The 10 Best Character-Driven Movies, From 'Taxi Driver' to 'The Breakfast Club'
Great movie that puts character development above plot development.
Character studies are among the most universally appreciated works of cinema, and they center on telling the story of the protagonist's development. Focusing on the protagonist's main inner conflict rather than the outer world around them (unlike most plot-driven films today), these types of films are remarkable and riveting to watch.
From old classics like Taxi Driver and The Breakfast Club to more modern filmmaking like Her and Lady Bird, there have been countless great films over the years that put the inner life of the protagonist above the plot. These are the best.
'Taxi Driver' (1976)
This Martin Scorsese film starring legendary actor Robert De Niro is one of the most admired. Set in the 1970s, the captivating film "Taxi Driver" revolves around De Niro's insomnia, depressed ex-Marine who works the night shift as a taxi driver in immoral New York.
This engrossing film is certainly a good character study; follows Travis Brickle as he navigates life and is depicted in a delightful tale of man and world With characters intimately drawn into madness, Taxi Driver is definitely a memorable film its genre.
'The Godfather' (1972)
Almost everyone knows Francis Ford Coppola's film The Godfather. The first installment of a trilogy series starring the late Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone introduced viewers to the criminal world of America as an aging patriarch of the scion of organized crime cedes all control to an unscrupulous Willing successor son.
The plot of The Godfather requires a great deal of character development, most importantly, it is a character study of Vito's son, Michael Corleone (played by Al Pacino), who is the film's protagonist. Michael goes from an idealistic war hero with a strong moral code who wants nothing to do with his family, to one of the most ruthless and cold-blooded members of the Colerones.
'Her' (2013)
Spike Jonze's "Her" follows Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) as he goes from work to home each day as he leads a depressing, lonely life. Ever since his wife (Rooney Mara) broke up with him, Theodore has struggled to find meaning in everything - until he unexpectedly falls in love with a very advanced operating system.
With stunning cinematography, she delivers a deep character study of loneliness that perfectly reflects the pain that comes with it Feeling unloved and unappreciated, and highlights how the circumstances in which one finds oneself can affect one's emotions. During his journey, Theodore grows significantly, even as he endures heartbreak many times.
'Before Sunrise' (1995)
Before Sunrise marks the beginning of one of the most popular trilogies of all time, Richard Linklater's The Before Trilogy. The film tells the story of two young travelers, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy), who meet by chance on a train and end up at the next exit together. come out. Throughout the film, viewers gain insight into the interesting thoughts of both characters as they wander through Vienna and discuss their perspectives on life.
While "Before Sunrise" offers a pretty decent romance (like "Before Sunset" and "Before Midnight"), it is also arguably an excellent study of these two very different personalities. While the film occasionally showcases beautiful scenes for viewers to enjoy, its story is entirely character-driven, which is what makes it so good.
'Locke' (2013)
Written and directed by Steven Knight, Rock stars Tom Hardy as Evan Locke, a seemingly conscientious family man who once lived peacefully until he left a construction site and traveled to London to appear some crazy changes while on set When a child conceived in a one-night stand is born.
Reflecting on the choices and life-changing circumstances that affect the characters' professional and private lives, Locke is an entertaining study of an incredibly well-crafted fictional character featuring a haunting performance from the talented Hardy. This 2013 film is a remarkable character-driven film that embarks on a unique journey with its protagonists.
'Pearl' (2022)
2022's The Pearl is a prequel to X, which premiered earlier this year. This horror film from Ti West follows a young woman on the verge of madness (Mia Goth) who lives with her German parents in their Texas home. Desperate to escape the isolation of life on her parents' farm, Pearl turns to acting in hopes of becoming a star. ^Pearl is a character-driven film that some may become obsessed with and horrified by when they satisfy the caustic need to watch at all costs. At its core, this 2022 horror film presents audiences with the character study of a grieving murderer who feels like her life is slipping through her fingers.
Paul Thomas Anderson's iconic play There Will Be Blood follows an ambitious character Played by Daniel Day-Lewis, he is a charismatic but ruthless oil prospector who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Determined to build an empire, Daniel Plainview joins his adopted son in pursuit of a hopeful lead.
'There Will Be Blood' (2007)
With extraordinary performances, Oscar-winning There Will Be Blood is a deep and fascinating character study of an ambitious man - it explores what greed can get you and how it goes against family and more Important values and religion.
Greta Gerwig's Oscar-nominated Lady Bird is one of the most cherished coming-of-age films of recent times. Set in 2002, it follows an artistically inclined 17-year-old girl (Saoirse Ronan) as she navigates her troubled life in Sacramento, California. While she craved adventure and new opportunities, Sacramento Catholic High was the last place to find them.
'Lady Bird' (2017)
Lady Bird is a wonderful character-driven film that focuses on the many struggles that come with trying to expand your horizons and create new beginnings in life, especially as a young person who has yet to find his own space in the larger environment. , scary world.
Yet another movie perfectly explores what Feeling Like an Odd Person in Your Formative Years, Eighth Grade focuses on a middle school teenage girl who struggles with anxiety but struggles to gain social approval from her classmates during her final week of school.
'Eighth Grade' (2018)
Bo Burnham's touching coming-of-age examines Elsie Fisher's Kayla with perfect emotional depth, highlighting the difficult preteen years and every anxieties that come with them, including the undeniable pressure to fit in with someone you're not actually belong to the crowd.
This iconic '80s classic is one of the most memorable films of the storied pop culture era and remains a highly cited film even today. The Breakfast Club focuses on five polar opposite high school students who meet in a Saturday detention facility where they must write an assignment about who they think they are and the infraction they committed in the first place.
'The Breakfast Club' (1985)
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This incredibly innovative, character-driven film defies hasty judgment, rejects the way high school and the wider world work, and reflects on fictional stereotypes while showing the characters' diverse personalities and Each character was celebrated individually.
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