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).  

Character Analysis: Lestat de Lioncourt

Character Analysis: Lestat de Lioncourt

By: Brian Cotnoir

     So a little background story first: This year, I went to the city of New Orleans for my 28^th birthday this year.  It was my first time in the city, I have no clue what made me want to go, but it just seemed like my kind of place, so me and my best friend booked a flight down and spent the week down there, and fell in love with the French Quarter.   Since I got back, I’ve been obsessed with all things New Orleans.  I’ve been reading books about the city, watching movies and TV shows set there, that city put some kind of spell on me.   And well, I figured this would be the time to talk about an Anne Rice character seeing as a good portion of her Vampire Chronicles stories are set in the New Orleans area.  And I could think of any better Anne Rice character to write about than Lestat de Lioncourt.  Now I should clarify that I am only going to be talking about the Film versions of Lestat only, so I’m sure to leave out some key details about his life in this post because I’m only focusing on the film versions of him, and there’s bound to be differences or changes to the events in the life of Lestat in the films vs. the events of his life in the books, and there are a lot of things in both film versions that seem to contradict one another.

CHARACTER: Lestat de Lioncourt from “Interview with a Vampire” (1994) and “Queen of the Damned” (2002).

Lestat.  Tom Cruise (L) and Stuart Townsend (R) 

In the earliest introduction to Lestat de Lioncourt we see that was a French Nobleman sometime in the late 18^th century.  He was transformed into a vampire by a vampire named Marius in the winter of 1788, on an island in the Mediterranean.  Marius teaches Lestat everything he needs to know about being a vampire, though he absolutely detests having to hide his vampirism, when he feels he should be able to tell everyone.  He records his thoughts in a diary while living with Marius, and eventually discovers the crypt of Queen Akasha—the Vampire Mother of All vampires—and unintentionally awakens her.     

    Lestat has certain arrogance about him.  He is cocky, self-centered, egotistical, and is constantly in pursuit of a new kill or person to turn into a personal play thing.  He is manipulative and likes to play mind games with people.  To him people are things for him to play with.  To Lestat, mortals are either food, or someone he can turn into to use has his own personal plaything.  He has total disregard for all persons other than himself.  He also comes across as a person who has to be completely in control, it’s his way or the highway.                

Lestat and his protege Louis from

    Three years later he wound up in 1791, where he met a young man named Louis de Pointe du Lac, of which he becomes infatuated with and turns into a vampire.  Although, Louis requested that Lestat turn him into a vampire, Louis has an extremely difficult time coming to grips with his new life as a vampire and his reluctance to take any human lives so that he might live another day, and instead opting to feast on the blood of animals instead.  Louis’s desire to remain human by avoiding taking the lives of humans tests Lestat’s patience and prompts him to lash out at Louis in anger, and he is constantly peppering him with verbal abuse and antagonizes him for not accepting his life as a vampire.  Lestat often has to finish Louis' kills for him.  Fearing Louis will leave him, he turns a young Orphan girl, named Claudia, into a vampire so the two of them might raise her as their daughter.  Lestat is very impatient with Louis, but as time progresses he does become more patient.             

    Lestat is also quite musically gifted.  In “Queen of the Damned” it is revealed that Lestat is quite an accomplished musician.  He plays the violin and is also a great singer with hypnotic-like vocals, and at this point in his life he’s more interested in feeding on humans rather than turning them into vampires, and at no point does he try to turn any of his bandmates into vampires either.  

THE ACTORS:

Lestat is played by Hollywood Legend Tom Cruise in “Interview with a Vampire” and actor Stuart Townsend in “Queen of the Damned”.  Each actor portrays Lestat in entirely different ways.   Cruise’s Lestat is a colorful, charming, attention seeker, who craves the admiration and affection of others.  Townsend’s Lestat is definitely a more brooding, apathetic type.  He’s arrogant, but also gives off a loner vibe.  Like Cruises Lestat he has a desire to be heard by all, but strangely enough does not want to be seen.   Very rarely in “Queen of the Damned” do you see Lestat appear with his bandmates unless he’s performing on stage, otherwise he seeks isolation and hides in his castle in England.  

CHARACTER IS SIMILAR TO OR INSPIRED BY:

     Lestat in The Vampire Chronicles novels was inspired by Author Anne Rice’s husband Stan Rice.  In fact Lestat in the novel was almost named Lestan.                                    

