50 Coolest Movie Writers

Paul Avery - Zodiac (2007)

The Movie Writer: Boozed-up crime journalist Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr) joins forces with political cartoonist Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) for an unofficial investigation into the infamous (and elusive) Zodiac killer.

Coolest Moment: In true RDJ form, Avery is a snappy character who gives this thriller a well-needed burst of dark comedy. We love the nonchalant way he confesses to losing all the evidence the duo have carefully gathered:

"I lost them... Or I tossed them. I don't know, I moved onto a boat."

Theodore Twombly - Her (2013)

The Movie Writer: Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) is the introverted leading man of Spike Jonze's solo screenwriting debut Her , which is already sure to be the quirky favourite film of the year.

Coolest Moment: It's hard to pick a stand out cool moment in such a gorgeous movie (plus we're very conscious of spoilers), but Twombly's occupation - writing personal letters for people who struggle to convey their emotions - is just about the coolest and most delightful thing we've heard in a while.

Raoul Duke - Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas (1998)

The Movie Writer: This was a pre-Bruckheimer Johnny Depp, arguably at his oddball best playing the journo sent to Las Vegas on an assignment that quickly descends into a drug trip like no other.

Coolest Moment: The first time we see Duke - he's so high he's seeing a swarm of bats. It sets the tone for the movie perfectly.

Jane Austen - Becoming Jane (2007)

The Movie Writer: Literature's favourite romance writer gets a chance to tell her own story in this (often overly) sentimental biography.

Coolest Moment: Jane sacrifces her own happiness with beau Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy) to save him from a life of financial hardship. A completely unselfish act, it's a very different kind of cool, but cool nonetheless.

Bernard Berkman - The Squid And The Whale (2005)

The Movie Writer: Once promising novellist Berkman (Jeff Daniels) slowly loses his creative spark as he retires from writing and hides himself away in teaching.

He's also completely tortured by his wife's blooming literary success.

Coolest Moment: It's his 'cool' moments that are actually his downfall, as his attempts to be a hip and happenin' Dad just lose him the respect of his sons, as well as the audience.

Arthur Rimbaud - Total Eclipse (1995)

The Movie Writer: Decadent poet Rimbaud (Leonardo DiCaprio) enters into a comsuming and eventually toxic relationship with fellow writer Paul Verlaine (David Thewlis) in this fairly historically accurate biography.

Coolest Moment: Rimaud arrives at Verlaine's fancy Paris home, and immediately begins scandalising the in-laws with his wild behaviour and eccentric views.

Dan Woolf - Closer (2004)

The Movie Writer: One of the four totally horrible yet completely captivating characters in this twisted Mike Nichols riddle, we follow Dan (Jude Law) as he goes from journalist to successful novelist.

Coolest Moment: Tricking hapless love rival Larry (Clive Owen) into engaging in a truly graphic cyber sex session. It's impossible to look away.

Briony Tallis - Atonement (2007)

The Movie Writer: Briony's writing is the beginning and ending to Atonement - we open with her as a teenager (Saoirse Ronan), finishing up a play due to be performed for the family that evening, and close with her as an elderly novelist (Vanessa Redgrave), giving what could be her final interview.

Coolest Moment: It might be her fault that everything unravels, but Briony's determination to give Robbie (James McAvoy) and Cecilia (Keira Knightley) their happy ending on paper is a nice touch.

Emma Morley - One Day (2011)

The Movie Writer: Ignore the very dodgy Yorkshire accent. Emma (Anne Hathaway) lives out the life we all dread - grotty waitressing gig, boring boyfriend - whilst BFF Dexter seems to have hit the bigtime.

However, that all changes when Emma bags herself a publishing deal and becomes a renowned author of young adult books.

Coolest Moment: When Dexter arrives in Paris and sees our girl all grown-up, looking happy, healthy and sporting a tres chic pixie cut.

Paul Kemp - The Rum Diary (2011)

The Movie Writer: Not great film, cool character.

You can always rely on Hunter S. Thompson to bring the big guns when it comes to his protagonists, and Paul's story is no exception.

Coolest Moment: Placing the fate of the last editon of their newspaper on a bet, Kemp (Johnny Depp) and friends head to a cockfight. And people say print is dying...