Entertainment
10 Most Hopeless Movie Endings of All Time, Ranked
It would be boring if every movie ended happily, or even just bittersweet, at the worst. Certain stories inevitably have to end tragically (it’s the point, really, of something like Romeo and Juliet), and depending on the story, it can be good to have that downbeat ending be surprising, too. Not every hopeless ending has to be – or even should be – telegraphed.
Of the following, some are obviously going to end tragically, while others get bleak in ways that prove a bit more startling. Nothing here is recent, so hopefully, spoiler warnings aren’t really needed (the newest movie here is, at the time of writing, almost 20 years old). Still, if you really don’t want to know details, maybe just scroll past movies you haven’t seen. But it’s hard to talk about the extent to which these endings feel hopeless without, you know, going into some detail regarding what happens in those endings.
10
‘Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb’ (1964)
There are so many genres within Stanley Kubrick’s filmography, including at least one genuinely epic war movie, but Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is a very different sort of war movie. It’s not about any conflict that’s actually happened, and is instead about a mismanaged series of events that eventually lead to the outbreak of nuclear war.
That thankfully hasn’t happened yet, but Dr. Strangelove, even while being farcical, does show how it could happen. Well, it shows the ultimate devastation and hopelessness of fighting a war now that nuclear weapons have been invented, and it’s the ending that drives home all the destruction and death. It’s sobering stuff, after a movie that’s been so consistently funny, but it really works and leaves you feeling tremendously easy afterward. It’d be hard to imagine someone getting to the end of this movie and feeling anything but existential dread and/or horror, really.
9
‘Come and See’ (1985)
Despite not being a horror movie, Come and See is up there among the most terrifying films ever made, and the ending plays a pretty big part in giving the overall movie such a reputation. It takes place during World War II, and it showcases a desperate fight against invading German forces, in Belarus, from the perspective of a young boy who joins a group of resistance fighters.
You might think Come and See is merciful in not having its protagonist die at the very end, but it feels likely in the final scene that he’s marching off toward his doom anyway.
The whole film showcases how outgunned they are, and it does a horrifyingly good job of also showing how the fight becomes more desperate and ultimately hopeless the further it goes along. You might think Come and See is merciful in not having its protagonist die at the very end, but it feels likely in the final scene that he’s marching off toward his doom anyway. Even if not, he’s been completely broken psychologically from his experiences, and maybe physically, too, since he eerily has the appearance of someone much older than he actually is by the time Come and See concludes.
8
‘Ran’ (1985)
Ran is probably the best-looking Akira Kurosawa film, all the while also being his most harrowing and downbeat. It takes inspiration from King Lear, with its story about an aging warlord trying to get his legacy in line once he’s gone, by picking a successor and keeping all of his sons happy, but that’s so much easier said than done. Also, it’s not very easily said, because such an endeavor is always going to cause issues for obvious reasons.
Still, the problems caused here end up far worse than anticipated, and Ran pretty devastatingly depicts a conflict within a family unit spiraling out of control, and leading to a great – and widespread – amount of bloodshed, destruction, and death. Again, it’s spectacular to look at, but that’s only the smallest of chasers in the overall scheme of things, when it comes time to wash away the bitterness of the (also massive) drink that is Ran. Remarkable film, though, so long as you’re okay to feel pretty bad at the end of it all.
7
‘Requiem for a Dream’ (2000)
Of all the movies about addiction, Requiem for a Dream could well claim to be the least subtle, for better or worse. There are, of course, countless other movies about people becoming dependent on certain dangerous substances that don’t end well, but this one goes especially far in showcasing the worst-case scenario for a group of different people whose lives were all impacted in initially positive ways by drugs.
The highs (and the highs) give way to crushing lows, and no punches are pulled in showcasing those lows, by the film’s end. No one emerges from the end of Requiem for a Dream in good health or spirits, to put it mildly, and if you don’t find the whole thing a bit much, or even comical in how over-the-top it gets, then it might well work as a blunt warning of sorts about the things it depicts and explores.
6
‘Dancer in the Dark’ (2000)
Musicals are often fun, and only sometimes intense and/or not fun. Dancer in the Dark is… well, it’s in this ranking. It’s not fun. It’s in the other category. Damn is it in the other category. This one’s about a woman going blind while working a physically demanding job to support her son, and then she ends up in a situation where she shoots a man during a confrontation that turns physical.
