet, from word-of-mouth I know it has quality. What it doesn’t have though is Alexander’s frequent writing partner Jim Taylor, the other half responsible for critical and commercial hit pieces like Citizen Ruth, About Schmidt, Sideways and Election (the one that introduced me to this team). Hopefully like the many novels they’ve adapted, their scripts have a reflective quality that make characters relatable, the drama compelling, the humor personal and effective – but never overboard. All of the characters in their scripts go through some sort of pain or chaos but you’ll find yourself always willing to walk with them until the end.

From Sideways (2004)

Jack: This chick Stephanie, she's got it all goin' on.

Miles Raymond: Well, she is cute, yeah.

Jack: Cute? She's a fuckin' hottie. And you almost tell her that I'm gettin' married? What's the matter with you?

8. Jerry & David Zucker

The oldest choice I know of on this list. Even though I didn’t have a lick of English in me back then, when the attempts of humor of The Naked Gun or Airplane! came up, I still laughed like no one’s around. The visual gags are smart and effective, reminding me the works of comic legendaries Louis de Funès and Charles Chaplin. Now that I’ve got the language down – obviously not all the way – the spoken jokes spring to life and, besides getting myself into giggle fits, I find there’s nothing short of genius in the wordplay, set-up and punch line. These guys need to come back, considering gross-out gags and toilet humor – in the figurative and literal sense – really need to go.

From The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

Mayor: Drebin, I don't want any more trouble like you had last year on the southside. Understand? That's my policy.

Frank: Yes. Well, when I see 5 weirdos dressed in togas stabbing a guy in the middle of the park in full view of 100 people, I shoot the bastards. That's my policy.

Mayor: That was a Shakespeare in the Park production of Julius Caesar, you moron! You killed 5 actors! Good ones!

7. Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio

I was shocked when I found out that (1) I can’t say one name without the other and (2) they’ve been in the industry for a pretty long time. Let’s look back, shall we? Aladdin, the horror that was Roland Emmerich’s Godzilla, The Mask of Zorro, The Road to El Dorado, Shrek and then the one that set them on the map that is Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Where’s my jaw? From their filmography, you can guess they’re the go-to guys if you want your film a dose of exhilarating adventure. While their recent scripts remain so, they never reach the caliber of their past outings due to overstuffing or overlong set-pieces as seen in the rest of the Pirates series (I’m fine with Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End, but On Stranger Tides is a new low) or the mega-flop (which I believe is an over-exaggeration from the press) called The Lone Ranger. Budding screenwriters should have a look at their website called Wordplay (http://www.wordplayer.com/). Meanwhile, I’m still waiting for a comeback from these guys, I know they have it in them.

From Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2000)

Norrington: No additional shot nor powder, a compass that doesn't point north,

[looks at Jack's sword]

Norrington: And I half expected it to be made of wood. You are without doubt the worst pirate I've ever heard of.

Jack Sparrow: But you have heard of me.

6. Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci

Even though some of their works are uneven – the horrible The Legend of Zorro right after a compelling job on The Island, the flat Cowboys & Aliens and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (the latter they claim has certain elements that are not theirs) right after the brilliant Star Trek – there’s no way I’m denying their success. From one mega-franchise to another, I think they’re doing something right. Maybe so, considering their scripts are accessible, entertaining and properly paced. It’s the right kind of popcorn flicks. The duo is also behind some of the more popular TV shows at the moment like Fringe, Hawaii Five-O and most recently Sleepy Hollow.

From Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013)

James T. Kirk: The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Spock: An Arabic proverb attributed to a prince who was betrayed and decapitated by his own subjects.

James T. Kirk: Well, it’s still a hell of a quote.

5. Andy & Lana Wachowski

It’s truly the third time’s the charm for this pair as after the Banderas and Stallone-starrer Assassins and the female crime caper Bound, they give us The Matrix. True, after that what they’ve written receive divisive appreciation, such as the two sequels to The Matrix, my personal favorite V for Vendetta, the insanely watchable but overstuffed Speed Racer and Cloud Atlas with Tom Tykwer (Perfume) which defines ambitious (or to many, over-ambitious). Well, even when sometimes the quality varies and you might get bogged down with all the philosophical monologues, you must admit they never fail to do one thing – introducing new worlds to the big-screen. As a result, I’m dying to know what new sights are there to see in their upcoming summer blockbuster Jupiter Ascending.