     As for the film portrayals of Lestat, well like the actors who play Lestat they both present their representations of Lestat in very different ways. Tom Cruise definitely comes across as more foppish and sophisticated.  He is a person who wants and desires only the finer things in life, and will stop at nothing to get what he wants.  He is focused on outward appearances and looking his best.   There are definitely a lot of homoerotic undertones in Cruises portrayal—just like in the novelization of Interview with a Vampire—but in the film comes more across as a bisexual or polyamorous man seducing both men and women indiscriminately.  He appears to prefer young women, just to feed upon, but seems more sexually attracted to men.      

    I would say Cruise’s Lestat is quite similar to Colin Firth’s character Valmont from the 1989 film “Valmont” (*I don’t think Cruise’s Lestat is anything like John Malkovich’ portrayal of Valmont form “Dangerous Liaisons” even though they’re the same character from the same French novel*).  Both are members of French High Society and are in constant pursuit of gaining things for their own selfish needs.    

Colin Firth in "Valmont" (1989)

Tom Cruise in "Interview with a Vampire" (1994)

                    

    Lestat in “Queen of the Damned” shares some of those qualities too, but is also quite different.  Townsend’s portrayal Lestat comes across as more “androgynous” than sexually ambiguous.  He only feeds on women in “Queen of the Damned” and often has the bands manager bring him two willing female fans each night for him to feast upon.  Lestat in “Queen of the Damned” does not try to cover up his vampirism, and is very open about being a vampire—much to the disapproval of his fellow vampires—and reminds me of a cross between popular Goth rock musicians like Peter Murphy, Trent Reznor, Peter Steele, and Marilyn Manson.

                  

    As for film characters, I would say Townsend’s Lestat is similar to Brandon Lee’s Erik Draven from “The Crow”, and I would definitely say that Townsend’s Lestat probably inspired the look and portrayal of the character Queenie from the 2009 film “SUCK”; both are Vampire Rock Stars who use their vampirism to catapult their music careers and stardom.

Queenie from "SUCK" (2009)

FATE OF THE CHARACTER:

     Like I said at the beginning of the post there are a lot of contradictions between Lestat’s lives in both films that don’t sync up suffer from a lot of continuity issues.   Another aspect where the Lestat’s differ is that “Interview with a Vampire” is based off of just one of the Anne Rice novels while; “Queen of the Damned” takes aspects from both the novel Queen of the Damned and The Vampire Lestat.  So there are parts in the film version of “Queen of the Damned” that don’t make much sense.        

In “Interview with a Vampire” we see that Lestat has survived multiple assassination attempts at the hands of Claudia and Louis including, tricking him into drinking a dead person’s blood, slitting his throat, feeding his corpse to a swamp alligator, and setting him on fire.   Despite all these things happening to him, Lestat seems to possess some Rasputin like mystical abilities surviving all the murder attempts.   Lestat spends the next two-hundred years or so sulking in his own self-pity and misery in New Orleans as the world changes around him while he himself sits in his weekend state yearning to return to his former glory.  We last see Lestat in “Interview with a Vampire” in San Francisco lurking in the shadows—possibly still in the pursuit of Louis.                      

    However in “Queen of the Damned” it is revealed by Lestat himself that he has spent the past 100 years asleep in his crypt—making his chance meeting with Louis in New Orleans impossible—waiting to die as the world passes by around him, until he hears the sound of a local rock band, where he assumes the role of the bands new lead singer and helps catapult them into the mainstream media.  After surviving multiple assassination attempts and defeating the Vampire Queen Akasha he disappears into the London night with his new girlfriend, Jesse. 

Character Analysis: Max Shreck

Character Analysis: Max Shreck

By: Brian Cotnoir

Hello Friends, Long time no post.  Life’s been very busy for my lately as I continue to work towards my Masters, AND I started a new job, that I am very happy with, so I’ve had very little time to watch movies, let alone write new reviews.  Well, I’m here to talk to you today about one of my favorite film franchises of all-time; The “Batman” Films.  I’ve always been a fan of Batman, ever since I was a little boy.  I grew up watching Kevin Conroy voice Batman on “Batman the Animated Series”, I watched the Joel Schumacher Batman films, when I was a little, and I even watched a little bit of the Original Batman TV series, starring the late and great Adam West.  I did not see the original Tim Burton, Batman movies.   I’ve wanted to do a Character Analysis on a Batman Character for so long, but I kept running into the same issues every time.  Most of the Characters in the Batman films are directly inspired from the DC Comics, which would require some extensive research so I could discuss the differences between the characters in the Comics and the same characters in the films.  Not to mention that as of this date there have been 8 different Feature Length films featuring Batman, not to mention countless Direct to Video/DVD Animated Films, and would require a ton more research and would take me too long to complete.  But at last I finally came across a character from a Batman film—My Favorite Batman film actually—that is worthy of a Character Analysis; a character who never appeared in any prior Batman comics and was specifically created for a one time film role only.  So without further delay please enjoy my Character Analysis of Max Shreck from “Batman Returns”.