It’s not a situation where she can defend herself well, or argue a certain complexity about the whole thing, so she ends up sentenced to death. And the movie ends with her coming to terms with that death and then being hanged, right before the end credits. If there’s one thing about Dancer in the Dark that’s not entirely miserable, it’s the suggestion that her son will be spared the condition that’s caused her to slowly go blind, but if you really wanted to call it bittersweet, the bitter overpowers the sweet completely (it’s like a 98-2 split, and that’s if you’re being optimistic/charitable).
5
‘The Godfather Part II’ (1974)
There was an attempt to make the ending of The Godfather Part III bleaker than the ending of The Godfather Part II, but it was arguably a bit overdone. It’s like a classic tragedy ending, though the more subdued bleakness of The Godfather Part II’s conclusion is ultimately more sobering, with Michael Corleone getting what he thinks he wants, but losing everyone important to him in the process.
His family’s shattered, pretty much entirely, and his friends/associates are dead or distancing themselves from him. And, for what it’s worth, much of his family’s dead, too. The loneliness of his whole situation is driven home by the way his father’s story, in those flashbacks, “ends,” and with the flashback he’s featured in, too. Then it’s capped off with the final shot, which is genuinely devastating, and arguably a better ending for The Godfather saga than what we got in the (still arguably somewhat over-hated) third film.
4
‘The Mist’ (2007)
The easiest place to find Stephen King‘s The Mist is in Skeleton Crew, which is a collection of short stories and novellas. Well, two novellas. Plus some poetry. It’s all pretty varied, and The Mist kicks off the collection and is also easily the longest story there, being about people trapped inside a supermarket after a mist covers their town and seems to bring with it all sorts of confounding and unnatural monsters.
The movie takes a solidly written novella and arguably elevates it with the altered ending, as the novella’s somewhat ambiguous final note is transformed here into outright tragedy, with the main character mercy-killing several other characters (including his son) just moments before they would’ve been rescued. It’s cruel, but yeah, successful as something truly horrifying, and the brutality of that final sequence does clash against the B-grade feel – and occasional goofiness – of some of the movie’s earlier scenes.
3
‘Das Boot’ (1981)
Yes, another war movie. And there are a couple more after this, but war movies probably should be bleaker and more upsetting to watch than films in any other genre, at least broadly speaking. When it comes to Das Boot, it’s about the Second World War, and much of it’s set on a German submarine, which keeps things very claustrophobic and high stakes, with the combat depicted being the kind where the enemy landing a single well-aimed (or lucky) shot could mean everyone dying.
The characters here don’t die underwater, but are instead pretty much all wiped out on land, right at the end of the movie, in a way that very effectively drives home the hopelessness of war for the individuals fighting in it. There’s no real release of all the tension throughout Das Boot, because after you feel on edge for the whole runtime, it then wraps up and intends to make you feel depressed. It’s the worst of both worlds, emotionally speaking, but that’s war, and this film is undeniably anti that, so it more or less had to be this way.
2
‘Grave of the Fireflies’ (1988)
There might not be any other animated movies simultaneously so acclaimed and well-known for being devastating as Grave of the Fireflies, to the point where even mentioning this feels so obvious it might well be cheating. “Of course Grave of the Fireflies was going to be here,” you probably thought, clicking the article, and yes, congratulations. You were right.
It’s a movie that starts out heavy, given that it tells you where things will end up narratively, and then the whole thing builds agonizingly to that eventual tragedy. Also, the rest of the movie is tragic and upsetting; it’s really just that the ending of Grave of the Fireflies feels that way to a particularly great extent. If you only ever feel motivated to watch this the one time, and then never again, that’s perfectly understandable.
1
‘Threads’ (1984)
A little while ago, Dr. Strangelove was mentioned because of its bleak ending that depicted the world’s destruction, but it was relegated to a montage. An intentionally jarring and bleak montage, sure, but the despair was mostly contained to a couple of minutes. Enter Threads, which is also about nuclear war and the world falling apart, but the bombs fall so much earlier.
You get a first act that builds up to warfare breaking out, then some time spent in the immediate aftermath of the devastation, and, after that, a distressingly lengthy portion of the film that’s spent showing humanity falling apart further generations into the future. Threads drives home how lots of people would die instantly, yes, but then makes it clear how many people would die slowly. Oh, and further, how people born after the war ended would still be doomed, because of the condition of the planet. In every single way, it’s as miserable as a movie could conceivably be.
