One of the most difficult parts of writing a story for me is to create and integrate the flaws of my main characters as effectively as I can throughout my stories. Those character flaws are not only essential to my character arcs/transformations, but also create an additional layer of tension in my scripts. Those internal flaws can create some great degrees of sympathy for my main characters - and even some great degrees of hatred - and also some killer scenes where my reader says “oh no – don’t do that! (old bad habit of yours!)” And the more “fatal” the flaw, the better it is when they can finally overcome it, and especially when it contributes to reaching the goal of the climax. Flaws originate in my main character’s psyche; can be a hard-wired internal trait; or can also be the result of past external conditions. Or both. Like a hero who loves to drink because it makes him brave and enables him to talk to women. Or like a hero who loves/hates to drink because it helps him quell the demons of the past. But ultimately, at story "present time", it’s essential that my protag can overcome that flaw that's preventing him/her from achieving the goal of the climax. Like the character who loves to drink because it makes him brave and enables him to talk to women, but he lies a lot then; it eventually gets him into trouble with women; and he hates himself (and his shyness) even more for it. Or like, the character that drinks tp quell the demons of the past - but it isolates him and is preventing him from getting the woman that he wants; is preventing him from being successful at his job; and is preventing him from being able to love himself and those around him. A great example of this type of flaw is in the character Daryl Poynter, played by Michael Keaton, in the film “Clean and Sober.” What a great script, great film, and great performance by Michael Keaton – and that was his first serious drama after a string of successful comedies. That last scene...when he's addressing the recovery group....wow. Just wow. That scene kills me. Another great example of this type of flaw is the character Jordan Belfort, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, in “The Wolf of Wall Street”. I must admit, that both of these characters were also flawed by their own beliefs about greed as well. "Temptatons" in a story make great vehicles to create and test a character's flaws, to be sure. Another type of flaw is the psychological flaw (claustrophobia) in the character Jake Scully, played by Craig Wasson, in Director/Writer God Bryan De Palma’s masterpiece “Body Double.” Not only does Jake lose a role in the beginning of the film because his claustrophobia prevents him from being in a coffin, but he actually has to overcome that flaw to save his own life at the end - in a grave that is dug by a real killer! What an exceptional story master and story teller Bryan De Palma has been for the last 50 years of so. It’s pretty well-established that character flaws are essential to character development and great drama, and there are a lot of great books, articles and critiques on that important element. Some say it's the most important element of a story. I spend a lot of time in my pre-planning to come up with believable flaws that I can work with, and that I can then successfully execute in my stories. I hope you do, too. Other than the three flawed characters I mentioned above, what are some of your favorite and most memorable flawed protags in film? And, if you care to indulge a bit, what are those flaws, and how do those flaws contribute to the climax? Thanks in advance for taking the time to reply.
Screenwriting : The Element of Character Flaws by Bill Costantini
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Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark - "I hate snakes Jacques!" - then later, to rescue the Ark, he's in a room filled with 'em.
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Rick, in Casablanca. The jaded and cynical cafe owner - "I stick my neck out for no one" - gives up the woman he loves most for the greater good - "If you don't get on that plane, you'll regret it." In your example from Body Double, do you think the main character's claustrophobia is really a 'flaw'? It feels more like his 'greatest fear', similar to Indian Jones' fear of snakes. My understanding of a 'flaw' for a character would be more like the other examples you gave. Some kind of learned behavior/ attitude that stems from a wound in their past that is preventing them from reaching their outer goal...? One of the biggest challenges for me is coming up with the right adjective for that character's flaw for my logline! I can see the flaw in my head but trying to put it into one word (two, max) can be excruciating. It's tough because the adjective you chose needs to do three things: 1. point out a flaw 2. suggest an active and interesting (vs passive and boring) POV on life, and 3. not be so bad that we hate them too much from the beginning. I bought a book called 'Character Traits' which has been quite helpful, but it takes a lot of trolling to find one that fulfills all of those requirements. Anybody else struggle with that? What helps you in your search for the right words? Sorry, Bill for piggy-backing on your questions. Hopefully they are equally helpful for others :-)
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As for your "drinking hero" Bill... as one guru told my drum teacher... instead of 4-5 times a week, try 2-3 times... then 1-2 times. Just like any diet... baby-steps create the overall character arc
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Great post, Bill. I just went through my desert island movies and found at leastthree flawed protagonists. Chris McCandless in INTO THE WILD is cursed with idealism and a youthful need to rebel against his upbringing. These are "flaws" we can relate to and even admire, but all the while we know that they will bring tragedy to him and the people who love him. Ethan Edwards in THE SEARCHERS is flawed by the racism he overcomes in that soaring final moment to rescue his niece who he believes has been "tainted" by contact with Indians. And Ennis Del Mar in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN is flawed by the internalized homophobia that costs him the love of his life, something he only realizes when it is to late to save either of them. In my own work, I struggle with the fact that I often admire deeply flawed characters, and I find that audiences and (perhaps especially) producers lose patience with these characters long before I do, and long before I give them their moment of redemption at the end. Sometimes I also hold back the reveal of why the character is flawed. But again, if I overdo that, people sometimes never become engaged by those characters at all. One final note: I think CLEAN AND SOBER is probably the second best movie ever made about addiction. Love that film. My favorite is DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES.
