Directors and production teams through the history of Hollywood have attempted to replicate the setting and mood that identifies with the 1950’s and failed; however, one brilliant individual named Robert Zemeckis executed a major motion picture project that had engaging plot progression, starred accomplished actors, and captured the true essence of the 1950’s. This movie is Back to the Future, an undoubting classic for many who lived their childhood through the 80’s.

Released to the general public in 1985, Back to the Future is about a peppy, charismatic high school student (played by Michael J. Fox) who is accidentally taken on a trip back to 1955, where he learns about his parents’ pasts and alters the future. One of the main factor as to why this movie is such an exemplary piece is that it has an engaging plot progression; the director had perfectly tied a highly complex plot between three timelines. There are many unique characteristics of everything that surrounds this movie; its appeals come from its originality, as some of the most iconic movie references are attributed to it. The time-traveling DeLorean, the hoverboard, and the self-lacing shoes are some of the iconic items showcased in the movie.

One of the main factor as to why this film is such an exemplary piece is that it has an engaging plot progression; Robert Zemeckis had perfectly tied a highly complex plot between three timelines. Not only does Back To The Future balance its narrative across three timelines???the original 1985, 1955, and the altered 1985???it does so while developing multiple iterations of more than half a dozen characters?: Marty, the McFly family, Biff, Doc Brown, Mr. Strickland???and blending elements of action, adventure, comedy, and technology-driven sci-fi that’s all been made palatable for audiences of all ages. All of these sound like incredibly difficult things to keep in equilibrium because they are - Zemeckis knew exactly what he was doing, so much so that he made a complicated process appear seamlessly fluid on screen, and made one of the most iconic, beloved, and enduring films of its decade. It is no stretch of the imagination to call Back To The Future a near-perfect screenplay.

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<David Park, John Marshall HS, 12th Grade>