Academy Award-winning screenwriter and producer Aaron Sorkin has made his career out of creating the brilliance and wit behind some of film and television's most loved dramas. His work has earned him both public and industry acclaim, and HBO's Emmy and Golden Globe winning drama The Newsroom is no exception. To celebrate the release of the show's third and final season on Blu-ray and DVD on 15th June 2015, we take a look at some of Sorkin's best moments over the years.
THE NEWSROOM: Will McAvoy
Well-informed news anchor extraordinaire, Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels) from The Newsroom is unapologetic and always has the data to back up his claims. In 2010, during a political panel at Northwestern University, he received a great deal of attention after declaring that America was no longer the greatest country in the world, embarking on a profane rant with data to back it up in response to a question from a college sophomore. His frank response makes him part of Sorkin's best moments. This scene was controversial both on and off screen, which is why we love it.
A FEW GOOD MEN: Col. Nathan R. Jessup
Col. Nathan R. Jessup (Jack Nicholson) in A Few Good Men is the character everyone loves to hate, yet it's hard to get enough of him! He's the character behind one of Sorkin's most iconic film lines, "You can't handle the truth." The scene is raw, honest and most importantly, unforgettable. In 2005, Nicholson's reading of the line was voted the 29th greatest American film quote of all time and in 2008 the film was voted the fifth best Courtroom Drama (American Film Institute).
THE SOCIAL NETWORK: Eduardo Saverin
In this award-winning biographical drama, Sorkin captures the story behind the creation of one of the world's largest social networking platforms, Facebook. The Social Network may have been focused on Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), but it was Eduardo Saverin's (Andrew Garfield) meltdown that added that Sorkin aesthetic we love. This scene is the climactic moment where Saverin has had enough of Zuckerberg's careless actions and explodes, showing one of the most iconic modern day endings of a friendship.
THE WEST WING: Josiah Bartlet
Winner of 26 Emmy Award and three Golden Globes, The West Wing is one of the best received political drama series to ever be on television. Josiah Bartlet's (Martin Sheen) scene in the episode "Two Cathedrals" captures the President's vulnerability when he questions God. Described as 'one of the best episodes in the history of American television' (IMDB), Sorkin's ability to capture all the emotions happening in the scene in Latin without subtitles is pure genius.
MALICE: Dr. Jed Hill
Dr. Jed Hill (Alec Baldwin) in Malice is the quintessential Sorkin character; self assured with no qualms about stating it. The God complex scene is one of Sorkin's best, showcasing his signature style of having his character clearly lay out their credentials for the sole purpose of acknowledging their own greatness. It is self gratifying and audiences loved every minute of it.
CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR: Gust Avrakotos
Gus Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman) in Charlie Wilson's War is a great example of Sorkin's ability to take real-life events and people and re-capture there complexity on screen. When Avrakotos is not given a position he is clearly qualified for, he angrily lays into his boss. Avrakotos list all the sacrifices he's made while working for the CIA, and demands his boss explain why he was disregarded for the job. This scene captures his charged up emotions whilst revealing the organisational corruption within the CIA.
SPORTS NIGHT: Dan Rydell
Sports Night demonstrated Sorkin's ability to merge different worlds in a relatable way that worked for audiences; in this case the worlds of sport, comedy, and drama. Dan Rydell's (Josh Charles) apology following his controversial comments to a magazine was one of Sorkin's best moments as he used Dan's remorse to add context to the show and to further develop the character's background story.
MONEYBALL: Billy Beane and Peter Brand
Although a departure from Sorkin's typical themes, the dynamic between Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) and Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) in the smash-hit sports film Moneyball gives it that Sorkin feel. The scene where the two secure the deal with Boston perfectly portrays Sorkin's harsh storytelling manner and wit that keeps audiences hooked.
THE NEWSROOM: Sloan Sabbith
Sloan Sabbith (Olivia Munn) in The Newsroom is smart, funny, and one of Sorkin's strong female leads, who like her male counterparts, has no problem putting people in their place. When someone calls Sabbith a "money skirt" she puts them in their place with humour by reminding them she's a nerd and makes them look good too.
The third and final season of The Newsroom is released on Blu-ray and DVD on 15th June 2015 and is also available now on digital download. The Newsroom: Seasons 1 to 3 boxset is also available on 15th June.
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