Best Cases Of A Character Stopping Their Movie For A Moment.
By Edtrader Oct. 3rd, 2022
Have you ever watched a movie and thought about the absurdity? There are a number of ways writers use a character to throw out the absurdity.
Have you ever watched a movie and thought about the absurdity? There are a number of ways writers use a character to throw out the absurdity.
#7. The Barbara Syndrome.
George Romero's Night Of The Living Dead leading lady is that of Barbara. She is a study in the helpless woman role of a movie. She runs off screaming, she falls down, she loses her shoes, and she lays around almost comatose and mumbling. Ten years later, the norm would be for the women to give guys a full-frontal nudity shot.
George himself doesn't like to look at her character. As it's so cliche, and he has since made women's characters more powerful as a way of apologizing. That leads us to the fifth film in his Dead series. Diary Of the Dead tells of college filmmakers making a horror movie project. When the dead rise, and they decide to film their experience. They are doing a scene where a mummy-type creature is chasing Alexis. When Jason Creed the director yells cut. Then he instructs the mummy, Derek, to pull on her dress. She stops the movie (and the movie within the movie) to tell Jason no.
Surmising "You want him to pull on my dress so my t!ts fall out". "Ain't going happen". "And why in these movies does the women have to fall down, lose their shoes, and shit"!
In that one moment, all of the absurdities of women as helpless people are addressed and buried. While George is also putting the final button on his forty-year-long apologies.
George Romero's Night Of The Living Dead leading lady is that of Barbara. She is a study in the helpless woman role of a movie. She runs off screaming, she falls down, she loses her shoes, and she lays around almost comatose and mumbling. Ten years later, the norm would be for the women to give guys a full-frontal nudity shot.
George himself doesn't like to look at her character. As it's so cliche, and he has since made women's characters more powerful as a way of apologizing. That leads us to the fifth film in his Dead series. Diary Of the Dead tells of college filmmakers making a horror movie project. When the dead rise, and they decide to film their experience. They are doing a scene where a mummy-type creature is chasing Alexis. When Jason Creed the director yells cut. Then he instructs the mummy, Derek, to pull on her dress. She stops the movie (and the movie within the movie) to tell Jason no.
Surmising "You want him to pull on my dress so my t!ts fall out". "Ain't going happen". "And why in these movies does the women have to fall down, lose their shoes, and shit"!
In that one moment, all of the absurdities of women as helpless people are addressed and buried. While George is also putting the final button on his forty-year-long apologies.
#6. The Other Guy
George Lazenby took over as James Bond in On Her Majesty Secret Service. It was the first time on film that a major character in a film series had been replaced. So, there was the absurdity of changing actors while keeping the same character. That and the fact that no one has that many high-risk adventures. And survives without a scratch.
With the change, the writer actually included some better character development for Bond. Giving him a wife that gets killed at the end. The film overall was darker and more realistic.
But they had to address the actor change. Instead of just ignoring it or making a big deal about it, it was written for George to stop the movie. and in one line, it would make fun of taking care of it all. 'This never happened to the other guy, Which is also the only time in the entire franchise that mentions the changing of the stars.
George Lazenby took over as James Bond in On Her Majesty Secret Service. It was the first time on film that a major character in a film series had been replaced. So, there was the absurdity of changing actors while keeping the same character. That and the fact that no one has that many high-risk adventures. And survives without a scratch.
With the change, the writer actually included some better character development for Bond. Giving him a wife that gets killed at the end. The film overall was darker and more realistic.
But they had to address the actor change. Instead of just ignoring it or making a big deal about it, it was written for George to stop the movie. and in one line, it would make fun of taking care of it all. 'This never happened to the other guy, Which is also the only time in the entire franchise that mentions the changing of the stars.
#5. Wait Wait.
One way they do this is for a character to do the 'Wait a minute, let me get this straight'.
Is everyone there dead? Answer: Deadish. That's the infamous line that was the selling point for Dawn Of The Dead (2004). A remake of the George A. Romero 1978 classic. Ty Burrell (famous from the show Modern Family), as Steven said that.
But he does get laid with the slutty character. So he shouldn't be that upset about his situation. The point is that they are safe and secure. He even points out the absurdity of being able to get food to Andy down the block. 'We should draw straws. The loser has to run across the street with a ham sandwich.
