10 Distinctive Voices In Film: Screenwriters With A Brand Of Their Own

Wes Anderson

Screenwriters really don’t come more distinctive than Wes Anderson. With only eight full-length screenplays under his belt, Anderson has established himself as an exceptional writing talent with a singular voice. Having debuted with the unusual heist caper of Bottle Rocket in 1996, Anderson wrote Rushmore – a follow-up comedy-drama so striking and off-kilter that it drew the attention of the legendary Bill Murray, who joined the cast for the first of many collaborations with the writer.

Taking the recurring themes of troubled familial relationships, abandonment, coming-of-age and new friendships, Anderson frequently sets these within some kind of heist or caper scenario, in which off-beat and generally misunderstood characters have to endure a range of trials and tribulations to reach their happy ending. His screenplays are dramatic, with a darkly comedic depth that lends itself to deadpan witticisms and sharply drawn satire – a brand that benefits from his ability to write for regular collaborators, such as Murray, Owen and Luke Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, and Anjelica Huston, among others.

This has resulted in The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, The Darjeeling Limited, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel – each of which showcase Anderson’s particular narrative style, and distinctive voice.