CHARACTER: Max Shreck from “Batman Returns” (1992)

Christopher Walken plays Max Shreck in "Batman Returns"

Max Shreck is the millionaire owner of Shreck’s Department Store in Gotham City.  Shreck’s displays acts of generosity around the Holiday Season, donating loads of toys and money to those in need all over Gotham City.  Many people refer to him as the Santa Claus of Gotham City.  However beneath his generous exterior lies a manipulative and malevolent man.  He has plans to expand his business empire by constructing a large Power Plant in Gotham City, with a little financial and political backing from the Mayor of Gotham City and the wealthiest man in the city, Bruce Wayne.  However, Shreck has some sinister motives for his power plant.  His plant isn’t going to supply power to the residents of Gotham City, but rather suck and store power, leaving the residents of Gotham City powerless (pun intended).  However, Shreck’s incompetent secretary Selena Kyle, accidentally uncovers Shreck’s evil plan, for which he tries to kill her by tossing her out a window near the top floor of his building, for having figured out his nefarious plan.      Shreck ends up being kidnapped and blackmailed by an evil underground villain known as The Penguin, who threatens to expose Shreck’s sinister deeds—including murder, fraud, and pollution—if he doesn’t help him with his own evil plans.  Shreck agrees to help The Penguin (whose real name is Oswald Cobblepot).  Using his money and power Shreck helps the Penguin stage a fake kidnapping where the Penguin will heroically rescue the Mayor of Gotham City’s infant child.   Once The Penguin has found favor and popularity amongst the residents of Gotham City, Shreck plans to use his money and power to get The Penguin elected Mayor of Gotham, so that he can get the approval he needs to build his power plant.

THE ACTOR:

Max Shreck is played by Hollywood Legend and Academy Award Winner, Christopher Walken.   “Batman Returns” was the first time Walken ever collaborated with writer/director Tim Burton.  Walken and Burton would work again together on the film “Sleepy Hollow” (1999), where Walken played The Hessian Soldier/Headless Horseman.  

    

CHARACTER IS SIMILAR TO OR INSPIRED BY:

Actor Maximillian Schreck as Count Orlock in "Noseferatu"

Unlike many other characters that have appeared in the Batman films, Max Shreck had not appeared in any prior Batman Comics.  He was created specifically for the film to fill the villain void left by actor Billy Dee Williams after he opted to not reprise his role as Harvey Dent in “Batman Returns” (…at least according to Wikipedia).  Shreck’s name is nod to the German Actor Maximillian Schreck who played the fiendish Count Orlock in the 1922 Classic German Horror film, “Nosferatu”.  Other than a name Max Shreck shares no similarities to the actor of the same name.          I honestly think Shreck shares some similarities and was possibly influenced by Donald Trump (before he became President of course). When you look at the similar hair styles, their ruthless business savvy minds, their use of Power and Money to achieve their own personal gains, while seemingly trying to pass themselves off as Regular Joes with caring, generous hearts, I definitely think Christopher Walken was trying to channel some Donald Trump into his acting performance.

I see it, Don't you?! 

FATE OF THE CHARACTER:

The End of Max Shreck 

After betraying The Penguin, who fails to get elected Mayor of Gotham City, Shreck tries to return to Business Empire like nothing changed.  Shreck is now being pursued by three persons, Selena Kyle (who has no donned the alias Cat Woman) for trying to murder her, The Penguin for welching on their deal, and Batman/Bruce Wayne, who has uncovered that Shreck and The Penguin were in cahoots together.  Shreck sacrifices himself to save his son, Chip (who had saved his life earlier in the film) and agrees to go with the Penguin where he will be killed.  While a fierce battle goes under the Gotham Zoo between Batman, the Penguin, and Catwoman, Shreck tries to escape unnoticed.  After trying once again to finish off Selena Kyle/Cat Woman for good, Shreck is brutally electrocuted to death by Selena Kyle, thus is the last we ever see or hear of Max Shreck in the Batman films. 