Threads
- Release Date
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September 23, 1984
- Runtime
-
112 Minutes
- Director
-
Mick Jackson
- Writers
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Barry Hines
-
Karen Meagher
Ruth Beckett
-
Reece Dinsdale
Jimmy Kemp
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Entertainment
Marvin Gaye’s 1971 Masterpiece Is Now Called the Greatest Song Ever — but It Wasn’t His Biggest Hit
Widely considered one of the greatest singers of all time, Marvin Gaye served as one of the most important voices in soul music. Commonly dubbed the Prince of Motown, everything that he offered art was bred from pure spirit. As a gifted singer, songwriter, and producer, his untimely death was not at the expense of an extensive discography that changed everything we knew about R&B. From hits like “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” his sultry vocals shook an entire generation, shaping the sound of soul music throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
But while his countless hits make up a catalog that travels through funk, jazz, and soul, the track recently dubbed as the “Greatest Song Ever” doesn’t even sit in Gaye’s top three most streamed hits. “What’s Going On,” released on January 21, 1971, served as a political observance of unsettling times in the United States. It was a plea for a return to our own humanity, to not let violence and hate be what drives our division. With a legacy and relevance that has only grown over time, here’s a deeper dive into Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.”
The History Behind Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”
One of the most important things to note about “What’s Going On” is that it almost never happened. Originally written by Renaldo “Obie” Benson of The Four Tops, the inspiration stemmed from his witnessing of police violently attacking anti-war protesters during the 1969 People’s Park demonstrations in Berkeley. It was an outpouring of desperation and despair, as it seemed almost impossible to survive the chilling reality of being young, Black, or anti-violent in America at the time. However, the rest of the band members wanted to avoid recording the track out of fear that the song was just “too political.” Though the lyrics spoke to the salvation of love, it did not shy away from acknowledging the brutality that ran rampant in the streets.
We don’t need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today
Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
Who’s Your Perfect Classic Rock Band?
Benson went on to pitch the song to several other artists, including Joan Baez, but it wasn’t ultimately considered with sincerity until it reached Gaye. The musician connected with it immediately, especially because his brother had recently returned from the Vietnam War, and Gaye himself was dealing with grief after the death of duet partner Tammi Terrell. He knew that this song needed to be recorded, and that he would be able to infuse it in with genuine honesty and longing for change.
However, there were still a few obstacles to overcome. Motown founder Berry Gordy hated the song and wanted to stop it from being recorded, reportedly regarding it as too jazzy, too political, and “the worst thing” he had ever heard. He didn’t think it was the right sonic move for his career. Yet, Gaye knew he had something special on his hands and refused to record anything else until the song was released. His instinct was undeniably on the mark.
Bob Dylan’s Controversial Protest Song Nearly Got Him Into Legal Trouble 50 Years Ago
The singer was inspired after a visit to the Trenton State Prison.
Marvin Gaye’s Biggest Hit Is Not “What’s Going On”
Enlisting the help of session musician Eli Fountain, legendary bassist James Jamerson, and Motown songwriter Al Cleveland, “What’s Going On” immediately touched the hearts of equally fatigued citizens who longed for normalcy and peace. It topped the Hot Soul Singles and R&B charts for weeks on end, landing at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and selling over two million copies.
And yet, despite its overwhelming success, “What’s Going On” was ultimately not Marvin Gaye’s biggest commercial hit. Still, “What’s Going On” became his defining song because of its emotional depth, social message, and timeless relevance. While songs like “Sexual Healing” and “Let’s Get It On” are typically the hits that come to mind when reflecting on the decades of Gaye’s legacy, “What’s Going On” is unequivocally his most meaningful contribution to society at large. The declaration of injustice continues to be regularly ranked among the greatest ever made, with many critics referring to it as one of the most important protest songs in music history.
Entertainment
“Malcolm in the Middle” star Erik Per Sullivan rejected ‘buckets of money’ for revival to do this instead
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Caleb Ellsworth-Clark will portray Dewey for the revival.
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If you’re already planning your festival beauty looks, you know it’s all about bold color that actually lasts. Between long days in the sun, packed crowds and back-to-back sets, your makeup needs to hold up — not fade halfway through the first performance. That’s where this viral blush comes in — and part of a limited-time sale.
