Some weird aspect ratio bizznezz going on in that cut. Is it just me? posted by Admiral Haddock at 3:20 PM on March 11
awesome.
Coulda used a little Harold and Maud and a little Muppet Movie, but hey. Pretty damn great. posted by es_de_bah at 3:25 PM on March 11 [2 favorites]
There is basically nothing that would not benefit from more Muppet Movie. posted by aubilenon at 3:28 PM on March 11 [8 favorites]
Just saying, the movie ends with the Muppets trying to make the movie that they're at the end of, and then a wall breaks and they all sing at the camera. posted by es_de_bah at 3:33 PM on March 11 [3 favorites]
I simple adored the whole Ricky Horror -> Psycho segue. It had me grinning from ear to ear. posted by kariebookish at 3:43 PM on March 11
There is basically nothing that would not benefit from more Muppet Movie Audrey Tautou.
The very last scenes of Inglourious Basterds and Secretary would have been good to include. posted by iamkimiam at 4:45 PM on March 11 [1 favorite]
Sad to not see Spice World listed here. (skip to 1:58 mark for all five girls breaking the 4th wall for an entire minute)
Mel C: Do you know what I always wonder? Why do people sit there at end of the film and watch the credits go up?
Geri: It's probably the sad anti-climax; it's all over, back to reality.
Mel B: I know where they're gonna go, they're all going down the pub, and then they're all off to the chippie.
Victoria: Hey, you - no, not you, behind you, and a little to the left - I like your dress.
Emma: Do you know what? Some people are watching this on video... Is there nothing on telly, then?
Geri: Yeah, but you know what they're wondering now, don't you...
Mel C: Whatever happened to the bomb on the bus?
(group looks left as we hear bomb-exploding sounds off-camera)
god I miss the Spice Girls, and I don't care what anyone says, Spice World was a truly awesome film. posted by Unicorn on the cob at 5:00 PM on March 11 [4 favorites]
Someone looking directly at the camera is not necessarily breaking the fourth wall (my understanding is that either the medium conventions, fictionality, or the audience must be addressed in order for it to be considered breaking the fourth wall). So for instance, an actor might look into the camera in a shot that is supposed to be the POV of another character, but that would not be breaking the fourth wall. posted by mediated self at 5:03 PM on March 11 [2 favorites]
I don't care what anyone says, Spice World was a truly awesome film.
I have to agree with you on this. It has the same energy and the same fun as Hard Day's Night, but from the standpoint of modern celebrity rather than the Beatlemania era. I watch both films for the same reason, but for completely different experiences and results. If that makes any sense. posted by hippybear at 5:11 PM on March 11 [2 favorites]
"Ya'all take a chill" posted by sammyo at 5:33 PM on March 11
Am I the only one who remembers Ice-T doing this at the end of Johnny Mnemonic?
When I watched the movie more recently, it ends with the line about taking out the garbage (which is already a little 4th-wally) but I could have sworn when I saw it on VHS he had another line where he said the movie's over. posted by RobotHero at 5:37 PM on March 11
The variety/performance/farce/parody Hellzapoppin (1941) has oodles of this throughout, e.g. (watch ~1m to ~2m to get the full effect)
A lot of the humor per se is fairly corny, but I think the overall effect is fascinating in how it speaks to a mature media-savvy audience and winks at their "yeah, I've seen it all" sensibilities. posted by dhartung at 6:02 PM on March 11
Easy prediction: many more "Breaking the Fourth Wall" supercuts... especially when you get into TV... there was one on YouTube I saw before but couldn't find now with a couple dozen examples of Tom Selleck as "Magnum PI" looking straight into the camera as if to say "can you believe they pay me for this sh!t?" posted by oneswellfoop at 7:06 PM on March 11
Could someone please cut all the Kevin Spacey asides from House of Cards and compile them? Oh, also, could I please have the version they were out out of? I could watch the whole series in about an hour that way, and not have to hear nearly as much of his ridiculous "southern" accent. Thank you for your prompt attention on this matter. posted by Cookiebastard at 7:33 PM on March 11
No Burt Reynolds from "Smokey and the Bandit" when he's in the Trans Am after he loses the cop car in that small downtown scene? For shame! posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 9:01 PM on March 11
2nd-ing the "needs more Return of the Killer Tomatoes". And yep, definitely needs more Bing & Bob. The Road To... series seemed to have at least one take to the camera in each film. Early Woody Allen had a lot of these, too.
Now, where's that clip of Hedly Lamarr breaking the fourth wall?
Easy prediction: many more "Breaking the Fourth Wall" supercuts... especially when you get into TV...
Only if they impose a date limit of "pre 1995" or something. "Moonlighting" was great for it, but something like "The Office" would more or less wreck the whole system. posted by ShutterBun at 9:04 PM on March 11 [1 favorite]
But was really looking forward to Trading Places!
Yeah. I remember watching Trading Places on TV and in between commercials they had Eddie Murphy talking about the filming and he says that John Landis shot this scene some 30-40 times because he wanted Murphy's reaction to be absolutely perfect. posted by mcmile at 9:21 PM on March 11 [1 favorite]
At least a third of these are not breaking the fourth wall. posted by kirkaracha at 9:35 PM on March 11
there was one on YouTube I saw before but couldn't find now with a couple dozen examples of Tom Selleck as "Magnum PI" looking straight into the camera as if to say "can you believe they pay me for this sh!t?"
That may just be a single episode. He has multiple ones: from,
"can you believe my luck!"
to,
"can you believe my luck?!
and everything in between. It may be the most often used scene transition.
...And I just outed myself as a Magnum P.I.-aholic. posted by alex_skazat at 11:33 PM on March 11
I don't know that I would scribe a bright line between asides, narration, breaking the fourth wall per se (involving some acknowledgement of being within a narrative, e.g.), and Calvino-esque meta-narrative. It's more like a continuum. posted by dhartung at 12:47 AM on March 12
Was watching for Top Secret's "I know, it all sounds like some bad movie," bit. The look at the camera (classic!) was included, the line was not.
Also the Malcolm McDowell cut.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 3:15 PM on March 11