Character Analysis: Rotwang

Character Analysis: Rotwang

By: Brian Cotnoir

One of the earliest and most successful films of all-time has to be Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis”.  For a film that is almost a century old it still receives praise for its style, set, practical effects, and story.  The film only has 5-6 actual characters that you get to know from watching the film.  There’s the bitter Joh Fredersen, the sweet-natured Freder, and of course the lovely Maria, but as I learned through a quick search of Google, there have already been tons of Analysis’s done on these characters, but much to my surprise, there was one character that not—for the most part—has gained little fanfare, so today I am here to do my analysis on, Rotwang, the mad scientist.

CHARACTER: Rotwang from “Metropolis” (1927)

    Rotwang is a scientist and advisor to Joh Fredersen, the Master of Metropolis.  Rotwang, is a peculiar man to say the least.  He lives in a small, dumpy house in the center of the city.  This house has only one door and one window, and also has access to the cities catacombs via the basement.  Rotwang spends most of the day in his home performing his various experiments and mourning the death of his former lover, Hel, who left him for Joh Fredersen, and perished during childbirth.                       

Rotwang has a contentious relationship with the industrialist Joh Fredersen, to say the least, and surprisingly is kept as a top advisor by Joh Fredersen.  Rotwang shows Joh Fredersen, his latest creation, a “Man-Machine” that he intends to use to bring Hel back from the dead (by trapping her soul in the robot).  Rotwang actually lost one of his hands while working on the Man-Machine.  Joh Fredersen sees potential in Rotwang’s newest invention and instead instructs him to construct the Man-Machine in the image of his son’s lover, Maria—the powerful and influential leader of the Working Class—in hopes of disrupting there movement.  Rotwang reluctantly obliges, but double-crosses Joh Fredersen, by programming the Maria-bot (That’s just what I’m calling her) to only obey his commands.

THE ACTOR:

Rotwang is played by German Actor Rudolf Klein-Rogge, who has appeared in some of the earliest and most influential German films in History.  He has an uncredited role in “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”, and also played the role of Dr. Mabuse.  Rudolf Klein-Rogge is known most commonly for playing Mad Scientist roles in films.

CHARACTER IS SIMILAR TO OR INSPIRED BY:

Rotwang is a one of the earliest incarnations of a Mad Scientist in film, and thus, he has played a huge influence as to how the role is played in films.  Rotwang obviously shares a lot of traits with Victor Frankenstein from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, both are mad scientists with the desire to try and bring a person back from the dead, albeit, two completely different methods.  And both are said to have a God-Complex and are, “mad”.           

Dr. Victor Frankenstein

          

     I see similarities between Rotwang and Hjalmar from “The Black Cat” (1934).  Both are German men who have an unhealthy obsession with trying to bring back their dead lovers.               

     I also see similarities between him and Jack Dante from the film “Death Machine”, as are reclusive scientists, with mental instabilities who live in their own little world, but are still gainfully employed by rich and powerful companies, where they are paid to create godknowswhat in their laboratories and then use their robot creations to unleash death and destruction on their masses. Oh yes, Rotwang is probably the most influential Mad Scientist character in the history of film.

Jack Dante from "Death Machine"

FATE OF THE CHARACTER:

After his Maria-bot orders the workers to unleash untold destruction on the Metropolis, Rotwang goes to reap the benefits of his work.  He is unaware that the workers have come to their senses and have burned the Maria-bot (believing it to be the real Maria).  Rotwang eventually comes across the real Maria, but believes she is actually his Man-Machine.  Rotwang partakes in a chase and epic fight on top of the cathedral, with Freder (the son of Joh and Hel Fredersen), where he is knocked of the roof and plummets to his death.

