by Salva Rubio
So if you think you are ready, fill your writer’s backpack with your laptop, this book and some food, and wake up at dawn to start your trip. You’ll return a changed person, we promise!
THE FULL MONTY (1997)
Back in 1997, the cinematic oceans of the world seemed to be dominated by the looming, enormous shape of a transatlantic Goliath called Titanic... but as if to illustrate the theme of our book, not far behind, there was a lighter vessel that, with a much smaller $ 3.5 million budget, made no less than $ 258 million at the box office. Top it off with four Academy Award ® nominations (Film, Director, Screenplay) and one win (Best Original Score), and it’s clear that we’ve got our own British David!
The Full Monty is our chosen film for the “Sports Fleece” sub-genre, because even though there are no obvious “sports” in this movie, many “coach and team” films are GFs too! Consider the frequent thematic jokes about soccer and you’ll see we are in parody territory here, and compare it to such films as The Damned United, Break Point or The Finishers to see the flexibility of the genre.
Let’s confirm that in this Golden Fleece story we have the main components. First, we have a “road” to success, in this case, the dancing abilities that the heroes must learn to be able to gain victory in their final showdown in front of a big audience (check). Also, we have a “team,” each of the individuals with a particular skill, but also with insecurities to overcome (check).
And finally, we have a “prize,” that is, the money the team must earn to make a better living or, in our main character’s own search, to keep his son in joint custody (check). As in every good GF, what the team will find at the end of the road is not merely “gold,” but something better: self-confidence and dignity. So crank up some sexy music and let’s strip down this Beat Sheet!
GF Type: Sports Fleece
GF Cousins: The Damned United, Redbelt, Ride, Break Point, Foxcatcher
THE FULL MONTY
Written by Simon Beaufoy
Directed by Peter Cattaneo
Opening Image: Vintage newsreel footage shows us that back in the day, the then red-hot industrial city of Sheffield was boosted by tough men and steel. Fast cut to 25 years later and meet “Gaz” Schofield (Robert Carlyle) and Dave (Mark Addy), the latter stealing scrap metal in a derelict factory to barely pay for his son Nathan’s (William Snape) child support. Scavenging metal isn’t quite a dignified thing to do, of course. But these men don’t see any other way to keep going.
Theme Stated: “Can’t we do normal things sometimes?” asks Nathan. He is ashamed of his father and doesn’t recognize how hard his father is trying to keep him close. They will all learn that sometimes “normal things” do not work, so thinking “outside of the clothes” may be a good way to solve their problems.
Set-Up: We discover the everyday world of the men who used to run the city with their hard work and who now deal with unemployment and the subsequent mid-life crises. When Gaz spots a long queue of women waiting to see a male strip act, he sneaks inside what was once a working man’s club and sees how the venue is filling up. We also get the Set-Up for Dave, who feels he is too fat to be liked, even by his wiser, loving wife Jean. A clear Stasis=Death moment comes when Gaz takes Nathan to school and promises to take him to the Sheffield vs. Manchester soccer game... something he doesn’t have the money for. If he doesn’t find a way to get the needed cash, he could lose his son forever.
B Story: As you can imagine, our primary B Story Character is Nathan. At the beginning, he wants his dad to stop trying weird things and feels ashamed of him, but little by little, he will become much more supporting and genuinely proud of his father. There are secondary B Stories for other team members, such as Dave’s relationship with Jerry.
Catalyst: At the Job Club (an employment agency), Gaz and his mates play cards, complaining about how the male gender is doomed to be “extincto” in a few years when they realize how much money the Chippendales are getting for stripping in front of the ladies. “It’s worth a thought,” says Gaz, about to... you guessed it, Debate the question.
Debate: Crazy as it is to think that by stripping they could get money, things look bad for Gaz, as his wife attempts to take sole custody of Nathan in court. Gaz starts discussing his idea with reluctant Dave, when they find Lomper, a security guard, about to kill himself because of the loneliness of his job. The three become friends, so the “team” has a new “player.” The Debate about stripping continues while Gaz tries a hilariously ridiculous strip-tease to “You Sexy Thing.” We can see that what they are about to do is, indeed, really crazy. But do they have a choice?