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Brian, Nice pick. Kinda like..... Ross Jennings, (Jeff Daniels), "Arachnaphobia". He has a fear of spiders, yet saves the day when he nail-guns Mama Killing Machine Spider in his basement at the end. I actually love spiders - they eat a lot of nasty bugs. I don't know if you ever saw a spider capture a bug and entomb it, but wow....they can really spin a bug around super-fast and make the rope even faster. Speaking of Harrison Ford...his backstory is really interesting. He struggled in his early days as an actor in L.A., so much so that he became a carpenter to pay the bills. One day, he was working on a doorframe in a studio, George Lucas saw him, auditioned him, and the rest is Harristory. One of my friends has a home in Studio City and I once vomited on his deck that Mr. Ford made. Not because it was a bad deck, but because it was bad guacamole. As a result, I have had guacamolephobia since 2006. But if I ever see Harrison Ford, I can say..."Mr. Ford...I once vom---..." Naw, I better not say that.
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Phillip, Good pick. Rick certainly had some major flaws. Regarding your question about psychological flaws like "fear" as "character flaws"...Jeezus Christ, man, of all the forum joints in all the towns in all the world...you walk into mine. I'd still say "fears" are "flaws". Here's looking at you, Phil. Heh-heh.
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Brian, Regarding your "guru"....I still think Frank Sinatra had it right when he said "I feel sorry for those of you who don't drink, because when you wake up in the morning, that's as good as you're gonna feel all day." Actually, though, I don't drink. It makes me feel too tired, gives me a headache, and gets me in fights. That's why I don't drink and hate drinking. Unless you're buying - in that case, I'll be right over. Bah-dump-bump. Thank you, thank you very much.
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RIchard, That's a great trio you named. Poor Chris/Alexander Supertramp. Sean Penn did a great job with that film. And Emile Hirsh is one of my favorite young American actors. If I recall correctly, he is playing John Belushi in an upcoming bio-pic. I will probably see that multiple times when it comes out. And yes...Ethan Edwards in The Searchers. He sure was flawed. And he tried to kill Debbie. And that ending has sure inspired many a movie after that. And Natalie Wood and Vera Miles in the same movie, and in their 20's? Man, count me in for that one again, and I'll even bring the popcorn. And yes again...to Ennis Del Mar....in Brokeback Mountain. Who would have thought that a cowboy movie set in modern times about a relationship between two men would have gone on to such success and acclaim? That scene at the end....with the two shirts and picture in the closet...." ...I swear....". Wow. And those are great insights about your own work and issues. You're a smart guy, Richard, you really are. Hey...can you let me hold a few thousand bucks for a few months...or maybe years? I'll pay you back. I swear. Now that I am sufficiently weepy from your three choices....death....almost death....death.....I have to lighten things up a little. I'll add...... Doctor Richard Harpo Thorndyke, played by Mel Brooks, in "High Anxiety." One of the most hysterical murder suspense-action-mystery-drama-romantic comedy movies ever...an homage to Alfred Hitchcock, who even helped Mr. Brooks write the script. The vertigo that Dr. Thorndyke must overcome in order to win at the end? Epic Mel Brooks. What a great creator and genius he's been his whole life. Here's the original trailer. "Danger...intrigue....romance - and a touch of kinkiness!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-YgTlyt8Ek
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@Bill... (Groaning)... those jokes were so bad they were great... or so good they were bad... (he typed in jest)... what a way to wake up on a Sunday moanin'
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As a percussionist, it reminds me of 2 drummer jokes: 1) What do you call a drummer who breaks up with his girlfriend? Homeless. 2) How do you get a drummer off your front porch? Pay 'im for the pizza. Bah-da-boom back at you too Bill! :-)
Damien, That is one sad, bleak, heart-breaking movie. It sure did well at the award's shows, though. I love Paddy Considine as an actor, and am really glad for him, now that he is wearing dual hats. He's a major talent, as are Peter Mullan and one of my favorite British actors, Eddie Marsan. And what about Olivia Colman? That was like a breakout role for her, given her comedy background. Good stuff, Damien.
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Brian, I can't do any more jokes - that's part of my parole terms after I did some stand-up at the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase...and made a joke about Bo Schembeckler being such a poor communicator as a football coach... that when he went into Bandito's Restaurant and ordered the Nachos Bandito's, they brought him the Fritter a la mode. Heh-heh. Bo...bad communicator...Nachos Bandito's...Fritter a la mode. You had to have been there. Wait a minute....weren't you the guy who hit me in the head with the beer bottle and held me down until the police came? Friggin' drummers....I swear.....can't trust them to stay in tempo....can't trust them to show up on time....and can't trust them to let you go before the police show up.