Character Analysis: Maximilian von Mayerling

Character Analysis: Maximilian von Mayerling

By: Brian Cotnoir

     Award show season has kicked off again in America.  People are marking their predictions as to what films will win what awards, and the best and brightest of Hollywood anxiously await to hear their names called at Award Show ceremony’s, waiting for their moment in the sun.  Many Hollywood celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Hellen Mirren, Jennifer Lawrence, and Jack Nicholson have stood the test of time.  But for every Hollywood icon there are thousands more whose 15 minutes of fame has run out, and their left to reflect on their former fame and glory.  Yes, the “Hollywood Lifestyle” is often viewed as world of glamour, privilege, and absolute perfection, but there is also a dark seedy underbelly of the Hollywood life that not a lot of people like to talk about or see.  One of the best films that captures the Hollywood lifestyle after the limelight fades in the 1950 classic “Sunset Boulevard”.  This is one of those films that not everyone sees, but still knows the plot and still understand pop culture references being made about it (similar to “Jaws” and “Star Wars”).  The film doesn’t have a large cast, but does feature some very memorable characters, and I’m here to talk about probably the most overlooked character in the film, and that would be, Max von Mayerling.

CHARACTER: Maximilian von Mayerling from “Sunset Boulevard” (1950)

Max from "Sunset Boulevard" (1950)

Maximilian “Max” von Mayerling is the loyal and dedicated house servant to Norma Desmond, a former silent film star.  Max is the only employee of Miss Desmond.  He serves as her butler, chauffer, and special assistant.  It is revealed towards the end of the film by Max, himself, that he was a film director.  He discovered Norma Desmond when she was 16-years-old, and “made her a star”.  Max boasts to Ms. Desmond’s house guest, Joe Gills, that years ago he was as good of a director as Hollywood legends D.W. Griffinth and Cecil B. DeMille (who also has a cameo in the film).  Max also confides to Joe that he was also Norma’s first husband, and after she left him, his life became unbearable, but he returned to be her house servant, and vows to do anything he can to protect her.    It’s blatantly obvious to anyone watching the film that Max still loves Norma, but one can’t help with wonder if he’s also suffering from some delusional disorder like his employer.  It really makes you wonder if Max is also losing a grasp on reality.

      It’s also safe to say that Max is an enabler.  He constantly praises Ms. Desmond for her works, and constantly reassures her that she is still a star, even though her fame and popularity have been pretty much extinguished.  Max is so bent on keeping Ms. Desmond happy that he even handwrites and mails Ms. Desmond hundreds of fake fan letters. 

THE ACTOR:

Max is played by Austrian-American Actor Eric(h) von Stroheim.  Stroheim’s family immigrated to the U.S. in 1909, and six years later he was working in Hollywood along legends like D.W. Griffinth, just like his character in the film.  For his role of Max, in “Sunset Boulevard” Stroheim earned his only Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor (which he lost to George Sanders who won it for his role of Addison De Witt in “All About Eve”).  Stroheim had a lot of directorial positions early on in his career, and towards the end he took on more supporting actor roles in films.  With all his experience and expertise in the field, it goes without saying that Eric von Stroheim was the most qualified person to play the role of Max in “Sunset Boulevard”.

CHARACTER IS SIMILAR TO OR INSPIRED BY:

I believe Max is probably the most famous movie butler of all-time.  And yes, I’m saying he’s more famous and well known than Alfred Pennyworth from “Batman” because he was originally from a comic book and did not appear in films or television until much later on.  How many times have you seen a butler on TV or in a movie named, Max.  It’s kind of become the generic butler name. Seriously, he’s been parodied in children’s films such as “Cats Don’t Dance”, and children’s TV shows like “The Rugrats” and even “Tiny Toon Adventures” did a whole episode parodying the movie “Sunset Boulevard” with Hampton Pig playing Max.  Eric von Stroheim set the standard of how butlers are shown and portrayed in film in television in the same way that Anthony Michael Hall showed everyone how to play a sympathetic nerd in every movie.

FATE OF THE CHARACTER:

After Norma Desmond murders Joe Gillis (Spoilers!), Max finds her in a delirious state.  It has appeared that she has finally snapped.  Max is the person who helps the police convince Norma to head downstairs by—once again enabling her—and convincing her that they were all there to start shooting her new film.  With Max acting as the (fake) assistant director, he coaxes Ms. Desmond downstairs, and that’s really the last we see of him.  If I had to make an assumption as to whatever became of Max, I’m sure he must be visiting Ms. Desmond every day at whatever Psychiatric Hospital she was brought to, and is still enabling her delusions of grandeur.

