Pop Culture & the Law: Twisters

Twisters: Not a Reboot or a Sequel

We all know Hollywood loves a franchise. The Marvel cinematic universe is apparently so vast we may never reach its borders. I’ve rolled my eyes plenty at the lack of original story telling, but Twisters made me check my assumptions. According to lead actor Glen Powell, Twisters is not a reboot or a sequel of the 1990s hit Twister. Rather, it’s a stand-alone story set in modern-day. 

In the movie, we meet Kate, a brilliant meteorologist who gave up storm chasing after a tragedy. An old friend talks her into coming back to her home state of Oklahoma for a week. During that week, she meets Tyler, a YouTuber known as the “Tornando Wrangler.” I’m sure you can imagine the rest of the story. It’s a charming tale with familiar face-your-fears themes.

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Just because the movie is easily digestible, doesn’t mean it was simple to create. The magic of storytelling lies in the comfort of the familiar mixed with something new and exciting. If the audience has to work too hard to understand something, the comfort is gone. If it’s not new and exciting it feels like a waste of their time. In the case of Twisters, I think the acting and the special effects worked together to create a modern but familiar story. It may not be groundbreaking, but it didn’t feel like a waste of time.

When we are telling our cases to opposing counsel, a mediator, or a jury, it's important to keep in mind that the story should be easily digestible. Familiar, yet new. We don’t want our audience to feel like they’re in film school trying to understand the meaning of a bizarre scene. 

The balance between comfort and new can be hard to achieve, but a good place to start is whittling the story down to its essentials. In the case of Twisters, the audience didn’t need a 30-minute explanation of meteorology. There had to be enough science to add credibility to the story, but the heart of the story was one of redemption. 

Obviously, the law requires specific pieces of evidence in support of a claim, but that doesn’t mean we should overlook the essential part of a story. That might be a family who’s lost their matriarch, a child who’s lost a parent, or a person who’s lost their independence. That’s always going to be the heart of the story. It’s the lawyer’s job to add enough details to establish credibility without making the story too difficult to understand. 

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The Universal Story: Man vs. A Cataclysmic Force

In an interview with Vogue, Glen Powell recalled advice he received from Tom Cruise: “If you want to make movies of a certain size and scope and scale, you have to figure out what can connect with everyone around the world in every territory.” Twisters is an example of this because “humans versus weather is a very universal idea — how powerless we really are in the face of these cataclysmic forces.”

Similarly, legal cases need to be able to connect with a variety of people. By honing in on the universal ideas and themes, you’ll be better able to connect on an emotional level with your audience. When people are emotionally invested, they pay better attention. 

In my spare time, I write novels. To hone my craft, I've read a lot about storytelling. One of my favorite quotes is from Leo Tolstoy:

All great literature is one of two stories: a man goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town. 

Another favorite is that all stories are about love or survival, the best are about both. Sometimes we shy away from using grandiose themes, worrying they will feel cheesy. I think this is a valid concern. A theme alone, without the added human details will feel like a cardboard cutout. Explaining that your client is fighting for his life is more compelling if you describe that life. 

Universal themes are abundant. A few examples are: overcoming fears, defeating a monster, redemption, love, good vs. evil, corruption, human vs. machine, coming-of-age, survival, revenge, grief, safety, misplaced trust, family.  

Imagine you are telling a jury that your client can no longer go for an after dinner walk with his wife. Most people will feel at least some sympathy. Now picture starting the story with a universal theme—that it's the little things in life that make it special. You offer examples people might connect with. A tradition of baking holiday cookies, meeting childhood friends for a weekly coffee, going to opening day of the Padres with your family. Then, you explain that your client had a little thing too: after dinner walks with his wife. I guarantee your audience will be more invested than if you just presented the evidence without the universal theme. 

‍Twisters is an excellent reminder that there is nothing embarrassing about being able to trim a story down to its essential parts. You can find your theme by picturing the movie trailer. Is your case an adventure story, one of redemption or betrayal? Has a stranger come to town or has someone gone on a quest? When you’re introducing all of the necessary evidence, make sure there is love or survival at the core. Preferably both. By presenting your case with a universal theme, you can create an emotional connection that will ensure an engaged audience.

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Leslie Hulburt is a co-founder of Hulburt Law Firm. She is an experienced trial attorney who has litigated cases against major corporations, manufacturers and government entities. In addition to the law, she has worked at the washingtonpost.com and as a garden teacher for elementary school students. These experiences give her a unique perspective on the most compelling way to present a case. Leslie finds inspiration in countless places, including movies, tv shows, books and podcasts. Pop Culture & the Law explores the ways our favorite entertainment can offer wisdom in the practice of law.

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