Break into Two: Ashamed of his father, Nathan has run away. After Nathan is found, Gaz tells him — with some difficulty — he is “not doing it for a laugh,” but to get the money that will allow them to be together. It seems that Gaz is serious after all!
Fun and Games: Blake said that in any “Sports Fleece,” “the fun is in watching them come together as a team.” And so the team recruits new “players,” including the always-necessary coach, in this case their former foreman Gerald (Tom Wilkinson), who at least knows how to dance a little. In an open audition, enter Mr. Horse (Paul Barber) and the well-endowed Guy (Hugo Speer), and the team is basically complete. This is also the time and place to delve into their male insecurities: Gerald is lying to his wife about having a job, Horse seems too old, Guy can’t dance… and Dave’s lack of self-confidence is harming his relationship with his wife, as he thinks she may be attracted to thinner, more attractive men.
Midpoint: The clock starts ticking when Gerald tells them they only have two weeks to be as good as the performers in Flashdance (which we know is crazy) but they indeed enjoy a false victory when they are able to perform a particular move using (again) a soccer analogy. There is also a public coming out when they remove their clothes together in Gerald’s house, using that occasion to kick some repo men out. As a team, they give us a glimpse of “what they can be, with no obligation to be it.” Stakes are raised for Gaz when Nathan withdraws his savings from the bank to help them rent the club for the show (trusting his father, who must rise to the occasion) and the team goes further by publicly announcing their act in billboards as “Hot Metal.”
Bad Guys Close In: But, oh pity, the internal Bad Guys of insecurity return with a vengeance when Gaz further raises the stakes by announcing that they will go for “the full monty,” that is, they will strip totally bare. This decision causes the “team to disintegrate,” so they go back to the employment office, giving us the hilarious “Hot Stuff” queue scene. There is still a chance they’ll compete, but they feel “too fat, too old, or a pigeon-chested little tosser.” Leather thongs don’t make things easier, so Dave finally abandons the team and takes a security guard job. While the rest of the team rehearses in front of Horse’s family, a policeman finds their behavior suspicious and takes them to the station for questioning. Now Social Services is after Gaz, and he could lose Nathan. Meanwhile, Gerald’s wife learns about his lie and dumps him.
All Is Lost: Gaz is waiting for Nathan at school when his ex-wife and her new husband tell him that he is no longer allowed to see his son. Along with the whiff of death of the father-son relationship, the beat is given further depth when we are told that Lomper’s mother has died.
Dark Night of the Soul: The team attends the funeral, mourning in Lomper’s company, like true friends would do. This road apple seems to have stopped the trip cold.
Break into Three: In the neighborhood, everyone is expecting them to perform, but will they? Gaz gets the news that the bar has sold 200 tickets, which means more money than they expected, so he tells Dave they’ve got to do it, but Dave refuses. At home, Dave makes amends with Jean in a tender A/B Story cross in which she tells him she wants to see the act, propelling him into Act Three.
Finale:
Gathering the Team: As is typical in sports movies, our “team” gathers in the locker room, getting ready for the show/match, while t
he audience is filling the bar/arena. Even Gaz’s ex-wife is there! Dave finally arrives, bringing Nathan with him. But Gaz looks worried and for once, he is the self-doubting one.
Executing the Plan: The rest of the team “executes the plan” as they go out and confront their fears onstage: “We may not be young, we may not be pretty, we may not be right good…” And they are going for the full monty!
High Tower Surprise: Were you missing the almost mandatory “pep talk scene” in the locker room? The High Tower Surprise for Gaz is finding that Nathan, up to now reluctant about his dad’s performing, fully supports him and gives him the strength to get onstage: “They are cheering out there. You did that. Now get out there and do your stuff.”
Dig, Deep Down: Inspired by earning his son’s respect, even though stripping for money is by no means a “normal thing,” Gaz decides to go for it.