Character Analysis: Doug Glatt (Part I)

Character Analysis: Doug Glatt

By: Brian Cotnoir

Doug Glatt from "Goon"

I am a sports guy.  I may not have played (or have been very good at sports in my youth, but I always enjoyed watching them. I enjoy all kinds of sports, Football, Baseball, Auto Racing, Hockey, Basketball, it doesn’t matter to me, if it’s good and entertaining I’ll watch it...well, as long as my favorite teams are winning.  Plus, I grew up in the 90’s, which was like the Golden Age of the Sports movies for kids: “The Mighty Ducks”, “Rookie of the Year”, “The Little Giants”, and “Cool Runnings”, are just a few example of some of the great sports movies we got between the late 1980’s and 1990’s.  So I decided for this edition of Character Analysis I wanted to write one on a character from a Sports film, and the first character that popped into my mind comes from a newer (and lesser known) sports movie from 2011, “Goon”.  So if you haven’t seen “Goon” yet, I highly recommend you go and do it after you read this Analysis of the films protagonist, Doug “The Thug” Glatt.

CHARACTER: Doug Glatt from “Goon” (2011)

     Doug Glatt is a bouncer from the small fictional town of Orangetown, Massachusetts.  Doug feels ostracized for not being more like his family.  Unlike his father and older brother, Ira, who are successful doctors, Doug is clumsy, and bumbles when he talks, or tries to talk back to someone, and often viewed as an embarrassment and disappointment by his parents and the members of the Jewish Temple they attend.                                     

Doug with Orangetown Assassins

     One night, Doug attends a local minor league hockey game with his buddy, Pat.  After Pat taunts a player on the opposing team who was sent to the penalty box, the player goes into the stands to fight.  Doug tries to de-escalate the situation, but after the player calls him and Pat “faggots”. Doug takes serious offense to that word because his older brother Ira is gay and proceeds to violently pummel the player in the stands to the astonishment of the fans and other hockey players.  The next day while appearing on Pat’s Public Access TV Show, “Hot Ice”, Doug is invited by the coach of the Orangetown Assassins, who witnessed the fight in the stands, and invites Doug to come and try out for the team.  Doug is mocked by the other members of the Assassins for his poor ice skating and his inability to come up with insults, but then he decides to let his fists to the talking, and beats up multiple players on the team.  The coach of the Assassins sees that Doug is a sweet-natured—almost childlike—adult, but believes that with Doug on the team as their enforcer he can help lead the team to victory.    

     Doug’s coach in Orangetown tells him that his brother Ronnie, who is also hockey coach for a Minor League Team, wants to sign Doug to a contract with his team the Halifax Highlanders.  Coach Ronnie wants him to protect a star player, named Xavier LaFlamme, who was once a promising prospect, but after suffering a serious concussion in one of his first Pro Hockey Games, is to petrified to play effectively because of his fear of getting hit again.  Doug journey’s to Halifax to join the Highlanders, and is not only going to be Xavier LaFlamme’s protector on the ice, but also his roommate.                        

     The Highlanders are a “who’s who” of misfits and other failed hockey prospects.  Doug is the only person who is proud to be a member of the Highlanders, and is constantly seeking the approval of teammates and is always looking to them for guidance.  Doug makes an immediate impact on the team, by knocking out an opposing player with just one punch, which earns him the admiration of his new coach, his teammates (except LaFlamme), and a local girl, named Eva, who Doug has a crush on.          

     Doug’s family and Pat journey up to Halifax to see him play, and are mortified when they see him get into a fight on the ice, while the entire arena chants “Doug the Thug!”.  After the game, Doug’s parents try to get him to give up playing hockey, but he doesn’t want to because he finally feels like he’s good at something and a part of something important.  Doug’s parents continue to express their disappointment with him, and tell him that they basically view him as an embarrassment, and leave in disgust.  The only people in Doug’s lives who are supportive of his hockey fighting are his friend Pat, his older brother Ira, and Eva.

THE ACTOR:

Actor Sean William Scott plays Doug Glatt in "Goon"

Doug Glatt is played by actor Sean William Scott, who most people remember as the guy who played Steve Stiffler in the “American Pie” film franchise.  I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed Sean William Scott in this role because you really get to see how good of an actor he really is.  Scott has appeared in other films that got much wider releases, but were absolutely despised by critics and audiences such as “Role Models”, “Dukes of Hazzard”, “Dude, Where’s My Car?”, “Mr. Woodcock”, and “Movie 43”. I feel by appearing in a lesser known film that only got a limited release, people can finally see the true acting talents of Sean William Scott, and not just assume he’s playing some doofy or moronic character who likes to smoke weed.

