Thumbs up for Minear screenplay

Tim Minear’s unproduced 2005 screenplay based on The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, now available for free download, offers some good fun for fans of Heinlein’s Hugo-winning novel. Minear is very faithful to the book’s libertarian politics, and certainly to its spirit. Changes in the story’s structure and some obvious deviations in plot don’t bother me at all; they’re absolutely necessary in moving the novel from printed word to movie screen. What’s especially nice is that all our favorite characters are largely here, and even Heinlein’s controversial ideas about family units are explored. My only complaint is that the script relies too heavily on Manny’s narration, and with the exception of a few films noir from the 1940s, I’ve never been a fan of movie narration; in movies, show, don’t tell.

I’d like to see this script translated to the screen. Check it out.