The dictionary describes an antihero as a protagonist who lacks the attributes that make a heroic figure, as nobility of mind and spirit, a life or attitude marked by action or purpose, and the like.The medium of film is filled with many great examples of antihero's and this week I have decided to honor them, join me won't you and as always feel free to comment.
10) The Crow: The Crow(1994)
10) The Crow: The Crow(1994)
Based on a 1989 comic book of the same name The Crow tells the story of musician Eric Draven who on the night before Halloween is murdered(thrown out a window) along side his fiancees(who was also beaten and raped) by a gang locale thugs working on behalf a major crime figure. Draven through some mysterious magic is able to return from the dead, after climbing out of his own grave he swears revenge on all those responsible for the death of himself and his fiancee by killing all of them systematically .What makes this charterer and this movie so special is that it was actor Brandon Lee's last film role as he was accidentally killed on set by a malfunctioning blank gun.This tragedy adding to the overall theme of the film makes for one interesting and engrossing character.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeJLrO6Xv0I
9) D-Fens: Falling Down(1993)
I honestly can't believe it took me so long to see this crime thriller masterpieces and even more surprised that its brought to us by Batman & Robin director Joel Schumacher. D-fens is your average American male a divorced 9 to 5 office drone working as a defense engineer in L.A. . One day while being stuck traffic after being laid off he snaps and begins a quest to bring his own brand of justice to the streets of LA. Along the way he is accosted by con-men,gang members, white supremacists, as well as dishonest store clerks and a general uncaring world all the while trying to get home for his daughters birthday. What makes D-fens special is that he's not just fighting crime but fighting the world and its practices. I put him low on the list only because during the third act of the film he turns a corner as a charcter and in my minds passes in villain territory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eREiQhBDIk
8) Snake Plissken: Escape From New York (1981)
In the near future in a crime-ridden United States that has converted Manhattan Island in New York City into a maximum security prison. Ex-soldier and legendary fugitive "Snake" Plissken (Kurt Russell) is given 24 hours to find the President of the United States, who has been captured by inmates after Air Force One crashed on the island. Snake has become an iconic character in film and has stated a trend of ultra badasses who when the plot calls for it is brought in for day saving duty, and I know I'm not alone in saying I would no have it any other way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkKiKtsFEwE
7) The MacManus Brothers: The Boondock Saints( 1999)
One night after defending their favorite locale watering hole Boston born Irish Catholic brothers Conner & Murphy MacManus kill two Russian mobsters in self defense. After that the two receive a sign from what they believe to be God to begin a quest to cleanses Boston of all the criminals that are choking the life out of the area.The MacManus's manage to deliver the great dimension of catholic guilt to the vigilante genre but possible there most refreshing quality the posses the thing that sets them apart from others on the list is that their not military hardcases there just two Irish guys looking to make a difference(by killing a lot of people).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDrhzes1Z7w
6) Chev Chelios: Crank 2 (2009)
A fairly new contender in the world of antihero's Chev despite having almost no history given about him in either films(besides being an assassin) we the audience are able to relate to him in spite of it. In both films Chev is trying to avenge not his family or loved ones but himself be being poisoned in the first film or having his heart stolen in the sequel.Whom ever has the misfortune of crossing Chev ends up dead or worse(worse how? shotgun + anus). Not to mention in search for revenge Chev puts himself through hell like a man with nothing to lose mainly because he doesn't. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2koYVqwzT4
5) The Punisher: The Punisher(2004,2008)
With three films to his name of which only the last two are any good its easy to see Hollywood has been anything but nice to The Punisher.The story of The Punisher is as follows, ex-military hardcase Frank Castle is enjoying a sunny afternoon with his family they end up witnessing a gangland execution. His family is swiftly murdered and he is left for dead while he waits for the justice system to punish the offenders he is quickly devastated to learn due to corruption the killers and the men responsibly walk free. Forming The Punisher persona and donning a black skull outfit Castle quickly delivers swift and deadly vengeance to the people responsibly for his family's death.However after finding no peace in revenge he begins a one man war against crime killing off all major crime syndicates he can get his hands on as well as clashing with the police and other vigilantes.What makes The Punisher such an interesting character is how he has given himself body and soul to his crusade against crime, in his mind he truly believes he can stem the tide of evil and corruption if he continues to kill all those who the justice system has failed to punish. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlO8In3IPo0
4) Beatrix Kiddo: Kill Bill(2003)
A wise soul once said hell hath no fury like a women scorned and after seeing this movie I think we can all agree that soul was talking about Beatrix Kiddo. Once a former world class killer for hire belonging to a secret organization of swordsmen, Beatrix left the group after she discovered she was pregnant to try and start a new life.On the day of her wedding rehearsal she and her party were ambushed by her former associates and left for dead while she was pregnant. After regaining her strength she began cutting down the people responsible all the while looking for the man who betrayed her, her former mentor and lover Bill. What I love about Beatrix is that she begins the film series as one thing but by the end she is for reasons I cant explain without spoiling it a completely different thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdjuS17DGlA
3) Travis Bickle: Taxi Driver(1976)
In many ways Bickle is similar to D-fens they are both portrayed as lonely men anger at the world and disenfranchised with life.Both men also seem to share a disgust of the moral decay around them and it is that disgust that makes them act in the ways they do.But probably the most prominent similarity in my mind at least is that at some point in the film the characters change form well meaning antiheroes to lone nuts on a mission to die.However regardless of how I personal feel its impossible to see the impact this character has had on the antihero archetype and film as a whole.Need I remind anyone it was this role that not only launched then relative unknown Robert Deniro's carer but also spawned the often parodied ''are you talking to me" scene.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e9CkhBb18E
2) The Man With No Name: The Dollars Trilogy( 1964.1965,1966)
Originally I was going to place Dirty Harry at the number 2 spot however it occurred to me that actor Clint Eastwood had filled the shoes of another character who was far more important in building the archetype of the movie antihero.Antihero's themselves having many roots in western films I would be hard pressed to find a character more deserving and more Iconic then The Man With No Name. When ever the character enters a scene he seems to carry a sort of electricity with him your never quite sure what he will do or who he will shoot.Being more of a force of nature than a human being you would be surprised to see that every so often he is willing to lend his skills as a bounty and help out a person in need(usually by killing a lot of people).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awskKWzjlhk
1) Paul Kersey: Death Wish(1974)
Who else but the late great Charles Bronson could possible hope to steal the number one spot on our list of great antihero.Death wish practical wrote the book on film anti-heroism.Paul Kersey was an average family man like any other until his home is burglarized his wife is murdered and his daughter is raped.Its at this time this average man decides to take the law into his own hands and fight back against the evil of society.Its important to note that this film came at a very interesting time in American history,crime rates were at an all time high and people were not used to the idea of man taking extreme measures and using vigilante justice to fight crime.Although four sequels were eventually made non could really stand up to the impact left behind by both the character and film(I am aware its based on a book) that spawned him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of-57Ivfwz8
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