Character Analysis: Vincent Moore

Character Analysis: Vince Moore

By: Brian Cotnoir

Vince Moore from "CHAPPiE"

Alright, so when the film “CHAPPiE” came out in 2015, it didn’t really strike me as anything that I wanted to see.  Flash forward some time later, I was introduced to the South African hip-hop group Die Antwoord, and when I found out that they star as themselves in a the film “CHAPPiE”, I decided to seek out the film, and what can I say other than I really liked.  It had elements of “RoboCop” and “Iron Man”, and was a visually pleasing film.   

So with that being said, I decided that I wanted to do a Character Analysis on one of the members of Die Antwoord, however, I found it quite difficult to choose which one I preferred to write about, and then the more I thought about it, I decided that they were more or less playing slightly fictionalized versions of their on stage personas.  Well, Die Antwoord, weren’t the only stars in the film I that I enjoyed.  Hugh Jackman also appeared in the film, and when I realized that I had never done a Character Analysis on any of Hugh Jackman’s characters, I decided that I needed to change that, and so here is my Character Analysis on his character from “CHAPPiE”, Vincent Moore.

CHARACTER: Vince Moore from “CHAPPiE” (2015)

     Vincent Moore is a soldier turned robotics engineer for the Tetravaal Corporation in Johannesburg, South Africa.  He is the creator of the giant weaponized robot controlled by a human remote control called MOOSE.  Moore’s work (and funding) are constantly being slashed due to a more popular and efficient Police Robot Droid designed by one of his co-workers, Deon Wilson.              

    Vincent’s jealousy slowly boils over into rage and he concocts a plan to sabotage Deon’s robot droids and convince his boss, Michelle Bradley, to let him put the MOOSE into action.         

    As a former soldier, Vincent definitely gives off an alpha male vibe to everyone around his office.  He uses his imposing stature to intimidate his co-workers—especially Deon—and openly carries a pistol on his belt everywhere he goes, including the office.  He strangely enough comes across as a strict conservative and somewhat religious, often inviting his co-workers to join him at church on Sunday.  In some ways he comes across as your stereotypical Midwestern American whose life revolves around Guns and giving glory to God.                     

    Vincent uses his military skill to stalk Deon and discovers that he has created a police droid with Artificial Intelligence.  He uses his connections at the Tetravaal Corporation to ambush Chappie steal the companies Guard Key to shut down the other droids, which causes chaos and anarchy to reign all over the city of Johannesburg.  He pins the blame on Deon, and finally convinces his superiors that his MOOSE is their only hope at restoring law and order in the city.                        

    However, Vincent also has ulterior motives. He doesn’t just want to look like he saved the city, he wants to destroy Deon, his robot creation Chappie, and anyone else who stands in his ways.  

THE ACTOR:

Hugh Jackman plays Vincent Moore

Vincent Moore is played by Australian actor, Hugh Jackman.  Despite being set in South Africa, Jackman’s character was allowed to keep his natural Australian accent (with no rhyme or reason why an Australian solider might being working for a weapons company in South Africa).  Jackman is a very versatile actor who can play any character from a larger than life flamboyant singer to a bad ass super hero. In “CHAPPiE” we finally get to see him as an all-out villain, and not like a dark brooding anti-hero, like Wolverine.   In this film it’s very clear that Jackman’s character is the baddy, and he does a great job with it.

CHARACTER IS SIMILAR TO OR INSPIRED BY:

    Vincent Moore is more or less a combination of every “Iron Man” movie villain.  He creates a giant killer robot that only he can control with the intention of destroying a colleagues robotic creation like Obidiah Stane.  He is driven to sabotage a more successful rival and show off his untested robotic creations and earn a government contract like Justin Hammer, and his driven by vengeance like Aldrich Killian.         

                

    I would also say that he shares some slight similarities to another Jackman character, Charlie Kenton, from the movie “Real Steel” as both characters fight epic battles using robots that they control with the minds and movement.

Hugh Jackman in "Real Steel"

FATE OF THE CHARACTER:

     Vincent uses the MOOSE to track down Deon, Chappie, and group of gangsters that Chappie has befriended (played by Ninja and Yolandi of Die Antwoord).   In an attempt to destroy Chappie once and for all, he ends up shooting Deon and murdering Yolandi, who Chappie views as his mother.  In a blinding rage Chappie destroys MOOSE before traveling to Tetravaal headquarters and proceeds to senselessly beat Vince to the near point of death, thus leaving the fate of hi character open to interpretation  (or a possible return if the film ever spawns a Sequel).