Monster walter dean myers11/20/2022 And in a scenario such as this, I think it’s too much responsibility to give to the reader. We only read words, and it’s up to the reader on how to deliver them. The drawback to a script is that it doesn’t allow for any personal anecdotes or reflections. But my problem with that verdict is I never truly knew if I myself thought he wasn’t guilty because of the screenplay format. From what I recall, he was found not guilty. I can’t even remember if he was found guilty. The problem for me, still, is I don’t get a good feeling of Steve because of said format. I could understand that it’s something I haven’t seen before. When I asked Michele if she was going to cut this from the syllabus, she said she was keping it because of the screenplay format. Myers doesn’t want to say you’ll end up in jail for life (what adolescent wants to read that?), but he presents a pretty powerful story through the scope of Steve’s situation. Myers is demonstrating how individuals aren’t always aware of their actions, but there are certainly consequences and not everyone ends up alright like Steve did. Yet, I think this ending is essential for Myers to convey a message to readers. You’re young, you’re Black and you’re on trial” (78-79). Even his lawyer said the jury ‘believed you were guilty the moment they laid eyes on you. It seemed too predictable for him to defeat all odds and be free. I was hoping Steve would be found not guilty, however I wasn’t sure that would actually happen. While the movie is only about Steve in reference to the prosecution (a terrible experience for him), Steve uses the movie/writing as a way to cope. It helps the reader understand that Steve’s situation (being accused of murder) is separate from his regular life and he feels trapped in this movie, similarly to how he’s trapped in jail waiting for the verdict. I also think that the screenplay structure is essential to the story that Myers is trying to convey. The screenplay part is obviously much more formal, whereas Steve’s journals from jail are raw and he uses emotional yet conversational language. I also think Walter Dean Myers’ decision to combine script and Steve’s journals was a smart rhetorical choice because it allows readers to understand Steve both at a distance and personally. I imagine this format would be especially appealing to adolescent readers since it differs from the traditional paragraph structure of most books. The screenplay creates an important visual element that propels the story and makes it engaging. However, after getting used to the style (I’ve never read a novel structured this way before), I quickly realized just how effective it is. At quick glance, I thought the screenplay would be distracting and Steve’s journal entries appeared at random. Furthermore, even though the viewers get to know the verdict, Steve's true impact on the murder remains questionable due to the last couple of flashbacks, which begs the question: "are we really supposed to root for him?" Rating: C.I was hesitant about the structure of Monster at first. At one point in the film, someone says "you must consider him innocent until evidence proves him guilty", but this only applies to the protagonist since everyone else is presumed to be guilty from the get-go without the audience ever seeing or hearing their point of view or knowing why they committed that crime. While the viewers spend the entire runtime following Steve being a good son, brother, and friend, the other Black characters being accused don't receive the same treatment. However, despite the exceptional performances from everyone involved, especially Kelvin Harrison Jr., the case itself wraps up with unanswered questions and some messages lost in the transmission. From the well-known emotional disconnect of (some) lawyers with their clients to the prejudiced treatment of people of color, the courtroom sequences keep the movie interesting until its somewhat predictable, unsurprising conclusion. Anthony Mandler and his team of writers demonstrate perfectly some real-life aspects of how the law works. The trial is definitely the most captivating part of the story. Since the protagonist is a film student, his voice-over contains descriptions often seen in screenplays, which it's pleasant at first, but then gets overdone. In fact, I believe every scene outside this place is told through extended flashbacks with narration from Steve Harmon about what happened before and on the day of the crime. I don't know exactly if most of Monster is actually developed inside the courtroom, but it genuinely feels like it. If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog :) I've written this a thousand times, but I'll repeat it once again: I absolutely love one-location movies.
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