Lets take a quick break from the news from Trumpistan.
Often, when I watch a film, or read a novel, I find myself drawn more to a minor, or supporting, character rather than the lead(s). This could be because supporting characters, designed to revolve around the major character, can be painted broadly, tend to be archetypes and, because they get less back story, there’s a bit of a mystery about them.
Many leads also function as the audience avatar. The lead is us, seeing a new world or crazy event. You can identify with Marty McFly, not Doc Brown. In The Lord of the Rings its the Hobbits. The Devil Wears Prada, it Andy Sax.
The good supporting characters enhance the movie and always leave you wanting more.
Here are a few of my favorite supporting movie characters.
Tom Hagen (The Godfather, Godfather II)
Robert Duval
Vito Coreleone’s consigliere and something of an adopted son. Tom was a street urchin and childhood friend of Sonny Coreleone. Tom dad was an absentee, alcoholic father and his mother was dead. In the novel, Tom was homeless and suffered from a sight-threatening eye infection. Sonny brought Tom home and Tom stayed. He was never formally adopted but he was raised by Vito and sent to law school. Tom is, like Kay Adams, something of an audience avatar. Because Tom isn’t family and not even Sicilian, he is largely an outsider in the world of The Godfather. Unlike other non-family members, his loyalty to Don Vito is personal and not business. Hagen is played to perfection by Robert Duval.
I have a special practice. I handle one client. Now you have my number, I'll wait for your call. By the way, I admire your pictures very much.
Emily Charlton (The Devil Wears Prada)
Emily Blunt
Senior Assistant to Runway Magazine Editor Miranda Priestly, Emily is equal parts competent, charming and caustic. She does her job for the uber-high maintenance Priestly well which would be high praise for anyone. While the film does not dwell on the Charlton character often, Emily Blunt, in her first feature film debut, holds her own in scenes with Meryl Streep. Some could argue that Blunt emerged from the movie with more career momentum than the lead, Anne Hathaway.
Do you have a prior commitment? Some hideous skirt convention you have to go to?
Inigo Montoya (The Princess Bride)
Mandy Patinkin
A Spanish swordsman and henchman for the criminal, Vizzini, Montoya is on a quest to avenge the death of his father by the “six-fingered man.” Montoya is a brilliant swordsman, something of a rogue (he does, after all participate in a kidnapping) but is ultimately fair-minded and kind. Mandy Patinkin is superb as the charismatic Spaniard. Is there anyone out there that doesn’t like Inigo? If there is, I haven’t met them.
Is very strange. I have been in the revenge business so long, now that it's over, I don't know what to do with the rest of my life.
Hans Gruber (Die Hard)
Alan Rickman
The leader of the terrorist/robbers that take control of Nakatomi Plaza. Gruber, portrayed by Alan Rickman, is urbane, witty and ruthless. A perfect foil for everyman protagonist, John McClane. And influential. After Rickman’s Gruber, Hollywood would see a number of Gruber-type villains. Just why does Nakatomi Corp. have $640,000,000 in negotiable bearer bonds tucked away in their corporate vault? Sounds fishy to me.
- "The following people are to be released from their captors: In Northern Ireland, the seven members of the New Provo Front. In Canada, the five imprisoned leaders of Liberte de Quebec. In Sri Lanka, the nine members of the Asian Dawn movement..."
- (covers the radio) "I read about them in Time magazine."
Joanna (Office Space)
Jennifer Aniston
Peter Gibbons love interest. Although the part is rather small, Joanna is funny, smart, mature and moral. Despite the fact that her career situation is less than ideal, she refuses to accept Peter’s rationalization for his crime and when he begins to “mansplain” it to her, she cuts right through his bullshit. Jennifer Aniston is extremely charming in this role. The scenes about her “flair” are some of the funniest in the movie and some of the more realistic.
Nora Charles (The Thin Man)
Myrna Loy
There’s nothing quite as fun in old movies as an elegant, wise-cracking, socialite wife that is one martini and one step ahead of her detective husband, Nick. Myrna Loy is really a co-star of the Thin Man movies but she’s too much fun to pass up. If you like mystery-comedies from the 30’s, check out the Thin Man series. There’s a number of sequels to the original and some of them hold up very well.
Reporter: Say listen, is he working on a case?
Nora Charles: Yes, yes!
Reporter: What case?
Nora Charles: A case of scotch. Pitch in and help him.
Pop Fisher and Red (The Natural)
Wilford Brimley/Richard Farnsworth
My favorite manager/coach combination in any baseball movie. Wilford Brimley is excellent as the crusty, old manager. Richard Farnsworth is perfect as the quiet, thoughtful, gentle coach that can reel in some of his boss’s crankiness. Some of their verbal exchanges are the best dialogue in the movie. Some of their facial expressions, especially Red’s, are great as well. A fun duo. I dream about being able to listen to their exchanges during an entire game.
Pop Fisher: My ma urged me to get out of this game. When I was a kid, she pleaded with me. And I meant to, you know what I mean? But she died.
Red: Tough.
Feel free to share some of your favorite supporting characters — in books or movies.