Damien, Man....how could someone with spirit, heart and soul not cry numerous times during Tryannosaur? That film totally dehydrated me. There are so many great cruel scenes in that movie....it's just one great scene after another. And because of the tortured characters, seeking some kind of....escape from the pain....some type of humanity....in their horribly cruel existences. Damn....I cared so much about those characters. And the music was perfect. Now I'm gonna watch it again, even though I should be working. You suck, Damien. I'm gonna drink a lot of water first, though - I don't need a dehydration headache after I watch this again.
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Bill, I have been to The Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase... with the superb vegetarian restaurant - Seva - above. As for your police wit, "A good friend will pick you up from jail. A Great friend will sit beside you in the cell and say, 'Well, that was Fun.'" ;-)
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Brian, I'd imagine the three people who liked your witty repartee must have been cellies with you in the pokey. I know how us cellies - I mean, "you cellies" - stick together. Jezuus H. Christ - you even got the young and talented Jethro Randell on your side now. I'M DYING OVER HERE. Jethro is a very talented writer/director from the other side of the Atlantic, and I have a feeling we're gonna be hearing a lot from him in the future as long as he works hard and stays somewhat away from all the temptations that may lead him askew from his ultimate goals. And notice I said "somewhat away", and not "completely away". All work and no play makes Jethro a dull boy. Brian and Damien, The next time you guys are in Vegas, I'm gonna hook you up at a hot nightclub; get you guys in the DJ booth; and take you out for a seafood buffet (vegetarian for Brian). After that, we're gonna go to a pool hall, and re-enact the scene from Tyrannosaur between Joseph and the young punks. I get to play Joseph, and you guys get to be the young punks! Heh-heh.
A great flawed anti-hero protag....one of the most hate-filled protags of them all..... ......Manny Manheim, played by Jon Voight, "Runaway Train." This great film by Andrei Konchalovsky stars Mr. Voight - one of America's greatest actors - as the crude sociopath and vile criminal Manny Manheim. Determined to break out of prison once again, he succeeds and is on his way to freedom when he jumps on a train in an Alaskan trainyard with his sidekick Buck. Unfortunately, the train is a runaway, and with a stow-away to boot (Rebecca deMorney as Sara). In an earlier fight, Manny could have killed Buck and Sara, but chose to let them live. Mr. Voight does more acting with his eyes in those couple minutes than some actors do in an entire movie. At the end, Manny ultimately can save them all, but instead chooses to save Sara and Buck by uncoupling the main car from the rear cars, and stays on the main car, where his nemesis, the Warden, has landed from a chasing helicopter. "It's just me and you, Frankie It's just you and me!!" "I never let you free, you hear me!" "I'm free, Frankie...I'm free." WOWZA. Cue Vivaldi's "Gloria in D"....Superimpose the faces of the tortured souls still in prison....the cold bleak landscape....add Richard III's end quote in the fadeout...."No beast so fierce, but knows some touch of pity, but I know none and therefore am no beast." REDEMPTION. SALVATION. AND MASTERPIECE. Both Mr. Voight and Mr. Roberts were nominated for Academy Awards. The final great scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7akUtLs9teQ GO CUBS!
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OK, TYRANNOSAUR and RUNAWAY TRAIN are now both on my must-see list. RUNAWAY already was, but I count TYRANNOSAUR as a new find, so thanks. I was also just remembering today one of my favorite recent films, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS. I thought it was brilliant, the best of its year in fact, but so many people I know just HATED the protagonist (especially when he left that injured cat by the side of the highway). I felt like I knew the guy.
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Hi Bill, Great post ! It reminds me of the book of John Truby, I discovered 8 years back in Germany. One of my favorite films is "Michael Clayton", a man, who is addicted to gambling, who can't commit to anybody and who can't shut his mouth :) Wishing you a great week, Katharina
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Seafood in Vegas? Sounds like a plan Bill. I "see food;" I eat it (said my inner Cookie Monster imaginary friend)." Doesn't have to be vegetarian... just mentioned Seva since a few past girlfriends loved that restaurant.
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And by the way Bill (channeling my inner Goodfellas): "You're a funny guy!"
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Damien, Mr. Voight is one of America's great actors. Midnight Cowboy, Catch 22, Deliverance, The Champ, The Last of His Tribe, Heat, The Rainmaker, Enemy of the State, Ali, Uprising, 5 People You Meet in Heaven, Ray Donovan....etc. He is just a magnicficent actor. If you've never seen Oliver Stone's dark comedy U-Turn, I highly recommend it. It's one of Mr. Stone's lesser-known films. Mr. Voight plays a blind Indian. Fabulous movie with a lot of great actors.
Richard and Katharina, Good adds!
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Brian, I could buffet with the best of them. I'm all about the proteins - I'll eat a pound of shrimp and a pound of beef with no problem. And while Joe Pesci was a funny guy - Anthony Spilotro (the guy his character was based on) was definitely not a funny guy.
Mark Wahlberg in "The Gambler". Jimmy Stewart in "Vertigo". And Kim Novak has always been one of my favorites.
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I feel ya on the proteins Bill... personally, I subscribe to The Caveman Diet... as well as a book I published - Dessert First Diet