The character CJ points out the most absurd moment of all. The plan is to take some of the shuttle buses and fortify them. Then take off to the harbor and get on Steven's boat. Heading to an island thinking it would be safe. For no real good reason folks get tired of the mall. So, they hatch a plain to leave out unto uncertainty.
In the original, a biker gang blew all the doors away, so they couldn't keep the zombies out anymore. So they had to leave. But here, they have plenty of food and supplies. And no troubles of the sort. CJ literally stops the movie for a second and says what the audience is thinking.
'Gonna take some old buses, fix um up while Andy jumps on like a wagon western. Then journey through a city with thousands of dead cannibals. Just to go off on this Mutha F**kers boat. And head to some island that we don't even know exists.
Which is the dumbest and most absurd thing to do. And it gets them all killed in the end.
#4. One line zingers.
You can thank the Chiodo brothers for giving the world Killer Klowns From Outer Space. For those with a clown phobia, this must be the most horrifying movie ever made. If you haven't seen it, there are clowns that come from outer space. And they kill people... Got it!
The Mike Tobacco character is the first to encounter the clowns and live. So it's really his job to alert the local authorities. His town is near a college, so there are clashes between the townfolk and students. And the one man who is the line between the two is sheriff Curtis Mooney (John Vernon). Who is quite a stern character.
So, Mike runs into the police station and spills his story to deputy Dave Hansen (John Nelson). The sheriff overhears all of this, and the movie stops as he comes in with a terrific one-liner. 'Killier clowns from outer space, holy sh*t'. You could film that with a hundred different actors doing a hundred takes, and none would be as dead-on and perfect as John's.
One way they do this is for a character to do the 'Wait a minute, let me get this straight'.
Is everyone there dead? Answer: Deadish. That's the infamous line that was the selling point for Dawn Of The Dead (2004). A remake of the George A. Romero 1978 classic. Ty Burrell (famous from the show Modern Family), as Steven said that.
But he does get laid with the slutty character. So he shouldn't be that upset about his situation. The point is that they are safe and secure. He even points out the absurdity of being able to get food to Andy down the block. 'We should draw straws. The loser has to run across the street with a ham sandwich.
The character CJ points out the most absurd moment of all. The plan is to take some of the shuttle buses and fortify them. Then take off to the harbor and get on Steven's boat. Heading to an island thinking it would be safe. For no real good reason folks get tired of the mall. So, they hatch a plain to leave out unto uncertainty.
In the original, a biker gang blew all the doors away, so they couldn't keep the zombies out anymore. So they had to leave. But here, they have plenty of food and supplies. And no troubles of the sort. CJ literally stops the movie for a second and says what the audience is thinking.
'Gonna take some old buses, fix um up while Andy jumps on like a wagon western. Then journey through a city with thousands of dead cannibals. Just to go off on this Mutha F**kers boat. And head to some island that we don't even know exists.
Which is the dumbest and most absurd thing to do. And it gets them all killed in the end.
#4. One line zingers.
You can thank the Chiodo brothers for giving the world Killer Klowns From Outer Space. For those with a clown phobia, this must be the most horrifying movie ever made. If you haven't seen it, there are clowns that come from outer space. And they kill people... Got it!
The Mike Tobacco character is the first to encounter the clowns and live. So it's really his job to alert the local authorities. His town is near a college, so there are clashes between the townfolk and students. And the one man who is the line between the two is sheriff Curtis Mooney (John Vernon). Who is quite a stern character.
So, Mike runs into the police station and spills his story to deputy Dave Hansen (John Nelson). The sheriff overhears all of this, and the movie stops as he comes in with a terrific one-liner. 'Killier clowns from outer space, holy sh*t'. You could film that with a hundred different actors doing a hundred takes, and none would be as dead-on and perfect as John's.
3. Smerky monologue.
John McClane (Bruce Willis) was off to California to spend some Christmas time with his kids. Stopped by to have a little Christmas party at his estranged wife's office. He had some drinks and cake, then saw his kids open their presents. And the movie ends, NOT! Between drinks and the kids, something happened. Terrorists, helicopters, FBI agents, and some yippe ki ayyys.
Die Hard has a cop from New York who isn't out to save the day. He just happens to be at an office that gets taken over by terrorists. His wife is among the hostages, so he has to save her. For any other reason, he would have smoked some cigarettes and waited it out.
