Today was pretty busy around the house, so I didn’t get any work done on the LUCY outline. Drat.
But I said I’d read through Patrick Sweeney’s GHOST TRAIN again, and I did.
I sent him some comments, but the gist of the whole thing was that I was really impressed with it. I’m a sucker for a good western, and this comes really close. It’s a great premise (outlaw’s son goes after limitless riches on a train carrying the condemned to hell). The writing is vivid, colorful and really holds your attention. This would make a kickass movie.
However.
I did have some questions about some parts of the story. Some things weren’t exactly clear, hence my need for a second read. I would read something, and it would stick in my mind as I tried to figure out if that’s what it was supposed to be read.
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed it a lot, but it helps when I can fully grasp the rules of the world a script is portraying. Makes it easier to follow the story.
When Patrick sent me the script, he said he was open to another draft. Hopefully my questions will result in answers that clear up some of these problems.
Movie of the Moment: FRIGHT NIGHT, based on the Filmsack podcast. It was okay. Interesting to see how this was one of the earlier flicks to cash in on the vampire craze. Roddy McDowall really helps elevate the material. I know they’re remaking it with former Doctor Who David Tennant in that role, but this time as a Vegas magician instead of a TV host.
(BTW – Filmsack is free on iTunes and oh-so-worth-it.)
Highly doubtful I’ll see that in the theatre, but definitely out it into the Netflix queue.
Tomorrow: back to work on LUCY!
Maximum Z 
Ghost Train indeed sounds good but the whole train to hell riff sounds like a TNT movie called “Purgatory” that aired a few years ago. Imagine Doc Holliday, Wild Bill, and various other misfits planted in a town called Purgatory while they wait for God to forgive their sins and send a stage coach to take them to heaven. When the town is invaded by murderous outlaws, they have to decide if they’re going to fight and thus not be forgiven for killing, or let the outlaws destroy the town. It’s a B-grade TV movie but a good show. However, Randy Quaid, as Doc Holliday, was not the right casting choice.