Good or Bad Flashbacks?

[TwoBrad Bradley]

Just saw The Italian Job on DVD. In about the middle there are four flashbacks, all in a row, that show how four of the major characters got their "start in crime".

Are these examples of "good" flashbacks?

You really need to have seen this movie to answer this question. A "they were good if ..." or a "they were bad if ..." won't answer the question. This is not about theory - it's a specific question about specific flashbacks in a specific story.

[Mijorico]

I think they were used alright. Good or bad, I guess that depends on taste. It didn't bother me because it was supposed to be a fun movie, and the flashbacks were just fun little flashbacks of everyone when they were younger. It gives a little insight and keeps the mood light. It probably wasn't needed, but it didn't hurt that movie either.

[vmf]

Personally I didn't like the flashbacks in Italian Job, and found they had a slightly different tone than the rest of the film. Not funny or comedic like other parts of the flick, just kinda whimsical and fairy tale-like, which I thought didn't mesh too well.

Then again, these were pretty quick, and forgivable.

[TwoBrad Bradley]

From listening to all your advice about flashbacks, I thought these would be perfect examples of the type to avoid. They don't advance the story. They are backstory and expositional. Nothing learned in the flashbacks is "paid-off" later in the story.

Two replies:
"... it didn't hurt ..."
"... didn't like the flashbacks ... these were pretty quick, and forgivable."

So it's ok to duplicate this type of flashback in my story (they are in a pro script after all) and it won't be considered a bad thing the screenwriter did?