Armed with only a handgun, he takes off on his adventure. In the midst of all the action, he has a moment to ponder his situation. He's been shot at and now hides out in the building's air shafts. 'Come out to the coast, get together, have a view, laughs'. It's a real moment that calls out the humor of his situation.
However, in Part 2, an airport's tower is cut off from control. And terrorists keep the planes flying above. Now who's in the airport waiting for his wife... John!
Having her in danger again, he springs into action. With just two hours before the planes run out of fuel. As he's in the tunnels under the airport trying to figure out what to do, he stops for a moment. 'I can't believe this'. How does this just happen to the same guy two years in a row?
Never before in sequels has a character pointed out the absurdity of these things keeping happening. Rambo never stops to say that if only he'd stayed home, he wouldn't be fighting in Burma. Towards the end, it's the wife's turn to point it out. After her plane gets to land, she hugs all tenderly. And half crying and half laughing, she asks, "Why does this keep happening to us?"
Die Hard 3 John survives after running into a bomb on a train. It blows up, knocking the train through the walls of the station. An entire city block of concrete falls down, and he simply crawls out like it was a picnic. It's quite absurd that that would happen.
However, when John crawls out of the pool of metal and concrete, He looks around with a big ole smile on his face. Without saying a word, you can just read his face saying, 'Are you believing this sh*t?
John McClane (Bruce Willis) was off to California to spend some Christmas time with his kids. Stopped by to have a little Christmas party at his estranged wife's office. He had some drinks and cake, then saw his kids open their presents. And the movie ends, NOT! Between drinks and the kids, something happened. Terrorists, helicopters, FBI agents, and some yippe ki ayyys.
Die Hard has a cop from New York who isn't out to save the day. He just happens to be at an office that gets taken over by terrorists. His wife is among the hostages, so he has to save her. For any other reason, he would have smoked some cigarettes and waited it out.
Armed with only a handgun, he takes off on his adventure. In the midst of all the action, he has a moment to ponder his situation. He's been shot at and now hides out in the building's air shafts. 'Come out to the coast, get together, have a view, laughs'. It's a real moment that calls out the humor of his situation.
However, in Part 2, an airport's tower is cut off from control. And terrorists keep the planes flying above. Now who's in the airport waiting for his wife... John!
Having her in danger again, he springs into action. With just two hours before the planes run out of fuel. As he's in the tunnels under the airport trying to figure out what to do, he stops for a moment. 'I can't believe this'. How does this just happen to the same guy two years in a row?
Never before in sequels has a character pointed out the absurdity of these things keeping happening. Rambo never stops to say that if only he'd stayed home, he wouldn't be fighting in Burma. Towards the end, it's the wife's turn to point it out. After her plane gets to land, she hugs all tenderly. And half crying and half laughing, she asks, "Why does this keep happening to us?"
Die Hard 3 John survives after running into a bomb on a train. It blows up, knocking the train through the walls of the station. An entire city block of concrete falls down, and he simply crawls out like it was a picnic. It's quite absurd that that would happen.
However, when John crawls out of the pool of metal and concrete, He looks around with a big ole smile on his face. Without saying a word, you can just read his face saying, 'Are you believing this sh*t?
#2. Tip a hat to the audience.
Jason from the Friday The 13th series keeps getting buried for the final time. Just for someone to come along and dig him up. You'd figure that after a while, people would stay away from Crystal Lake. But every year, another group of kids comes. As the kids in Part 6 go so far as to even crack jokes about Jason.
Director Tom Laughlin was offered the gig as director but had some troubles at first. How have they just done five of these things. But he thought it would be interesting to point out some of the absurdities. The graveyard caretaker, Martin (Bob Larkin), comes to work one morning just to see Jason's grave dug up. But really, the character of Hawes is barely in the casket.
Tommy Jarvis (Thom Mathews) and Hawes (Ron Padillo) dug up the grave so Tommy could burn it. Tommy being the little boy in part four and a teen in part five. So, his biggest fear was that Jason would return. So, they go dig it up to burn the body. But in true Friday The 13th fashion, Jason rises up. Kills Hawes who falls into the grave while Tommy runs off.
The next morning, Martin showed up and found it dug up. With Hawes' foot sticking out of the casket. He just thinks someone dug it up and didn't even put the body back in right. But he isn't touching the slimy thing. So, he picks up his shovel and starts to throw the dirt back in.
