tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post1788141020801764687..comments2023-11-05T07:45:02.082-05:00Comments on Mystery Man on Film: Satire & the Protag Serial KillerMystery Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17486331815227364944noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-45553588178189743872007-06-20T16:27:00.000-04:002007-06-20T16:27:00.000-04:00Thanks, Nick. And welcome to TS!Thanks, Nick. And welcome to TS!Mickey Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00412489099199994379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-19213547013518569092007-06-20T00:54:00.000-04:002007-06-20T00:54:00.000-04:00I bit the bullet and signed up for Triggerstreet j...I bit the bullet and signed up for Triggerstreet just so I could read the script.<BR/><BR/>I enjoyed it and wish mickey lee luck with it.Nicklaus Louishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09602198821872256722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-65078291705003470182007-06-19T09:50:00.000-04:002007-06-19T09:50:00.000-04:00Mickey said: "To me, satire's aim should always be...Mickey said: "To me, satire's aim should always be the audience's "character arc", so to speak. The audience should walk away thinking about how they can improve themselves."<BR/><BR/>Interesting, Mickey. I'd never thought of it like that. But that is the function of satire.<BR/><BR/>MM - Awesome, helpful blog! I love "The Other Side." I've read it 3 or 4 times and it never fails to entertain me. It's wickedly engaging.Michelle77https://www.blogger.com/profile/00737288514874957700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-14844020719485931672007-06-18T17:47:00.000-04:002007-06-18T17:47:00.000-04:00Writing this story was the whole reason that I joi...Writing this story was the whole reason that I joined TriggerStreet, so thanks, MM, for putting the spotlight on satire for one day.<BR/><BR/>I never saw "Mr. Brooks", only because whenever I hear about an idea that sounds similar to one of my own, I like to bury my head in my pillows and pretend it never happened. But it sounds like I don't have too much to worry about.<BR/><BR/>"American Psycho" was a big influence on this story, as well as "To Die For" and of course "Network". And my list of favorite authors is like a who's-who of satire: Moliere, Swift, Orwell, Twain.... what can I say? I see the world through shit-stained glasses. <BR/><BR/>I'm not a big fan of light satire, Christopher Guest stuff, the recent "Stepford Wives" movie with Nicole Kidman, etc. Because even then, the focus is on the protag's arc. To me, satire's aim should always be the audience's "character arc", so to speak. The audience should walk away thinking about how they can improve themselves.<BR/><BR/>But anyway, thanks again. As mean and nasty as this story can be, it was truly a labor of love.Mickey Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00412489099199994379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-58720864393952677172007-06-18T16:39:00.000-04:002007-06-18T16:39:00.000-04:00I think the lesson we can take away from this is t...I think the lesson we can take away from this is to create a protag the audience can understand, but not necessarily sympathize with.<BR/><BR/>As long as you have a protag with depth and back-story, and one who is interesting in some way, people will watch.<BR/><BR/>In Falling Down, the protag starts out as a normal, everyday guy, and becomes a villain. I think as long as we can all see ourselves reacting the same way in the same situation, we will want to watch these dark heroes.Mimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11590214841424958129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-24705424173702103072007-06-18T13:21:00.000-04:002007-06-18T13:21:00.000-04:00Nick - Thanks so much. I think there's a need to ...Nick - Thanks so much. I think there's a need to educate on satire, because it can be a truly fantastic movie-going experience. Once you get it, you love it.<BR/><BR/>Laura - I enjoyed the plot involving the guy who wanted to learn. I thought that was interesting and that was the only part where I enjoyed the interaction with Marshall as they calculated their stategy on how to deal with this guy. The ending just flat-out pissed me off. They should've cut that last scene. What a sell-out.<BR/><BR/>Joshua - Oh yeah! I love that movie! I haven't seen that in ages. "Ripley's Game" is another good one. I enjoyed that far more so than "The Talented Mr. Ripley." Actually, there are 4 Tom Ripley movies in total, and this is the superior version. John Malkovich will always be, to me, the quintessential Tom Ripley. My favorite line is when he says (right before a certain killing begins), "Hold my watch, because if it breaks I'll kill everyone on this train." Hehehe...