The Color Bloom Liquid Blush from SHEGLAM is a fan-favorite formula that delivers a perfectly sunkissed flush with just one dot. Seriously — just one tiny dab is all it takes to wake up your complexion and add that natural-looking warmth. It’s already just $7, but through March 31, the brand is offering 15% off orders over $45 with code HERGLAM — making it the perfect time to build your full look for less.
Get the Color Bloom Liquid Blush-Hot Topic for $6 at SHEGLAM!
The magic of this blush is in its lightweight gel-cream formula, which melts into skin instead of sitting on top of it. It blends out seamlessly for a soft, skin-like finish that looks fresh — but the payoff is bold enough to show up in sunlight and still look good hours later. Even more, it’s infused with antioxidant vitamin C to help hydrate and brighten, giving your cheeks that healthy, lit-from-within look.
The built-in sponge tip applicator makes it basically foolproof. Just dab, blend and go — no brushes, no complicated techniques. And because the pigment is so rich, a little truly goes a long way, meaning your look stays vibrant from the first set to the final encore. It also comes in a wide range of pink, coral and berry shades to match any festival look.
A viral hit on TikTok, the hashtag #sheglamblush has racked up more than 62.2k posts — and shoppers are just as obsessed. One reviewer shared that “one tiny dot” was all it took for the color payoff to be “amazing.” Another called it “hands down” the “best blush” they’ve ever tried, adding that it blends out “beautifully.”
If you want that bold yet effortless festival flush that actually lasts, this viral blush makes a real difference. It gives your cheeks that fresh, just-back-from-the-sun look that holds up through heat, crowds and long days outside. Grab one (or a few shades) now while it’s still on sale — your festival makeup lineup will thank you!
Get the Color Bloom Liquid Blush-Hot Topic for $6 at SHEGLAM!
Leslie Hines, an Army veteran and business owner, says she was wrongly followed and accused while running her Coolin’ Out Ice Cream truck business in a North Carolina neighborhood. The confrontation was reportedly captured on video. Additionally, Hines says that afterward, she struggled to feel comfortable with returning to the area.
What happened? And what are Leslie Hines’ rights?
The Shade Room’s Justin Carter is sharing the story and some answers on ‘TSR Investigates.’
More On What Happened With Leslie Hines & Her Ice Cream Truck In A North Carolina Neighborhood
According to Carter, in February, Leslie Hines encountered a man who allegedly followed her “on foot for three blocks.” And then continued to pursue her in his pickup truck. Per Hines, the man allegedly lied about her business, alleging that she sold him crack cocaine and methamphetamine. Then, as she made a stop to serve a family outside of their home, the man allegedly began yelling at another woman, who was present with her kids.
Per Carter, that woman called 911, and footage of the ordeal went viral. According to the woman, the next day, the man returned to her home with a vengeance.
What Happens Next?
Per Hines, the man’s behavior ultimately gave her anxiety about returning to the neighborhood to work.
“If he sees a Black woman riding through the neighborhood, that doesn’t give him justification or the right to be able to follow me… and slander me, and continually yell explicits at me. I was having anxiety attacks trying to return to the neighborhood… it was going to cost $600 for me to get GPD [coverage] — for me to get the police to come out there and protect me,” Hines explained
Scroll above to watch as Carter shares why Leslie Hines was unable to get a No Contact Order against the man. Additionally, Hines shares her experience of going back to the neighborhood — and how she received a blessing in disguise and can now use the traumatic event to pay it forward to others.
RELATED: Nurse Paid $6K For Post-Op “School” — Then Lost Her License | TSR Investigates
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
“60 Minutes” host Steve Kroft says he ‘hated’ time on show, ‘made a bunch of enemies’ when he landed gig
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The veteran journalist spent 30 years on the CBS news magazine, retiring in 2019.
“Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Taylor Frankie Paul has made a shocking admission about her relationship with Mormonism. After enduring a challenging 4 weeks amid the fallout from her ongoing domestic violence investigation and canceled season of “The Bachelorette,” Paul said she’s stepping away to explore a world beyond the church.
Taylor Frankie Paul Makes A Surprise Admission About Her Relationship With The Mormon Church Amid ‘SLOMW’ Scandal
In her Instagram Stories, Paul shared a lengthy post admitting that she’s in an entirely new place with religion.
“Born and raised Mormon (LDS) and I’ll always have love and respect towards it,” the reality star wrote. “I’ll even continue to go with my family at times, with that being said, it’s time to detach myself from it.”
While Paul said she believes in Jesus Christ, God, and the Bible, she stated that she doesn’t need to be in a physical church building to be loved.
