This was my favorite movie of 2012, so I'm excited to revisit it, especially digging into its structure. A few things strike me upon reviewing the scene-by-scene breakdown: * Know that supposed screenwriting 'rule' not to use flashbacks? This script does it twice, both to great effect. (1) PP. 18-21: Which tells the backstory of the Sam-Suzy relationship, how they met, etc. (2) PP. 35-38: The letters exchanged between Sam and Suzy which wraps up their backstory, how they planned to run away together. You can see part of the first flashback here. You can see the second flashback here. Why do they work? First, by NOT telling their story in a linear fashion, the filmmakers create a mystery: Why have these two run away? That plays under all of the events after Sam escapes. Second, both flashbacks are inventive, inspired and cinematic. That's one big takeaway with re to flashbacks: They have a bad rap in Hollywood largely because writers go about using them poorly. If you're going to use flashbacks, be creative! * I was also struck by the flow of continuous action, one plot point after another. Actually LOTS of plot points. That got me thinking about Wes Anderson movies in general, and it dawned on me, his stories have a LOT of action in them. Not necessarily action in an action movie sort of way, but rather just a bunch of things going on. And not random, but rather tightly interwoven, well-constructed chain of events. * That said, there are key moments where the pace slows and characters have a chance to explore their feelings. For example: - The wonderful beach sequence with Sam and Suzy featuring my very favorite scene from 2012. - Sam's night in Captain Sharp's place where they talk about life and share a beer. - Mr. and Mrs. Bishop lying awake in separate beds, have an honest moment confronting their struggling marriage. Stories need those 'down' times, especially if the pace of the narrative is pretty frantic, as it is at time in Moonrise Kingdom, in order to give characters - and by extension script readers - a chance to process what's been going on and spend some quality time with our feelings. Such a wonderful story. What are your impressions on reading the scene-by-scene breakdown? And thanks again to Daniel Bigler for doing the breakdown!