CHARACTER IS SIMILAR TO OR INSPIRED BY:

The character of Doug Glatt was inspired by a real life minor league hockey player named Doug Smith, who also was an enforcer.  The film itself is a loose adaptation of the book “Goon: The True Story of an Unlikely Journey into Minor League Hockey”.  There’s no doubt in my mind that Doug shares similarities with characters from other ice hockey movies such as the Hanson Brothers from the 1970’s cult classic Hockey film “Slap Shot”, and also Dean Portman from “D-2:The Mighty Ducks”, as they are also both enforcers on a hockey team.                              

   I would also say that Doug has a lot of similarities with Adam Sandler’s character Bobby Boucher from “The Waterboy” because both are sweet-natured simple men, who are fans of their sport and get recruited to join a losing sports team after the coaches witness them commit an extreme act of violence against an opposing player.  Both of their parents disapprove them playing their sport, and both have found a girlfriend who is first attracted to them because of their physicality of play.

Bobby Boucher from "The Waterboy"

FATE OF THE CHARACTER:

Doug fights Ross Rhea

In the final game of the season and with the playoffs on the line, Doug and the Highlanders must face off against the St. Johns Shamrocks, and their brutal enforcer Ross “The Boss” Rhea.  Rhea promised to “lay [Doug] the f*ck out” if they ever met on the ice.  In one of the most brutal hockey fights ever seen, Doug knocks out Rhea—with a broken ankle no less—and then skates off to the locker room to have his ankle treated.  Doug’s showing of toughness and bravery inspires his roommate/teammate Xavier LaFlamme to play his heart out and goes on to score a hat trick that wins them the game.  While waiting in the locker room with his girlfriend Eva, Doug reflects on the fight he just had with Rhea uttering, “I think I nailed him”.

*”Goon 2: The Last of the Enforcers”, the sequel to this film is scheduled for release in 2017, I will post a follow up to this Character Analysis once it is released and I get a chance to see it*

Character Analysis: Arnie Grape

Character Analysis: Arnie Grape

By: Brian Cotnoir

     Is there any actor in Hollywood who is more respected, more famous, and more praised than Leonardo DiCaprio? ...Well maybe Daniel Day-Lewis, but Leo is also a Silver Screen treasure.  No matter what film you’ve seen him in, he is guaranteed to give you an Award Winning Performance.  So I thought it would be a good idea to write do an Analysis on one of Leo’s roles, and asked my friends what they thought.  My only stipulation is it had to be a fictional character that he played, so no Howard Hughes, or Frank Abagnale, or J. Edgar Hoover, or Hugh Glass, but pretty much any other character was fair game, and the people have spoken and they have requested that I do an analysis on Arnie Grape from the Indie classic “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”

CHARACTER: Arnie Grape from “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” (1993)

Arnie Grape

Arnie Grape is a 17-year-old boy with Intellectual Disabilities who lives in the small town of Endora, Iowa.  When he was a baby the doctors said he would not live past the age of 10 (presumably because of his condition).  Arnie lives with his Momma, his older brother Gilbert, his older sister Amy, and his younger sister, Ellen.  It is mentioned by Arnie’s brother Gilbert that they also had a brother named Larry, but it is never really specified what happened to him, he is just referred to as “gone”.  When Arnie was 1-years-old his father, Albert, hung himself in the basement of their house.  Arnie is very affectionate towards his mother and his older brother Gilbert                     Arnie’s mother loves him dearly, but due to her morbid obesity and limited mobility cannot really provide Arnie and his siblings.  Arnie’s older brother Gilbert has the sole job of watching out for him.  Wherever Gilbert goes, Arnie comes with him.  Arnie spends most of his days hanging out at Lamson’s Grocery store, where his brother Gilbert works as a stock/delivery boy.                                                Although he is intellectually disabled, Arnie is known to get himself in trouble.  On more than one occasion the police have been called because Arnie has climbed up the town’s water tower and refuse’s to come down.  Arnie eventually gets arrested for climbing the water tower after the Sheriff gets fed up.  He is placed in a holding cell until his mother comes down and demands that the Sheriff release her son.                    

