Our mission at SAW is to foster conversations about this thing we all love (or love to hate): film/TV. Many of our features are designed with you in mind. Your opinions, to be more to the point. You have ’em. We want to hear ’em.
Question of the Day (QOTD) is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a film/TV-related question that we put to you, the reader. The comments section below is like the feedback box at work; except, in this example, we actually read what you write and care about what you have to say.
Films succeed for a number of reasons, but most of their success can be attributed to some combination of the film’s writing, directing, and acting. But sometimes, films succeed not because the dialogue, set pieces, or direction were that good, but because we feel in love with the characters.
And when that happens—and the film is a success—a sequel is usually put into production. If fans love the characters, they will 100% want to spend more time with them. But sometimes, we don’t get a sequel. Sometimes, the film just works as a one-off, standalone entry. You’d love to see the characters again, but the movie was so good that you’re okay with just watching it again for the rest of your life.
So the question I ask today is: what standalone movie has the best characters?
There are plenty of answers for this question, but I’m going with Game Night. I absolutely love this action-comedy and it’s mostly because of the cast. I think the six actors (Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Billy Magnussen, Sharon Horgan, Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury) have amazing chemistry with each other (whether that’s when they are just paired off in groups of two or altogether).
You also have Jesse Plemons as Bateman and McAdams’ weird cop neighbor. The characters these seven play are all unique and different. They feel like they have history with one another. I’d love to be invited to one of their game nights and become friends with them. They seem like a really cool bunch.
So what about you, screenagers? What standalone movie has the best characters?
I’ll see you in the trenches.
