Flashbacks - one good one

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Patrick,

I agree that the flashback technique is very rarely well integrated into the story and tends to break the stream of events. Flashbacks may not be as annoying (to me) as people who suddenly break into music and dancing, but it is often a way to establish events and characters that would be time better spent in the "real time" action. I would rather that any necessary history be done before the "current" action begins.

It does require far more intelligence to impart history to characters without blurting it out. One of the reasons I think "The Third Man" is so brilliant is the way Reed avoided cheaply revealing the character of Herry Lime in flashbacks- it would have been so much easier, but completely destroyed the whole mystery. The Kevin Costner version will be very different!

The one movie in which I think flashbacks are are nicely done is "The Godfather Part II" in which the juxtapositions of young Vito Corleone in old New York - and all the traditional realtionships- contrast to Micheals' modern alienation and the breakdown of tight family> neighbourhood> society structure. Remember the flashback scenes of young Vito and his family life immediately contrasted with Micheal's conversation with his mother, "Can a man lose his family?" In this one case, I think the flashbacks really effectively show how the world changed around the Corleones and strengthen the story.

Still, that success is very rare. My mother used to groan when a flashback appeared as, "time for another episode of 'Flashback Theatre'".

Patrick, la fois prochaine nous pouvons parler d'un autre problem de film : ordres d'reve !

Cheers,

Bambi B

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Oh! Why do I hate ( no, not Paris ) flashback in films ? or an very good question...but you need YOUR brain..... - patrickU 10:33:16 09/26/03 (20)

You'll love the extremely underrated "Jacob's Ladder." nt - tinear 06:29:47 09/28/03 (1)

Ever so often I still rent that . . . loved it! One of the . . . - albee33 20:28:35 09/28/03 (0)

Does "Memento" count?... - geoffkait 16:50:38 09/27/03 (3)

Re: Does "Memento" count?...Yes, perfectly !( hehe) - patrickU 23:25:09 09/27/03 (2)

Re: Oh, you mean like Manchurian Candidate? <nt> - geoffkait 06:12:41 09/28/03 (1)

This one was more like an nighmare... - patrickU 06:18:37 09/28/03 (0)

Will BergmanÂ´s "Wild Strawberries" do? - orejones 11:01:06 09/27/03 (5)

Re: "Wild Strawberries" - patrickU 11:57:34 09/27/03 (4)

Yes, itÂ´s frequently misused . But then thereÂ´s "Citizen Kane"... ;^)) (nt) - orejones 08:24:46 09/29/03 (3)

Re: Yes, itÂ´s frequently misused . But then thereÂ´s "Citizen Kane"... ;^)) (nt) - patrickU 08:33:41 09/29/03 (2)

Well, Orson was somewhat... liberal, and it seems he didnÂ´t like Hearst ... - orejones 09:32:10 09/29/03 (1)

Re: Well, Orson was somewhat... liberal, and it seems he didnÂ´t like Hearst ... - patrickU 09:52:13 09/29/03 (0)

You must have burned your copy of "Titanic" . . . - albee33 05:58:52 09/27/03 (1)

Re: What is Titanic ? - patrickU 06:15:36 09/27/03 (0)

THE flashback movie - Rashomon - Dmitry 23:28:21 09/26/03 (1)

Re: THE flashback movie - Rashomon - patrickU 02:20:15 09/27/03 (0)

Flashbacks - one good one - Bambi B 17:15:47 09/26/03 (3)

Re: Flashbacks - one good one - patrickU 04:48:08 09/27/03 (2)

'Ordres de reve' - Bambi B 10:07:09 09/27/03 (1)

Re: 'Ordres de reve' - patrickU 10:19:38 09/27/03 (0)

Follow Ups

Flashbacks - one good one - Bambi B 17:15:47 09/26/03 (3)

Re: Flashbacks - one good one - patrickU 04:48:08 09/27/03 (2)

'Ordres de reve' - Bambi B 10:07:09 09/27/03 (1)

Re: 'Ordres de reve' - patrickU 10:19:38 09/27/03 (0)

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