The Execution of the New Plan: Gaz undresses with his friends while they dance to “You Can Leave Your Hat On” to the (worldwide) audience’s delight. They are clearly enjoying the moment, all insecurities overcome.
Final Image: Naked, the team goes for the full monty, showing that, besides getting the money and being cheered on by a loud audience, they have gained something better: true friendship and self-respect.
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (2006)
What is winning and what is losing? Just ask the producers and artists who made a small independent film that became one of the biggest successes of 2006 ! It’s hard to believe that after its premiere at Sundance, the film’s distribution rights were bought in one of the biggest deals in the history of the festival, and with an $ 8 million budget, the film earned $ 100.5 million internationally!
This “little” movie was nominated for four Academy Awards ®, earning two — one for Best Writing, Original Screenplay for Michael Arndt, reportedly a first-time writer. For husband-wife team Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, the film was their directorial debut.
What more can we say about Little Miss Sunshine, other than that it perfectly fits the Blake Snyder Beat Sheet? Let’s consider how wisely their creators played with the themes of the “Buddy Fleece,” the subgenre where, in a light tone, a “team” (in this case, a family) learns that the important thing is not winning a beauty contest (the “prize”). The real lesson, as a worthy “road” story, is that winning or losing does not matter, what counts is the family staying together.
GF Type: Buddy Fleece
GF Cousins: On the Road, Transamerica, Y Tu Mamá También, The Darjeeling Limited, Easy Rider
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Written by Michael Arndt
Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Opening Image: The crowning of Miss America (a winner!) is a proper way to start this film, especially as we then take in little Olive’s (Abigail Breslin) miming the beauty queen’s wave. As in any good Golden Fleece, the rest of the family is introduced in an economical and effective fashion, showing how they cope with their self-doubts: the father, Richard’s (Greg Kinnear) apparent failure as a motivational speaker, and mom Sheryl’s (Toni Collette) pushiness and non-stop smoking. We also meet Dwayne (Paul Dano), the troubled teenage son who tries to become a literal Übermensch, heroin-snorting granddad Edwin (Alan Arkin) and Sheryl’s especially insecure gay brother Frank (Steve Carell), who has recently tried to kill himself. By the Final Image, will this fractured family have come together?
Theme Stated: The film’s theme is loudly stated and restated by Richard during his speech to an almost-empty classroom: “There are two kinds of people in this world: winners and losers... at the very core of your being there is a winner waiting to be awakened.” But isn’t Richard — our main character and the one who needs to change most — wrong about what makes a winner?
Set-Up: The Set-Up is executed in an efficient and budget-conscious manner — through a family dinner. Until now, we have been introduced to the imperfect characters separately, but we soon see that they don’t really work well as a family, either. Dwayne has taken a vow of silence, Grandpa is too brutally honest, Richard tries to reinforce himself by stating the “ 9 Steps” of his “Refuse to Lose” program over and over again. The only one who seems innocent enough is Olive, and even she is in danger because Richard puts too much pressure on her.
B Story: Olive is the B Story Character. As the youngest, but also because of her charming, naive personality, she sees things in a simple light and avoids the complications of the adult world, acting as a “little mentor” for the rest and continually keeping the family together, until the very end.
Catalyst: A message on the answering machine gives Olive great news which is not so great for the rest of the “team”: she has a place in the “Little Miss Sunshine” beauty contest in California! She has prepared a lot for the role and is really excited, but her family is not that enthusiastic.
Debate: A bitter argument ensues debating about going to the pageant or not. Richard wants Sheryl’s sister to go in their place, as he is expecting an important book deal, while Grandpa is determined to be there with Olive, since he coached her talent act. Frank is not exactly eager to go, but he cannot be left alone because of his recent suicide attempt, and Dwayne bitterly and silently complains until mom promises to fulfill his dream of attending the Air Force Academy. “But I am not going to have any fun,” he writes in a notebook.