“I’ve also experienced grace and love from amazing people that aren’t sure what they believe — if at all,” she added.
“Point being, there is more out there to learn. And I’m writing this out as a release,” Paul finished.
Taylor Frankie Paul Addresses Turmoil She’s Experienced Over The Last 40 Days
In a separate post, Paul, 31, got candid about the disruption she’s experienced over the last month after some of her personal business was made public.
“The last 40 days felt like hell on earth. Through every panic attack I prayed for strength as I could feel my body breaking down and out from the distress of it all,” Paul said. “And HE sent just that in various ways along with so many undeniable signs saying ‘I am with you’ which I can’t wait to share that part.”
Paul went on to say that she’s been an avid believer in prayer since she was a young girl and “never stayed away” because of the power she believes it holds. “However, instead of just asking I switched over to thanking him at the end of each day no matter how low I felt,” she said.
Taylor Frankie Paul Has Season Of ‘The Bachelorette’ Pulled By ABC And Disney Following Release Of Domestic Assault Video
According to a previous report from The Blast, Paul has been the center of negative attention over the last month following the release of a video showing a domestic dispute she had with her ex, Dakota Mortensen, in 2023.
In the shocking clip, Paul appears to punch and strike Mortensen before throwing metal chairs at him, which later hit her minor daughter.
“This is called physical abuse. This is all you do,” Mortensen cried out in the video. “It’s the only thing you know how to do is hurt me. You think this is OK? It’s not OK. Holy sh-t.”
The video came to light after a source revealed the cast of Hulu’s “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” refused to film after learning another alleged domestic dispute occurred between Mortensen and Paul in February 2026.
Amid all of this, ABC and Disney canceled what would’ve been the 22nd season of “The Bachelorette,” which was supposed to feature Paul as the lead.
“In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette, [starring Paul], at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” the network said in a statement.
TFP Gets Support From Her ‘SLOMW’ Co-Stars
Paul has faced public backlash over her reported trials; however, one of her “SLOMW” co-stars rushed to her defense during a recent media appearance.
Jessi Draper showed her support for Paul on “Call Her Daddy,” according to The Blast, revealing Paul has made “a lot of changes” that the audience doesn’t know about.
“Seeing that video is so hard, because there’s so much pain underneath the surface for Taylor,” Draper shared. “It’s not who Taylor is. She got caught in a really bad cycle.”
Paul Wasn’t The Only Person Punished By Hulu
The Blast reported that Mortensen has also been punished by ABC and Disney over his role in the alleged dispute between him and Paul in February of this year.
Mortensen, a member of DadTok, was scheduled to appear in season 3 of “Vanderpump Villa”; however, Hulu has decided to cut his scenes due to the ongoing ordeal.
In an earlier statement, Mortensen said his primary focus at this time was on his son, Ever, and offering him stability during this difficult time.
The Blue Bloods franchise has mourned the deaths of some cast members over the years.
The CBS show, which aired from 2010 to 2024, followed the lives of the Reagan family, many of whom work for the NYPD under the leadership of NYC police commissioner Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck). Frank’s father, Henry Reagan (Len Cariou), was also central to the show, alongside Frank’s children: daughter Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan) and sons Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) and Jamie Reagan (Will Estes).
After Blue Bloods came to an end, CBS announced spinoff Boston Blue, which follows Wahlberg’s character taking a position with the Boston P.D. He is then paired with detective Lena (Sonequa Martin-Green), the eldest daughter of a prominent law enforcement family.
Since Blue Bloods became a household name, the cast has mourned numerous costar deaths. The CBS show often featured tribute cards at the end of episodes with executive producer Leonard Goldberg and star Treat Williams receiving dedications.
In March 2026, news broke that Alex Duong died from a rare form of cancer after previously playing criminal and gang leader Sonny Le.
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude — because of you, we have already reached the original goal. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” a message read on a fundraiser page for Duong. “At the same time, with Alex passing, Christina’s situation has become more serious and the financial needs ahead are much greater than we could have anticipated. Alex’s memorial service, Everest ‘s education needs, ongoing care, daily support, and what lies ahead for his family mean we must continue raising funds beyond this initial goal.
The statement continued: “If you’ve already given, thank you — truly. If you’re able to share or contribute again, it would mean everything right now. Please keep Alex and his family in your prayers. Your support is carrying them through the hardest time of their lives. We will update you with respect to details of his ‘Celebration of Life.’”