<BR/><BR/>Bob - No, and personally, I would've been more satisfied had he been given his comeuppance in an unexpected way. Without giving it away, we think he gets it and then they sold-out.<BR/><BR/>Mim - I think there is a problem in general screenwriting thinking in that we are "over-sympathizing" our protagonists. Ya know, we cannot sacrifice the integrity of the story or our own credibility as writers by forcing sympathy on characters who really don't deserve it.<BR/><BR/>Bob - Great! I have one - The Other Side! It's great! Hehehe...Mystery Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17486331815227364944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-91608417624598146532007-06-18T12:27:00.000-04:002007-06-18T12:27:00.000-04:00Prizzi's Honor was a satire, somewhat at least.Roa...Prizzi's Honor was a satire, somewhat at least.<BR/><BR/>Road to Perdition was a straight up story. I personally liked Road to Perdition.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537155200839804221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-56966060474763213662007-06-18T12:13:00.000-04:002007-06-18T12:13:00.000-04:00This is exactly the mistake we made on our story a...This is exactly the mistake we made on our story about Jack the Ripper. We tried to create a sympathetic serial-killer protag and missed.<BR/><BR/>I'm still working on the re-write, but this is good information.<BR/><BR/>Do you think this same theory applies to hitmen as protags? The only one I can think of is Grosse Point Blank and that was very much a satire.Mimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11590214841424958129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-23012027919699553282007-06-18T10:50:00.000-04:002007-06-18T10:50:00.000-04:00I concur with this review of Mickey's script. It ...I concur with this review of Mickey's script. It was wicked good. And thanks for the insight into satire MM! <BR/><BR/>I have a question to throw out for the masses. Would Mr. Brooks have been a better story if he realized that he'd never be able to overcome his alterego and in the end decides to do the honorable thing and kill himself to keep himself from killing more people?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537155200839804221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-43876143427050045672007-06-18T09:31:00.000-04:002007-06-18T09:31:00.000-04:00Satire with a protag serial killer? The list begi...Satire with a protag serial killer? The list begins with A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM . . . I can't believe you didn't mention it, it's a rocking film. Michael Caine kicks ass.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-44930772914939293342007-06-18T01:19:00.000-04:002007-06-18T01:19:00.000-04:00I actually enjoyed Mr. Brooks. But I found humor i...I actually enjoyed Mr. Brooks. But I found humor in the relationship with the alter-ego, and I wanted the alter-ego to win... after all, Mr. Brooks is perhaps the most boring individual on the face of the planet unless he's killing. And he's so very good at it. Yes, I was rooting for him to do evil, sick things - and I am certain that was the intention as much as the audience in a slasher cheers for the killer. <BR/><BR/>And I never even considered that they were trying to make me think he "won" in the end and was able to give up killing. You know he's been doing this all his life, that the thumbprint thing was just one phase, and that he is without a doubt going to do it again... and I believe that's what the filmmakers wanted you to think.<BR/><BR/>To me, the question was not whether he would kill, but whether he'd get caught. And why should he get his comeuppance at the end? Do all nasty folk in movies get theirs? Much better that he's still out there... I was very glad they didn't have him get caught, as I felt like that would ruin things.<BR/><BR/>Was the open ending done with a sequel in mind? I guess it may have been. I just took it as an open ending, though.Laura Deerfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06481017193764065233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-64978172846688710282007-06-17T23:44:00.000-04:002007-06-17T23:44:00.000-04:00Thanks for this post MM, specifically the portion ...Thanks for this post MM, specifically the portion about Satire.<BR/><BR/>I have a satire about hero worship on my back burner and I couldn't agree more that th epoint of it is to ridicule and break down the protag and his/her belief system. Because, in essence, he/she is a representation of the issue that the film is satrizing.Nicklaus Louishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09602198821872256722noreply@blogger.com