chhanman

[chhanman]

Derek Vinyard (American History X)

We love a great redemption story! Well...in a sense. Edward Norton intrigues the audience with as a former convict and Neo-Nazi in this tragic story of disillusionment and vicious cycles. His character is filled with rage and passion for white supremacy due to his father’s death at the hands of African-American drug dealers. Derek’s arc leads him down a path of violence and racial hate which leads him to question his beliefs as he’s incarcerated. It’s here in the jail cell and then on, that we begin to sympathize and feel for. Hoping his brother does not follow in the same footsteps and wind up in a sunken place, we actually hope for the man with the swastika tattoo to make a positive difference.

[chhanman]

Charles Kane (Citizen Kane)

Charles Kane, (the man who represented the fall from grace), is one of the most influential characters ever in film. Flashback to flashback, the audience is told the life of Kane, which creates this feeling of tragedy by the end of knowing what “Rosebud,” really meant. His business of running news that’s highly inaccurate (yellow journalism) adds on to the distaste the audience gets when he ruins the lives of many including his own wife. As Kane gathers more influence and status, the soul of the man withers away dramatically. The shell of the man that laid dead in his mansion of wealth creates a feeling of sympathy for the audience knew the protagonist could have had a better life than the one he had.

[chhanman]

Lisbeth Salander (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)

It’s difficult to put Rooney Mara’s character in one or two categories that explain her unique hair and personality. A victim of psychological abuse and a hacker vigilante, are two identities that culminate into a character that performs questionable actions to help achieve her goals of justice against many. Lisbeth is far from any moral compass when exacting out her justice on those who have wronged her. Her brutal rape of her rapist and other vigilante acts she commits out of anger and fury she has for those who have wronged her are over the top to say the least. Moral compass she is not yet, the audience can’t help nodding their heads in approval of her actions against those she sees as morally wrong.

[chhanman]

Dominika Egorova (Red Sparrow)

A film that darkens the spy trope, Jennifer Lawrence’s character is one that simply won’t break. Common in certain genres (*cough* American Gothic *cough*), to see the downfall of women so empathize, Dominika refuses to falter. Molded to become a top operative for Russia, her intentions are blanketed by the actions she does for and against her country which culminates at the end of the film for audiences. Morally, Dominika is dynamic, doing what needs to be done to survive and help her loved ones. The choice to hurt people in one scene and then help them in the next is like flipping a light switch on and off. We as viewers are left questioning her as a protagonist or antagonist till the very end.

[chhanman]

Lou Bloom (Nightcrawler)

Jake Gyllenhaal plays the desperate yet, cunning stringer Lou Bloom in this thriller which has audiences exposed to themes of unethical journalism and desire for sensational headlines. His unhinged personality and lack of empathy for human loss pushes away any thought in the audience of Gyllenhaal’s character as a morally just person. However, from Lou’s perspective, what he’s doing is right and acceptable to get him where he wants to be. The ambition to directly go past any legal boundaries or moral restrictions to achieve anything could be said to be the attitude of many individuals. As a viewer you may not agree with what the soulless man’s actions but, there is apart of the audience that admires his tenacity to achieve what he wants.

[chhanman]

Michael Corleone (The Godfather)

If there was a film that had the most memorable anti-hero it would be this timeless classic. Michael Corleone (played by Al Pacino), was not a bad man when this film first started. A soldier coming back from war, Michael refuses to partake in the family business until an attempt on his father’s life and the subsequent death of his eldest brother puts him over the edge for revenge. The man with principles and morals soon devolves to an authoritative, cutthroat mafia boss that his environment shapes him to become. We empathize with Michael exacting revenge on those who decided to harm his family as well as, enjoy the man’s journey of climbing to the top to showcase his strength, cunning, and ruthlessness.

[chhanman]

Frank Lucas (American Gangster)

Played by the methodical Denzel Washington, Frank Lucas creates an empire of drug trafficking and distribution of crack through the immoral act of stuffing fallen soldiers caskets with narcotics during the Vietnam War. We know within the first five minutes of the film that Lucas is not a good man by his actions, as evident by him dousing a man in gasoline, setting him ablaze and ending his misery with a gunshot to the head. Despite that, as the film progresses on we as an audience sympathizes with the man and his heinous activities he continues to partake in. We tolerate his criminal network for his dedication and love to support his family, which for many of us is something worth breaking the law over.

[chhanman]

Jordan Belfort (Wolf of Wall Street)

Leonardo DiCaprio plays the cocky, deceitful protagonist in this light hearted biography of the real life criminal Wall Street broker. Belfort’s American Dream like many young, hopeful individuals of this country, is to climb the class-ladder to success and live the lavish lifestyle they always wanted. Sex, drugs, and materialistic objects fill Belfort with this upbeat playboy rapport that we as the audience are captivated to watch. The flashy cars, yachts, and beautiful women and the way that DiCaprio portrays Belfort almost makes us forget about his criminal activities. Corrupting and finessing investors out of millions, we still follow along with his narration, not really questioning his credibility. No matter what heinous things he committed, his lifestyle was one that we all desire to have.