Keep scrolling for the most heartbreaking Blue Bloods tragedies over the years:
Alex Duong
The comedian Alex Duong died in March 2026 at age 42 after battling a rare form of cancer.
Ed Wheeler
Ed Wheeler, who played Councilman Welsh, died in October 2024 from complications of pneumonia at age 88.
Treat Williams
After playing Lenny Ross in season 7, Treat Williams died at the age of 71 in a motorcycle accident in June 2023.
The Blue Bloods cast are booked and busy lining up new projects after the hit CBS series came to a surprising end. Blue Bloods, which premiered in 2010, followed the lives of the Reagan family, many of whom worked for the NYPD under the leadership of NYC police commissioner Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck). Frank’s father, […]
Nick Cordero
Broadway star Nick Cordero died at age 41 in July 2020 after suffering from complications caused by COVID. He previously played Victor Lugo from 2017 to 2018.
Leonard Goldberg
The executive producer of the CBS series died at 85 in 2019 as a result of injuries sustained in a fall.
By TeeJay Small
| Published
If you were upright and outside back in 2014, you almost certainly heard buzz about a little critical darling called Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). The film, which managed to sweep the Academy Awards with wins for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography, is perhaps best known today for its visual gimmick. The gimmick in question, is the elaborate stitching technique used to make Birdman appear as though it was captured in a single, continuous take.
Superhero Shame Leads To Broadway Game
In case you missed it, Birdman was written and directed by legendary Mexican filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu. The film stars Michael Keaton in the lead role, as a washed-up actor best known for portraying a winged superhero decades earlier. This is obviously a thinly-veiled nod to Keaton’s history portraying Batman back in the 1980s, and a commentary on how the industry viewed superhero films before the Marvel Cinematic Universe made them the most mainstream thing on the planet.
In present day, Keaton’s Riggan Thomson is trying to restart his career, by directing and starring in a Broadway play. To get the show off the ground, he enlists the help of his girlfriend Laura, his daughter Sam, a recovering addict, and an insufferable method actor named Mike Shiner. Shiner is portrayed by Edward Norton in the film, in a role that some have theorized is based on his own behind-the-scenes behavior.
As the gang prepares for opening night, numerous issues arise, causing the show to go off the rails. At different moments, light fixtures fall from the ceiling, endangering the cast, Riggan clashes with his pompous co-stars, and at one point, he even finds himself locked out of the building in nothing but his tighty whities, forcing him to navigate through a crowd of gasping New Yorkers. All the while, the camera moves in extremely long shots, which make the film appear to play out in a single continuous take.
A One-Shot Like No Other
The camera work on Birdman is nothing short of spectacular. On an initial viewing, you might not be able to spot where the takes are stitched together at all. The presentation makes the whole film play out like a live stage show, effectively giving the viewer a window into what Riggan is trying to create with his Broadway play. Meanwhile, the frenetic drum-centric score cranks the chaotic energy to the max, forcing your heart to thump with excitement.
The score and visual presentation of Birdman became so popular after the film’s release that it was parodied by several well-known TV shows like BoJack Horseman, Sesame Street, and one especially memorable episode of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia titled “Charlie Work.” They even opened the Razzie Awards with a parody skit of Birdman the year after the film premiered.
Though it’s best known for the visual gimmicks today, Birdman is well worth watching for its story alone. Iñárritu managed to weave the themes and concepts central to the film into a meta-narrative about the nature of performance itself, in a masterful display of writing and direction. There are a few mind-boggling visual effects present in the movie that will drive you crazy trying to figure out how they pulled it off, too.
Birdman Isn’t Easy To Stream
Unfortunately, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is not currently part of any major streaming library. It’s well worth the price to rent or buy through VOD services, but the film really should be placed on one of the major streamers, to ensure it gets the viewership it deserves.
As of this writing, Birdman can be viewed on-demand through YouTube, Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
One of the most unappreciated members of any given Star Trek show is the science consultant. This is the guy who is in charge of making all of the crazy sci-fi adventures of our favorite characters sound relatively realistic. At the end of the day, that’s what separates this franchise from Star Wars, which explains its wildest plot points by simply saying that the Force moved in mysterious ways.
