John Skipper Reveals . . .

The screenplay format for voiceover is (V.O.) after the name of the character—on the same line as the name, not dropped into the dialogue.

DICK WHITMAN (V.O.)
Well, this appears...

Like that.

 

Noted and corrected.

You see, I would never actually use voice over, because voice over sucks.

 

Catch me up. What did Travis say? Just, "He's lying."

It seems like it would be a pretty difficult case to make. Skipper is a public figured and Travis's commentary seems to be clearly intended as commentary/speculation/opinion, not reported as fact.

 

I would normally agree, but there are times when it's really, really good. Like Goodfellas.

 

"Wolf of Wall Street," as well.

V.O. damn near ruins an otherwise near perfect movie in the original "Blade Runner." I get that it was a noir affectation, but Scott understandably removed it from later cuts.

 

[Ron Howard voice: It doesn't.]

 

I also love the narration in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. It's not voiceover, exactly, because the narrator doesn't appear in the film. But I love the narration.

 

It's like any other technique in moviemaking. When it works, it works. When it doesn't, it doesn't.

 

Plenty of times it has worked great

25 Great Movies With The Most Effective Uses Of Voice-Over Narration

 

I think it definitely worked in the scene I shared here. But I have a knack.

 

You do!

That original Blade Runner VO arose out of confused test audiences. They couldn't track the plot. So the studio insisted on a narration.

Everyone connected with the movie - but most especially Harrison Ford, who gave it his worst possible reading - hated it.

 

So when I first try it, I should keep the mirror and the rolled up bills next to my Laz-E-Boy?