But then he stops the movie mid-swing, and Tom has the actor look right into the camera. 'Why they want to dig Jason up'. 'Some folks have a strange idea of entertainment'. In just one moment, the absurdity of bringing this character back is addressed and put to bed.
It's absurd to even kill Jason at the end of these movies. The next writer or director always finds a way. Tom thought about that and didn't even try to say he was dead for good. So, at the end, Jason's eye is still open, and it moves. Even through the mask, you can read Jason's expression of 'I'll be back'.
#1. Ask & Answer.
The two biggest criticisms of The Wolf Of Wall Street were the unneeded sexual and drug overtones. Which gets outta hand and steals away from the plot of the illegal business practices and feds on the chase. It's absurd that that really matters. Everyday moviegoers don't understand much about IPOs and how the stock market really works.
Nor does it really matter all that much. You've got to have a story and characters people can get into. The company's business and legalities are just the means to have a plot and characters coexist. Plus, no one would pay to see an office full of business people for the entire movie. If that were the case, then it would be "Dude, I got tickets, front row center, at the Simmons Bank on Central Street next week, man".
So, in just one scene, the absurdity of the audience really caring and being knowledgeable is tossed out.
Jordan Belfort (Leo DicCaprio) literally walks the audience through the office crowd. Beginning to explain seriously how the whole company's IPO works. When he just stops and surmises "I know ya'll aren't getting what I'm saying anyways". "It's OK because it doesn't even matter". And the question over the legalities is also surmised and thrown out in two lines: "Was all of this legal"? "Absolutely (F word)ing not"! Jordan finishes it off by saying, all that matters is that they were making more money than they knew what to do with.
Jason from the Friday The 13th series keeps getting buried for the final time. Just for someone to come along and dig him up. You'd figure that after a while, people would stay away from Crystal Lake. But every year, another group of kids comes. As the kids in Part 6 go so far as to even crack jokes about Jason.
Director Tom Laughlin was offered the gig as director but had some troubles at first. How have they just done five of these things. But he thought it would be interesting to point out some of the absurdities. The graveyard caretaker, Martin (Bob Larkin), comes to work one morning just to see Jason's grave dug up. But really, the character of Hawes is barely in the casket.
Tommy Jarvis (Thom Mathews) and Hawes (Ron Padillo) dug up the grave so Tommy could burn it. Tommy being the little boy in part four and a teen in part five. So, his biggest fear was that Jason would return. So, they go dig it up to burn the body. But in true Friday The 13th fashion, Jason rises up. Kills Hawes who falls into the grave while Tommy runs off.
The next morning, Martin showed up and found it dug up. With Hawes' foot sticking out of the casket. He just thinks someone dug it up and didn't even put the body back in right. But he isn't touching the slimy thing. So, he picks up his shovel and starts to throw the dirt back in.
But then he stops the movie mid-swing, and Tom has the actor look right into the camera. 'Why they want to dig Jason up'. 'Some folks have a strange idea of entertainment'. In just one moment, the absurdity of bringing this character back is addressed and put to bed.
It's absurd to even kill Jason at the end of these movies. The next writer or director always finds a way. Tom thought about that and didn't even try to say he was dead for good. So, at the end, Jason's eye is still open, and it moves. Even through the mask, you can read Jason's expression of 'I'll be back'.
#1. Ask & Answer.
The two biggest criticisms of The Wolf Of Wall Street were the unneeded sexual and drug overtones. Which gets outta hand and steals away from the plot of the illegal business practices and feds on the chase. It's absurd that that really matters. Everyday moviegoers don't understand much about IPOs and how the stock market really works.
Nor does it really matter all that much. You've got to have a story and characters people can get into. The company's business and legalities are just the means to have a plot and characters coexist. Plus, no one would pay to see an office full of business people for the entire movie. If that were the case, then it would be "Dude, I got tickets, front row center, at the Simmons Bank on Central Street next week, man".
So, in just one scene, the absurdity of the audience really caring and being knowledgeable is tossed out.
Jordan Belfort (Leo DicCaprio) literally walks the audience through the office crowd. Beginning to explain seriously how the whole company's IPO works. When he just stops and surmises "I know ya'll aren't getting what I'm saying anyways". "It's OK because it doesn't even matter". And the question over the legalities is also surmised and thrown out in two lines: "Was all of this legal"? "Absolutely (F word)ing not"! Jordan finishes it off by saying, all that matters is that they were making more money than they knew what to do with.