On one occasion, a scientific consultant effectively saved the most important episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. After the rocky second season ended with a crappy clip show, Season 3 began with “Evolution,” a banger episode that proved that TNG was about to become must-see TV. The episode prominently featured nanites, futuristic machines straight out of our wildest sci-fi fantasies. But without consultant David Krieger, this episode wouldn’t have had nanites. Instead, it would have had dust mites flying tiny planes around the Enterprise!
Good Boys And Bad Science
For context, the plot of “Evolution” involved the Enterprise crew helping a cranky genius study a stellar explosion that happens every 196 years like clockwork. Meanwhile, teenage wunderkind Wesley Crusher was conducting experiments involving nanites, and he accidentally let a couple of the critters loose. Soon, they replicate and evolve, threatening the big experiment and everyone aboard the ship. The scientist clashes with the nanites, but Picard reaches a diplomatic solution by securing these new life forms their very own homeworld.
“Evolution” is an excellent episode, and it was written by Michael Piller, the man who ultimately became TNG’s showrunner and turned it into one of the best shows in television history. Plus, the nanites are one of the coolest creatures ever introduced into Star Trek. However, Star Trek science consultant David Krieger revealed on his personal website that this episode was nearly very different. According to him, the original pitch didn’t include nanites. Instead, it featured dust mites that gained intelligence and flew around the Enterprise in miniature aircraft.
A Shocking Development
Fortunately for all of us, Krieger found this idea deeply stupid. In fact, he claims that he laughed out loud when he read the original premise for the episode. Once he stopped chuckling, though, he spoke to the producers and firmly objected to the idea of dust mites turning into tiny flying gremlins. Instead, he proposed using nanites instead, which was a great call: not only are nanites based on actual scientific theories, but they looked far less goofy onscreen than flying dust mites ever would.
If David Krieger hadn’t stepped in and shut down the dust mite plot, “Evolution” would have joined the ranks of “Spock’s Brain” as one of the worst episodes in all of Star Trek history. Thanks to this science consultant’s intervention, though, this episode helped transform The Next Generation into what many fans consider the gold standard of the franchise. It also helped Michael Piller become showrunner, and he was so successful in the role that he would later help create both Deep Space Nine and Voyager. In that way, this humble consultant did more than save a single episode; he may have saved Star Trek as we know it!
By Brian Myers
| Published
Director and screenwriter Bob Clark did such a masterful job with the 1983 movie A Christmas Story that it’s hard to imagine the man creating anything that wasn’t wholesome. But two years before little Ralphie gets his Red Ryder gun, Clark wrote and directed a comedy so lewd and outrageous that modern audiences are still shocked by it. 1981’s Porky’s was one of the raunchiest comedy movies ever released by a major studio and served as an important milestone in shock comedy.
A Filthy, Iconic Revenge Arc
The story arc of Clark’s semi-autobiographical movie follows a group of high school basketball players who live in Angel Beach, FL in the 1950s. Their hormones raging, they conceive a plan to lose their virginities to an older sex worker, not realizing that they are being set up for a humiliating (and pretty darn funny) prank set up by one of their older brothers.
Determined to follow through with the plan of getting their first times out of the way, the boys believe that their dreams can be fulfilled at a strip club located deep in the Everglades. The seedy establishment is the film’s namesake, owned and operated by an older, hefty character named Porky Wallace. The team makes their way to the strip club, makes an arrangement with Porky for a handful of ladies, and are guided to a darkened room to await their fates.
Unfortunately, it’s a trap. A literal one. Porky pulls a lever from the outside the room the boys are waiting in, springing open a hatch in the floor. The boys plummet down and into the swamp water below.
Enraged, the team storms back in to get their money back and to take a crack at the source of their collective humiliation. Outnumbered and outwitted, they decide to leave while they are still in one piece. They make the long drive back to Angel Beach, still virgins.
The remainder of the film’s primary plotline involves subsequent attempts at revenge on Porky Wallace by one of the group, who only gets severely beaten. Finally, with the help of one of their older brothers (a local policeman), the boys hatch an elaborate vengeance plot that they hope will ruin Porky forever.
But Wait, There’s Sidequests!
The film’s main story is compelling enough. The initial visit to the strip club is equal parts funny and cringy, and the final 20 minutes showcase one of the greatest revenge ideas ever. But it’s all of the side stories that spring up along the way that really make Porky’s a raunchy comedy well worth the time. One subplot involves the new gym coach wondering why one of the younger girls’ coaches (played by Kim Cattrall) has the nickname “Lassie.” No spoilers, but it has nothing to do with her love of collies.
