The only thing worse than memes are the Facebook quizzes, but there are some people who I won’t say no to, so, at Joe Powell‘s request, in no particular order, here are ten brilliant movie characters.
1. “Paint Your Wagon‘s” Elizabeth – A woman who finds happiness when she makes her own choices, but ultimately compromises because of what others think.
2. “Fandango’s” Truman Sparks – As one-dimensional stoner characters go, Truman is the least likely character to actually be relevant to the film’s plot.
3. “Pleasantville‘s” Betty Parker – Without ever changing who she is, Betty goes from being alive to truly living.
4. “Drowning Mona’s” Chief Rash – The closest thing to sane in this town is the sexually ambivalent sheriff.
5. “The 40-year-old Virgin‘s” Andy Setzer – It’s Steve Carell. He just smiles and he’s charming, but this is a great twist on what your friends always told you after you got dumped by a jerk.
6. “Dogma’s” Loki – He’s not a psychopath, he’s just the Angel of Death.
7. “Royal Tenenbaum” – The patriarch who is also the movie’s title is a horribly selfish human being who accidentally heals all the broken souls around him.
8. “Heathers‘” JD – The sociopathic counterpart to Loki’s psychopath.
9. “My Favorite Year‘s” Alan Swan – The impulsive alcoholic who can make any woman melt just feels like Peter O’Toole playing himself, but it is wonderful.
10. “I Love You Alice B Toklas‘s” Harold – a very extreme midlife crisis in just one of Peter Sellers many fabulous roles.
Now, my brain hurts for all the wonderful characters who I didn’t include. Please forgive me, forgotten geniuses.