Lately I’ve been thinking about how rare it is that I find myself thinking about a movie’s main character.
Usually, when I leave the theater, I’m already talking about the supporting character who won my attention. I think it’s time to draw your attention to some of these memorable characters. Most of them are so intriguing, I’d love to see them lead their own TV series. They just have that magic that makes them irresistible. I can’t get enough of them.
And, since Twitter has made it clear that we should express what’s important to us in 140 Characters, I am going to start doing just that.
These are characters who I think deserve more attention than they’ve received, characters that live on in my imagination long after they’ve left the big screen. They’re the characters I think about when I’m writing my own stories.
Your job? Be the first to identify the film (or one of the films) these characters inhabit. If you want to play fairly and honestly, you won’t use the Internet to look up the answer. (But hey, a bazillion people downloaded Wolverine illegally, so I know that an appeal for responsibility is probably useless…)
The prizes? The satisfaction of knowing you’ve probably spent far too many beautiful days watching movies. 🙂 And your name will be up in lights when I post the next character.
And we begin with:
SPECIAL AGENT ALONZO MOSELY
The world would be a better place if Yaphet Kotto appeared in more films. Strangely, he has not had a more prominent, famous big-screen role than that of Alonzo Mosely. And it’s an unforgettable role. His character swings between deadpan observation and simmering (sometimes explosive) rage, and in doing so earns some of the film’s biggest laughs. No one has a face like him, no one has a voice like him. And no one has an embarrassing secret like him! (But that’s a surprise.) He steals the show whenever he’s onscreen.
It’s worth noting that Kotto played this character in more than one film, although the second time was the cause of some controversy, and the second film is probably better forgotten.
What is Alonzo Mosely’s movie?
I remembered seeing the movie and remembered him, but I didn’t guess which movie it was, so I was irresponsible and looked it up on the internet 🙂
Are you planning on highlighting 140 different characters? I’m sure you’ve seen enough movies to pick out that many.
Men In Black? or was I supposed to email you with that answer? 🙂
Terrific idea! Why is it that main characters are so rarely all that interesting anymore? The supporting characters get to have personalities while the main character carries the weight of the plot. Sad for them.
The film is ‘Midnight Run.’ Great fun w/ Deniro and the fantastic Charles Grodin.
I’m afraid I haven’t the foggiest. (But at least I’ve proved that I’m honest!)
I would love to know which movie he’s in, though, since it sounds like a real winner.
I had to look it up too. I had a guess, but was off. I’ve actually never seen this film.
Well done, Tim Berroth.
It is indeed “Midnight Run.” Of all of the movies in my all-time Top Ten, I think “Midnight Run” is probably the one most particular to *my* list. I may have met two or three other people in this world who would count it among their top ten. But the writing — yes, even the machine-gunning cuss words — is a masterpiece of comedy, chemistry, characterization, pacing, and encompassing a range of modes from madcap adventure to delicate intimacy. It’s the best thing Martin Brest has directed, and the finest buddy-movie script I’ve ever encountered, by George Gallo.
The movie also includes my favorite performances by Robert DeNiro and Charles Grodin. This is one of those rare films where the main characters really are compelling and interesting.
This is Kotto’s most prominent, famous big-screen role? I would have thought his role in Alien had a stronger claim to that. It’s the first one that comes to mind whenever I think of Kotto, at any rate. That, and his exploding bad guy in Live and Let Die.
Fascinating about the second film. I hadn’t heard that he reprised the character in that one. And it’s the only film (or TV show) he’s made in the past eight years! (According to the IMDb, at least.) I wonder what he’s been up to. Enjoying retirement, I guess (he turns 72 later this year).
“Midnight Run” is a great movie. Probably up in or near my top 10, too. Even has a nice “redemption” ending, too, for those of us who like a wisp of spirituality in our secular/mainstream comedies.
I love the running gag, with him and DeNiro, regarding the sunglasses: “Agent Foster Grant.” =D
One of the best comedies of all-time — Grodin and DeNiro were such a brilliant Odd Couple pairing.
Yeah, I think, as far as cult-status goes, I’d say Kotto’s Mosely is bigger than his Alien character. Remember that YouTube video of “100 Movies, 100 Numbers” that went around a couple of years ago? That was an Agent Alonzo Mosely production, if I recall correctly. And his reappearance as the same character in an unrelated film many years later is something of a novelty. He definitely has more lines and screen time in Midnight Run than in Alien. Alien’s the bigger movie, but Mosely’s a fully developed character with so many quotable lines….
Heh, speaking of Midnight Run, I just noticed the the “about” section of your site, Jeffrey, that you named your cat “Mardukas.” 😉
Bonus points for Ingham!
Yep, Jonathan Mardukas is around seven years old now. Still a white-collar criminal. He looks like a black cat, but only the outer edge of his fur is black. Run your hand along his coat and you see is fur is actually white right out to the black tips. And yes, he *is* a criminal, but a polite one. Very picky about what he eats, just like the man who inspired his name.
Does Mr. Mardukas Cat like Lyonnaise potatoes? 🙂
He prefers Chorizo and Eggs.
“Movies in my top-ten but probably no one else’s” could be an interesting conversation.
‘“Movies in my top-ten but probably no one else’s” could be an interesting conversation.’
Oh! Yes please!