In the Spotlight

The Dark Knight reviewed!

Also Available

Watch my top 5 movies of 2007. Or get the full list.

Also...

The Master List: 199 films to watch before you die!

A Christian Primer for Hollywood

Extended Reviews

Welcome

This is the website for Brennan Smith, an active screenwriter and student of cinematic storytelling. He is available for script consulting and story development.

This site is dedicated to the craft, the conversation of...

Recent Comments

I just want to say that I think you are a great teacher..." - recent student of Bren's 1-hour Unified Structure class

"Your evaluation is excellent!! I think this will be so helpful in shaping this project and what we decide to do with it." -Illinois production company

"It was a pleasure talking to you and besides that, you worked a miracle... Not only did you put your finger in all the sore spots unbeknownst to us, you also opened up a wellspring of ideas in me, which was so relaxing, that I slept like a stone last night." - German Producer

"I'm finishing my rewrite and am loving the changes! I went with your opening suggestion... and it works so much better!" - Screenwriter from Florida

"I just wanted to say that [Bren's] notes were fabulous and I will take his advice to heart." - Screenwriter from Texas

Movies!

So, what are they for? To entertain, prove we're not alone, to inculcate values and show us how best to live in this world.

So why do I (as my brother says) "analyze the crap out of movies"? To learn how to make crap-free movies! Movies are part of a cultural conversation we have about values, our hopes and aspirations, about the truths of our existence and what moves us as people. Bad movies lie to us about the world and how we can overcome it. Good movies not only tell the truth but also reach for glory, uplift the human spirit, and hopefully, make the world a better place.

Be a part of the conversation. Celebrate the best movies and let us figure out ways to make better ones.

How does a movie get on Bren's "best" list?

First of all, as you know, the Academy Awards do not always exhalt the best film of the year. Their categories, the buzz and marketing, wrangling, in-fighting - all contribute to the decisions they make. Well, all I have is my love for a great story and my knowledge of screenwriting.

Therefore, I don't distinguish between foreign and domestic films. I don't distinguish between animation and live-action. The BEST STORY, WELL TOLD. That's my criteria.

If you have comments or suggestions, please send them to movies@bren.us. I'd love to hear from you.