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Post by bouncingbrick on Mar 31, 2010 18:44:04 GMT -5
I love it in movies when a character breaks the 4th wall (I'm going toassume you all know what this means, you are the BP crowd). It's such a simple and yet mezmorizing concept when the characters acknowledge that the audience exists.
Anyway, I was wondering what some of you BP listeners have as favorite moments of breaking the fourth wall.
For me I love the moments in Funny Games when this happens. Classic moments that so perfectly complement the film. I also love the moment in Fight Club when Tyler Durden talks to the camera just before the film breaks apart. It happens just before things in the Narrator's life start to come apart.
Slight Spoilers Below for Up in the Air!
But my favorite moment of late is the slight moment at the end of Up in the Air when Clooney looks into the camera. So much can be taken from that moment. I think it's that moment that defines what type of person the viewer is, if s/he is optimistic then GC has learned that he has been missing the company of people and the pessimistic can take it that he's just falling back into what he always has been. I love it.
Anyway, give me some more!
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Post by marcraymond on Apr 1, 2010 9:31:45 GMT -5
My favorite:
Bergman's SUMMER WITH MONIKA, maybe my favorite shot ever when Harriet Anderson looks at the camera and dares us to judge her.
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Post by Caribbean Captain on Apr 1, 2010 15:38:24 GMT -5
Ferris Bueller. 'nuff said.
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Post by Tyler Smith on Apr 1, 2010 21:17:32 GMT -5
I'm a really big fan of the use of 4th wall-destroying narration in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. It's a little smug (what with Robert Downey Jr. isn't?), but it fits the story really well.
Also, pretty much anything Jim Henson ever did breaks down the 4th wall quite effectively and humorously. It fascinated me as a child that they were allowed to do that; I felt like I was being let in on a joke.
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Post by siege121 on Apr 2, 2010 14:34:41 GMT -5
In the film Me and You and Everyone We Know, there is this little monologue by John Hawkes' character (taken from IMDB quotes section):
Richard Swersey: Yes, well, they have absolutely no control over their lives, so... But if things were reversed - you know, like that movie Freaky Friday - you can be sure Pam and I would be sent to our rooms for all our Friday. Yes, they would give us a time-out and tell us we could not come out until we had really thought about what we had done. [pause. Very soberly] Richard Swersey: What have we done? [pause] Richard Swersey: But... there are no time-outs, there's not enough time for... time-out.
When he says "What have we done" he looks straight into the camera. I watched this film last night for the first time and it sent shivers down my spine. I watched the scene two more times before continuing on and watching the rest.
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Post by bouncingbrick on Apr 2, 2010 19:10:56 GMT -5
I'm a really big fan of the use of 4th wall-destroying narration in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. It's a little smug (what with Robert Downey Jr. isn't?), but it fits the story really well. Also, pretty much anything Jim Henson ever did breaks down the 4th wall quite effectively and humorously. It fascinated me as a child that they were allowed to do that; I felt like I was being let in on a joke. Very awesome examples! I love the Muppets and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is just too much fun. I need to watch it again, it's been a long time since I've seen it. In the film Me and You and Everyone We Know, there is this little monologue by John Hawkes' character (taken from IMDB quotes section): Richard Swersey: Yes, well, they have absolutely no control over their lives, so... But if things were reversed - you know, like that movie Freaky Friday - you can be sure Pam and I would be sent to our rooms for all our Friday. Yes, they would give us a time-out and tell us we could not come out until we had really thought about what we had done. [pause. Very soberly] Richard Swersey: What have we done? [pause] Richard Swersey: But... there are no time-outs, there's not enough time for... time-out. When he says "What have we done" he looks straight into the camera. I watched this film last night for the first time and it sent shivers down my spine. I watched the scene two more times before continuing on and watching the rest. I love that movie. Another one I need to add to the old DVD collection. And I left out Ferris because I knew someone else would mention him! ;D
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Post by Tyler Smith on Apr 2, 2010 20:21:58 GMT -5
This subject is so solid, I think we'll try to do an episode about it. Thanks for bringing it up!
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Post by professoralan on Apr 3, 2010 11:49:15 GMT -5
It's a trick that get overdone, like any trick, but as long as it remains a not-so-common effect in movies, I tend to approve.
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Dr Handsome
Full Member
...but you can call me Eric.
Posts: 240
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Post by Dr Handsome on Apr 3, 2010 15:52:26 GMT -5
The meta-humor in The Muppet Movie is nothing short of brilliant. Because I grew up knowing what to to expect from The Muppets I find it easy to overlook how incredibly strange and bold the movie really is. Puppets, celebrity cameos, that bit with the movie script, the entire ending sequence. Somewhat related: my friends and I like to use the term "Kermit Riding a Bicycle" to describe seeing something (usually a person) out of its usual element. Seeing your teacher walking around the mall in a t-shirt and shorts, for example, could be described as "Kermit Riding a Bicycle". Perhaps we should take a cue from Roger Ebert and start our own Little Movie Glossary
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Post by dancarin on Jul 11, 2010 14:08:55 GMT -5
Jay & Silent Bob Strikes Back has two or three instances of breaking the fourth wall. Mel Brooks does it in a whole bunch of his films, like Spaceballs, History Of The World Part One, and I'm sure there are more.
My favorite example of breaking the fourth wall isn't a movie, but it's the It's Garry Shandling Show from the late 80's. Garry Shandling played himself in a regular looking sitcom but he would come in and out of scenes, discussing plot and characters right in front of him, and he even interacted with the studio audience and would weave them into the episode. It was a really smart show that I think had a lot of effect on the state of sitcoms now.
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vulpix
Junior Member
Posts: 79
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Post by vulpix on Jul 25, 2010 20:14:46 GMT -5
My first thought also went to Funny Games. It was an unconventional but very smart way of making a point about violence in entertainment. 2009's Whatever Works isn't a great film, but the breaking-the-fourth-wall moments are actually pretty funny. Another example of breaking the fourth wall for the sake of comedy is Dark Helmet watching his own movie in Spaceballs, which cracked me up as a kid. Here's the clip: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxvSYaCenq4
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Post by deadpool on Jan 28, 2011 3:44:40 GMT -5
I'm also a big fan of breaking the 4th wall (if you can't tell by my username.) I like when it is suttle ie the family guy episode where peter quagmire and joe form their own improv comedy group. The whole idea of peter not going along with the idea and quagmire saying that you can't just throw in random jokes it has to be revelant to the situation. I feel that was a play to the audience aknowelging the fact that their writing is not sequitar. Also jay and silent bob is another good one as well.
"I mean a jay and silent bob movie who would pay to see that?" (all turn to the camera.)
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