Another sub-plot concerns several of the basketball players discovering that there are ways to view the girls while they shower after practice. Tommy Turner, Pee Wee Morris, and Billy McCarty try and fail several times, mistiming when the girls would be there. But one time, they get lucky and then get caught. No spoilers here, either, but an unnamed appendage of Tommy Turners accidentally winds up in the hands of a woman that the girls call “Kong,” the cranky old Coach Ballbricker.
Porky’s is a mashup of sophomoric pranks, full frontal nudity, hilarious sex scenes, and satisfying revenge. The Movie somehow manages to capture the nostalgic feeling of the 1950s, making the Angel Beach high school and its student body part of Rockwell illustration that is then caked in phallic jokes and bare-breasted women. If Happy Days and late 70s soft-core pornography gave birth to a film that was narrated by a group of 17-year-old boys, the finished product wouldn’t be that far from the film written and directed by Clark.
Porky’s went where no other major release had gone before. Multiple scenes of full-frontal nudity, lewd discussions about quests to lose virginities, and one character’s hilarious obsession with the size of his manhood (he measures it every morning and actually keeps a “growth chart” and pencil next to his bed) paved the way for even raunchier comedy movies throughout the remainder of the 80s and forward. Where Animal House didn’t dare to go, Porky’s said “hold my beer” and delivered shock, awe, and tear-jerking laughter. To be sure, without Porky’s, there would be no Revenge of the Nerds or American Pie.
From Progressive To Perverse
Clark would go on to direct the first sequel, Porky’s II: The Next Day two years later, the same year that he directed the timeless Christmas movie that so many people watch each holiday season. This was certainly the filmmaker’s peak, as the entries later in his career included the bombs Loose Cannons, Turk 182, and Rhinestone.
In case you thought that Porky’s might be an aberration in Clark’s career as a family-friendly filmmaker, guess again. The New Orleans native began making exploitation movies in the late 1960s, beginning with the cult classic She-Man. The plot centers around a former GI that discovers that he enjoys wearing women’s clothing, giving audiences a look at the trans community.
Clark followed that work up with a documentary titled Queens at Heart in 1967. This piece centered around the lives of four transwomen, each of whom dresses to match their genders assigned at birth by day but live as women after work. Both of these early films by Clark are considered ground-breaking, given that they provide a candid and honest glimpse into the lives of a community that was scarcely represented during that era.
From there, Clark shifted his focus to horror. His first genre film was the gruesome zombie movie Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things (1972). Shot with a budget of $50,000, the cult classic was the result of Clark’s tireless diligence and the participation of a group of the director’s friends from college. It helped to cement his reputation as one of the best B-horror filmmakers of the decade and quickly became a late-night drive-in favorite.
In 1974, Clark directed two additional horror films. The first, Death Dream, was a reimagining of the W. W. Jacobs tale “The Monkey’s Paw.” Though a low-budget feature, it starred future multi-Emmy Award nominee Richard Backus (One Life to Live, Ryan’s Hope), as well as Academy Award nominee Lynn Carlin (Faces). Horror fans will recognize the special effects makeup work of master artist Tom Savini, who would soon go on to work with George Romero.
The second horror entry that year was, ironically enough, Clark’s first Christmas movie. Black Christmas is regarded by many as the first slasher film and has been remade twice (2006 and 2019). The original stars future Superman and Amityville Horror actress Margot Kidder, Olivia Hussey, and John Saxon.
Bob Clark’s Legendary Run
Rounding out the decade for Clark was a leap to yet another genre of film. In 1976, he filmed Breaking Point, a low-budget crime drama starring Bo Svenson and Robert Culp. Three years later he brought to life Sherlock Holmes and Watson in the mystery thriller Murder by Decree. The plot follows the British duo as they track the Whitechapel killings committed by the notorious Jack the Ripper. It was his biggest budget film by far at that point, and boasted a cast consisting of James Mason (Salem’s Lot, Lolita), Christopher Plummer (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country), and Donald Sutherland (Invasion of the Body Snatchers).
So, the next time you and your family gather around the TV with the family and begin quoting along with Ralphie and the bunch, remember that the brain behind it was also the same fellow who orchestrated an on-screen tug-of-war between Coach Ballbricker and that rascal Tommy Turner, using the latter’s genitalia as sports equipment.
As of this writing, Porky’s is currently unavailable for Streaming.
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