The sadness of Shane Black's life reflected in the most expensive screenplay in history for the unfortunate masterpiece "The Last Boy Scout"

A script written to save yourself from the depths of life.

Shane recalls:

"By the time I wrote The Last Boy Scout, I had been through a painful breakup, mourned my life, and had no desire to do anything but smoke cigarettes and read paperbacks for about two years. Eventually, I sat down at my desk and translated some of the bitterness in my life into a character. This experience is the focus of the private investigator's story in The Last Boy Scout." (creative screenwriting 2014/12/1 "I Like Violence" - Shane Black, translated by author)

As Shane says, the script was written when he was heartbroken and depressed. The situation is reflected in the characters, so Joe's wife cheats on him and his daughter makes fun of him. His partner Jimmy has his stripper girlfriend shot and killed. In other words, the movie starts with them both being thrown into the situation of "losing the woman they love."

Later, Joe pursues the murderer who murdered Jimmy's girlfriend and becomes embroiled in a huge conspiracy. However, it is not clearly explained why Joe, a mere detective, risks his life to investigate the case. But the reason is clear. Joe must believe that by solving the case, he will be able to regain the love of his wife and the respect of his daughter, which he lost. This is the very thought of screenwriter Shane Black, who believed that by writing this script, he would be able to escape from the depths of despair.

“The Last Boy Scout” (c)2013 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.

"Writing this script was a very cathartic experience. It was one of the best experiences I've ever had." Writing the script must have saved Shane's life, and it earned him a then-record fee of $1.75 million.

At the end, Joe has solved all the cases, regained the love of his wife and children, and invites Jimmy to become his partner. While this is a buddy movie, it also depicts the birth of the "buddy" relationship ("Lethal Weapon" has the same structure).

"Can I do it?" "Don't worry, I'll teach you."

The final scene in which the two of them walk away talking like this is casual, but moving. Perhaps it is because it depicts the moment when a man who has led a life of self-denial affirms himself and joins hands with the other person who has rejected him - becoming a buddy.

Shane Black depicts human redemption in a buddy movie that is often seen as light-hearted.

Interview and text: Tetsuya Inagaki

TV director. My personal goal is to realize a documentary project that depicts the obsessions of manga and movie creators. Programs he has directed in the past include ``The Godfather : The Man Who Revolutionized Manga'' (WOWOW), ``Takeshi's Birth: Master and Asakusa'' (NHK), ``Master and Disciple Story: The Encounter That Changed My Life'' [Masahiro Tanaka x Katsuya Nomura ] (NHK BS Premium).

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"The Last Boy Scout"

DVD ¥1,429 + tax

warner bros home entertainment

(c)2013 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.