Throughout Seven Psychopaths, Colin Farrell’s Marty struggles to get his screenplay in shape. As a topic close to many a real screenwriter’s heart, it’s not surprising that struggling writers have become the subject of many successful films.
To mark the upcoming release of Seven Psychopaths, we have compiled a list of the best and most memorable films revolving around writer’s block.
- Wonder Boys (2000)
A comedy film based on the novel of the same name, Wonder Boys follows the life of novelist and professor Grady Tripp (Michael Douglas) as he struggles to complete his second novel.
Life’s twists and turns mixed with the politics of the university where he teaches only serve to deepen Tripp’s self-doubt and loathing.
This film will resonate with any writer who has struggled to complete a work while life was busy distracting them.
- Adaptation (2002)
Adaptation is an acclaimed film that looks into the deep processes that go towards being a successful writer. This film looks into the despair a writer feels when trying to work on a project he feels no passion for, and also explores the dangers of too much creative freedom.
When Charlie Kaufman(Nicolas Cage) is attempting to write a screenplay for the book ‘The Orchid Thief’ he finds immense difficulty in making it silver screen worthy.
Recruiting the help of his twin brother Donald(also played by Cage) the two embark on a twisted journey to turn this novel into a film.
- Deconstructing Harry (1997)
Considered to be one of the funniest ‘spiritually bankrupt’ films around, Deconstructing Harry tells the story of a immature and narcissistic New York writer, Harry (Woody Allen).
Plagued with writer’s block, Harry begins to base his novel on the people around him, revealing intimate secrets about his family and friends in the process.
A downward spiral from the beginning, Deconstructing Harry tells a relentless tale of the challenges an uninspired writer endures when faced with a deadline.
- Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
Stranger Than Fiction follows the life of Harold Crick (Will Ferrell), a nondescript auditor for the IRS, whose life is strictly routine.
One day Crick begins to hear an omniscient voice narrating his daily life. Assuming he is insane Crick attempts to ignore the voice inside his head, until his ‘imminent death’ is predicted.
He visits numerous experts in various fields which leads him to a literature expert. The chase for the confused author inside his head begins as Harold realizes he must convince her to change her mind before writing the end of the book.
- Secret Window (2004)
Secret Window is a thriller that follows the life of successful author Mort Rainey(Johnny Depp) post-psychological-break after discovering his wife Amy(Maria Bello) was having an affair.
Reclusive Rainey retreats to his lakeside cabin in remote upstate New York. Depressed and experiencing writer’s block, Rainey encounters a strange man who accuses him of plagiarism.
The film takes an unexpected turn as his dog and two friends turn up dead. This writer ends up struggling with more than just his book.
- Seven Psychopaths (2012)
Having trouble writing his new script ‘Seven Psychopaths’, Marty (Colin Farrell) suddenly is thrown into a dog-napping-gone-bad scheme in the film Seven Psychopaths.
His best friend Billy (Sam Rockwell) and his partner in the dog-napping business Hans (Christopher Walken) attempt to assist in the screenwriting process throughout their adventure, all the while trying to deal with an angry dog-loving mobster.
See how Marty overcomes his literary struggle in Seven Psychopaths when it is released in the UK on 5 December 2012.
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