The Picaresque Revenge - Check out this PREMISE

12-17-2003, 09:56 PM

Title: The Picaresque Revenge
Log Line: A former FBI agent is released after spending 15 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Desiring to target those he believes put him behind bars and to re-obtain his $360,000 pension, the man pulls a series of brilliant crimes and ultimately gets his revenge.
Writer: Jason Keller
Agent: CAA, Industry Entertainment and attorney Carlos Goodman
Buyer: New Line Cinema
Price: Mid against high-six figures

Who would of thought something like this would sell? If this was posted at this site, it would be murdered. Okay, the logline isn't a true logline, but the PREMISE alone simply wouldn't work. Just goes to show how the industry works in odd ways.

EJ

12-18-2003, 09:09 PM

okay, I'll bite:

Why doesn't that premise work?

12-19-2003, 01:53 AM

This sounds interesting. I'm curious to know what kind of crimes the guy pulls off.

12-19-2003, 08:42 PM

Sounds like the Gene Hackman bit in the movie ENEMY OF THE STATE...

theturnaround

12-20-2003, 02:33 PM

I am still waiting to hear why the premise wouldn't work.

12-22-2003, 06:32 PM

It's Speed from the POV of Dennis Hopper. Plus, it stars Sean Connery, right? I would bet three or four dollars on it being okay.

01-02-2004, 12:02 PM

If the FBI agent is brilliant enough to execute a series of CRIMES and get away with it, why couldn't he prove his innocence? Surely, the latter would be easier.

The story, as presented, requires a massive suspension of disbelief.

I am not saying that the story doesn't work - clearly, someone has paid money because they think it does - but the information, as presented, does require clarification.

01-02-2004, 12:03 PM

Quote:

If the FBI agent is brilliant enough to execute a series of CRIMES and get away with it, why couldn't he prove his innocence? Surely, the latter would be easier.

Not sure that it's easier to prove innocence than commit a series of crimes and get away with it. Once your guilt is adjudicated, it's pretty difficult to prove your innocence. Especially from inside prison.

BUT, you're dissemination of the premise leaves out some of the salient facts. The Agent was put away for 15 years and released...that's a lot of time to plan something and getting away with it has more to do with execution of a plan and luck.

01-02-2004, 09:10 PM

I've read two drafts of the script.

Aside from it having one of the worst
(and most obscure) titles in Hollywood
history, the structure is a little lop-
sided.

The fed-turned-ex-con sets his plan
in motion early on (after stealing a
large sum of cash from the federal
reserve). His plan is about @#%$
over his ex-partner - the man who
let him take the fall.

After the first act, the hero's plan is
in motion, and the story is sort of
turned over to the antagonist, who
spends the rest of the script struggling
to squirm out from under the Sword of
Damocles.

In fact, for most of act two, the hero
sits in a jail cell while the bad guy races
to beat the protagonist at his own game.

The good guy gets active again in the
third act - which is hindered by a few
dumb reveals and pat resolutions.

12-17-2003, 09:56 PM	#1
E J Pennypacker Posts: n/a	The Picaresque Revenge - Check out this PREMISE Title: The Picaresque Revenge Log Line: A former FBI agent is released after spending 15 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Desiring to target those he believes put him behind bars and to re-obtain his $360,000 pension, the man pulls a series of brilliant crimes and ultimately gets his revenge. Writer: Jason Keller Agent: CAA, Industry Entertainment and attorney Carlos Goodman Buyer: New Line Cinema Price: Mid against high-six figures Who would of thought something like this would sell? If this was posted at this site, it would be murdered. Okay, the logline isn't a true logline, but the PREMISE alone simply wouldn't work. Just goes to show how the industry works in odd ways. EJ

01-02-2004, 09:10 PM	#9
creativexec Posts: n/a	THE PICARESQUE REVENGE I've read two drafts of the script. Aside from it having one of the worst (and most obscure) titles in Hollywood history, the structure is a little lop- sided. The fed-turned-ex-con sets his plan in motion early on (after stealing a large sum of cash from the federal reserve). His plan is about @#%$ over his ex-partner - the man who let him take the fall. After the first act, the hero's plan is in motion, and the story is sort of turned over to the antagonist, who spends the rest of the script struggling to squirm out from under the Sword of Damocles. In fact, for most of act two, the hero sits in a jail cell while the bad guy races to beat the protagonist at his own game. The good guy gets active again in the third act - which is hindered by a few dumb reveals and pat resolutions.

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12-18-2003, 09:09 PM	#2
Minibrain Posts: n/a	okay, I'll bite: Why doesn't that premise work?

12-19-2003, 01:53 AM	#3
Otis Posts: n/a	This sounds interesting. I'm curious to know what kind of crimes the guy pulls off.

12-19-2003, 08:42 PM	#4
theturnaround Posts: n/a	Sounds like the Gene Hackman bit in the movie ENEMY OF THE STATE... theturnaround

12-20-2003, 02:33 PM	#5
Minibrain Posts: n/a	I am still waiting to hear why the premise wouldn't work.

12-22-2003, 06:32 PM	#6
KD The Wubat Posts: n/a	It's Speed from the POV of Dennis Hopper. Plus, it stars Sean Connery, right? I would bet three or four dollars on it being okay.

01-02-2004, 12:02 PM	#7
Wolfy262 Posts: n/a	If the FBI agent is brilliant enough to execute a series of CRIMES and get away with it, why couldn't he prove his innocence? Surely, the latter would be easier. The story, as presented, requires a massive suspension of disbelief. I am not saying that the story doesn't work - clearly, someone has paid money because they think it does - but the information, as presented, does require clarification.