THE ACTOR:

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio plays Arnie Grape

Arnie is played by actor Leonardo DiCaprio.  The role of Arnie in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” was only the fourth movie role DiCaprio ever played, and it is said that he was offered the role of Thackery Binx in the Disney film “Hocus Pocus”, so that he could take on the role of Arnie in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”.  It is no easy feat for any actor to play a character who has intellectual disabilities, especially for an actor as young as DiCaprio was at the time (he was only 19-years-old when he played the role of Arnie), but DiCaprio did a fantastic job, and the critics took notice.  For his role of Arnie, DiCaprio earned his first Oscar Nomination for Best Supporting Actor (but he would unfortunately lose to Tommy Lee Jones for “The Fugitive”.

CHARACTER IS SIMILAR TO OR INSPIRED BY:

In order to get in character for his role, DiCaprio spent a few days at a home for Mentally Disabled Teens, talking to them and observing their mannerisms. That’s really all the information I could find about what DiCaprio did to research the role.  And just like all people with Intellectual Disabilities DiCaprio’s role of Arnie is unlike any other film character with Intellectual Disabilities so it’s not possible for me to make a fair or accurate comparison. 

   

FATE OF THE CHARACTER:

     Arnie’s mother dies after his 18^th birthday party.  In order to spare their recently deceased mother more embarrassment and ridicule the family decides to burn down their house with their mothers corpse still inside.  The next time we see Arnie his waiting by the roadside with his older brother Gilbert, one year later.  Their friend Becky (who Gilbert began a romantic relationship with) has arrived with her grandmother for their annual trip and the two of them have decided to join them on their cross country journey.

Character Analysis: Wallace Wells

Character Analysis: Wallace Wells

By: Brian Cotnoir

     I’m not as big a fan of comics as many people, but there are some comics I’m rather fond of.  One of my favorite comics is Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim comics.  I’ve always identified with the titular title character, Scott, so much.  I mean we’re both socially awkward Canadians in their mid-20’s who play the bass, and have an evil ex-girlfriend who’s a singer...you can’t be more relatable than that.  I’m also a huge fan of the movie based on O’Malley’s comics, so I asked my friends to pick a character from the Scott Pilgrim universe for me to write an analysis on, and by overwhelming request they I chosen Wallace Wells as the Character for my Analysis.  Now, just to clarify, I’m only doing an analysis on Wallace from the film version, and not the Wallace from O’Malley’s comics (because they do have some significant differences).

CHARACTER: Wallace Wells from “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” (2010)

Wallace Wells is the “cool gay roommate” of Scott Pilgrim in both the comics and the film.  Although, not state in the film, it is revealed in the comics that Wallace has a day job working in an office.  He shares a very tiny apartment with Scott and more or less pays for everything they have.  He and Scott even have to share a mattress on the floor.  Wallace cares about, Scott but also teases him a lot.  It is Wallace who rats out Scott to his younger sister Stacy, and tells him that he is dating a 17-year-old girl named Knives Chau.  Wallace in the film is also a fun loving bachelor in the film.  At the first battle of the bands he steals Stacy’s date, Jimmy, away from her.  Judging by Stacy’s reaction, in the film, this is not the first time Wallace has done it.  Wallace is a key figure in helping Scott train, figure out a battle strategy, and the locations of some of Romona’s seven evil ex’s.  Wallace also helps Scott deal with his breakup with Envy Adams which shows that he does care for his friend Scott.  And despite his own promiscuous behavior in the film, Wallace tells Scott that if he will tell Ramona the truth about him already having if a girlfriend unless he breaks up with Knives. 

THE ACTOR:

Wallace Wells is played by actor Kieran Culkin who is the younger brother of former child star, Macaulay Culkin.  He was absolutely hilarious in this role.  Culkin’s brother, Macaulay, played a gay character in the film “Party Monster”, and was very overly flamboyant & stereotypical with his role, so it was nice to see that Kieran took a more subtle approach to his role.

CHARACTER IS SIMILAR TO OR INSPIRED BY:

According to the Comics creator, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Wallace is based off his former roommate Christopher Butcher, who is the co-founder PopImage; a website all about comics.  I also believe that Wallace is your typical mentor character. He’s the guy sent to there to help the hero/protagonist train and achieve their goal.  I’d put Wallace in the same category as Mr. Miyagi from “The Karate Kid”, Phil from “Hercules” (1997), and Paulie from the “Rocky” franchise.

Wallace Wells from "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World"

Paulie from the "Rocky" Franchise

FATE OF THE CHARACTER:

After Scott’s final battle at the Chaos Theater, we don’t really find out what happens to Wallace, at least in the film.  In the comics we find out that he is dating and living with his boyfriend, Mobile (who does not appear in the film), who is a psychic.