Break into Two: Once they have all agreed to hit the road together, Richard submits Olive to his typical pep talk, challenging her and again putting too much pressure on the child — if they are going to travel, she must win the contest. That night, Dwayne writes, “Welcome to hell.”
Fun and Games: As in any good GF, the trip starts with a feeling of anticipation, as we first turn on to the road that will take them from Albuquerque to California. With the family squeezed into a ramshackle VW bus that speaks of hippie times, the Fun and Games of our story show how each team member reveals themselves, like when Grandpa gives “dating” advice to Dwayne, and how the family continues to come together and veer apart. Richard pressures Olive again by implying that if she eats too much ice cream she will not be able to win... but the family rallies together to make her feel good. As their van’s gears fail, pushing it becomes a meaningful symbol of the family working together. Back on the road, they further face their insecurities, like when Richard’s book deal is rejected and Frank bumps into the man who broke his heart. The family seems to be disjointed again, when they realize they have forgotten Olive at a gas station. They promptly return for her, stating “No one gets left behind!” Grandpa tells Richard how proud he is of his son.
Midpoint: The family arrives at a motel to spend the night and ticking clocks are set as they must arrive in California early the next day. A and B Stories cross as Olive tells Grandpa that she does not want to be a loser “because daddy hates losers.” Sheryl’s pushiness causes an argument with Richard about the book deal (giving him a false defeat), so applying his own motto to himself, Richard drives to the hotel where his business partner Stan Grossman (Bryan Cranston) is staying. After the deal is again rejected by Stan, Richard comes out publicly telling him that he will go on alone. Only losers give up, and he will not do that. But is he truly aware yet of what winning really means?
Bad Guys Close In: Our Bad Guys in this film — both external and internal — are anything that could prevent the family from arriving at the contest, and Grandpa dying of an overdose is a really big example! They spend some time at the hospital and the “bereavement liaison” tells them they won’t make it in time to California. Richard, starting to show real care for his family, decides that they will simply steal Grandpa’s body! “Winners don’t give up!” he says. The whole family works together to take the body out of the hospital, and off they go. Of course, there are more obstacles on the road — not only will the van’s horn not stop honking, but they are also pulled over by the police. Luckily, some of the porn magazines left behind by grandpa cause enough of a distraction to get the
m off the hook. Later, to entertain themselves, Olive subjects Dwayne to a sight test from a pamphlet she got at the hospital. And everything goes wrong!
All Is Lost: After a 9 -month vow of silence, Dwayne learns that he is colorblind, so he will not be able to become a jet pilot. Completely shocked by the news, he has a panic attack and demands to be let out of the van. Once he has screamed his lungs out, he insists on remaining on the side of the road, alone, but Sheryl won’t allow that. It seems that the team will never make it to the pageant in time.
Dark Night of the Soul: The family attempts to get Dwayne to come back, but he only insults them as they try to convince him to return.
Break into Three: Richard tells Olive to go and talk to her brother. The sweet little girl knows that sometimes words are not the answer, so she just hugs Dwayne, a tender enough gesture to convince him to get back in the van. (And did you spot the “United We Stand” sign?) The family is back on the road!
Finale:
Gathering the Team: The family runs to make it in time to the registration counter. There, they “gather” to try to convince the unsympathetic manager to let them participate... and she accepts. They are in! What’s more, Olive learns that Miss California loves ice cream.
Executing the Plan: Their “plan” now is to get Olive ready for her show, but soon they realize that they are probably out of their league—the rest of the contestants seem really professional (read: grotesque), so Olive’s chances to succeed are slim.
High Tower Surprise: Haunted by their own insecurities, Dwayne and Frank try to take Olive out of the competition, thinking that everyone is going to laugh at her. Sheryl convinces them to “let Olive be Olive”... and then they realize that the show she prepared with Grandpa is a strip-tease!
Dig, Deep Down: Shocked by the “scandalous” show, the manager demands it be halted, ordering Richard to take Olive off the stage. He seems to agree, but when he is onstage with her, he “digs deep down”...