From The Matrix (1999)

Cypher: You know, I know this steak doesn't exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy and delicious. After nine years, you know what I realize?

[Takes a bite of steak]

Cypher: Ignorance is bliss.

4. Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn

This team may have a short résumé but it’s one that many will envy. I mean, from Stardust to Kick-Ass and then one of the best films of 2011 called X-Men: First Class (shared with Ashley Miller & Zack Stentz), why won’t they be? They capture the heart of the material even though they can be radically different in terms of theme and tone and, under Matthew’s direction, the fast and solid content is wrapped around stylishness and energy. In the end, you have basically very watchable (and worth keeping) films. Can’t tell you how excited I am for The Secret Service, their latest work that will come out in Spring 2015 with a really crazy (though yet official) cast, check it out for yourself.

From X-Men: First Class (2011)

Professor Charles Xavier: Listen to me very carefully, my friend: killing Shaw will not bring you peace.

Erik Lehnsherr: Peace was never an option.

3. Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg

Like the Zuckers, these two generate humor in ways that are effective and excite your brain cells. Although every entry in their Blood and Cornetto trilogy is different – the zombie rom-com Shaun of the Dead, love letter to clichés in action films Hot Fuzz and the quirky apocalyptic sci-fi The World’s End – they all contain smart visual gags and crazy cool jokes in the dialogue. It’s strange, the films zip by as if there’s no control but actually everything’s in control. For now, they’ve parted ways but in the near future you’ll get to see Wright’s directing prowess again with Ant-Man and Pegg’s charm in Hector and the Search for Happiness.

From Hot Fuzz (2007)

Simon Skinner: Lock me up.

Nicholas Angel: I'm sorry?

Simon Skinner: I'm a slasher! I must be stopped!

Nicholas Angel: You're a what?

Simon Skinner: A slasher… of prices! I'm Simon Skinner – I run the local supermarché. Drop in and see me sometime – my discounts are *criminal*. Catch me later!

2. Jonathan Nolan & Christopher Nolan

When Chris comes to our attention, we declare him a director to be reckoned with. When Chris brings his brother Jonathan along, we have a perfect storm. Be it small-scale features Memento and The Prestige or otherwise such as The Dark Knight and the upcoming Interstellar, the brothers always manage to find the heart and humanity within the plot despite the apparent difference in content and complexity. With Memento they’ve turned storytelling techniques on its head and for The Dark Knight suddenly superheroes don’t have to have that comic book vibe for success. Interstellar is the brothers’ first original project and if it’s a success (with the teaser trailer it’s kind of already), the Nolans are going to be around for a long time.

From The Dark Knight (2008)

Batman: You're garbage who kills for money.

The Joker: Don't talk like one of them. You're not! Even if you'd like to be. To them, you're just a freak, like me! They need you right now, but when they don't, they'll cast you out, like a leper! You see, their morals, their code, it's a bad joke. Dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these… these civilized people, they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve.

1. Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

Another brother duo on this list but this team, ladies and gentlemen, is truly the best in the business. Like Elliott & Rossio, The Coens have been around for a very long time though what set them apart is that not only their films are solid, they also have weight. Even Zhang Yimou (Hero) went ahead to adapt the brothers’ directorial debut called Blood Simple. into A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop. Their scripts like to deal with people who think they’re in control until the consequences come and bite them from behind. I haven’t watched all their films yet (my bad) but if there’s a study about quality filmmaking – check their filmography. Here’s the best to them at the Oscars with Inside Llewyn Davis.

From No Country for Old Men (2007)

Llewelyn Moss: If I don't come back, tell mother I love her.

Carla Jean Moss: Your mother's dead, Llewelyn.

Llewelyn Moss: Well then I'll tell her myself.