movies with no plot

[Biohazard]

Ever see a movie with no plot, just a series of events happening with no real connection between them? I can think of two off the top of my head:

The Matrix Reloaded
Donnie Darko

And what's ironic is that a lot of morons all use the same cop-out excuse of "you either love it or don't understand it".

[Pen Dragon]

army of darkness

[Jake Schuster]

"Slacker". But it's fun as hell to watch. As is (I think subtly-plotted) "Donnie Darko".

Most of Andy Warhol's films were utterly plotless. I remember walking in and out of one of them back in the day and two hours later it was still the same shot.

[Pen Dragon]

Batteries Not Included
The Ice Pirates
Tango & Cash
Tarzan the Apeman (Bo Derek version)
Against All Odds
Flesh & Blood
Four Rooms
Legend
Windtalkers
Batman & Robin
Beetlejuice
Casino Royale
Here Comes the Groom
Joe Versus the Volcano
Last Action Hero
The Mexican
Arsenic and Old Lace

[Jake Schuster]

"Arsenic and Old Lace" most definitely has a plot.

[prescribe22]

Napoleon Dynamite

[habronic]

Tomb Raider

[Pen Dragon]

ok jake. you could be right. i just really hated it lol

I'll replace it with Reign of Fire

[Slappynipsy]

Tomb Raider

The director said this movie was "post plot" or something to that effect, and that in the future all films will have lots of special effects and no characters or plot.

[The White Album]

Batteries Not Included
The Ice Pirates
Tango & Cash
Tarzan the Apeman (Bo Derek version)
Against All Odds
Flesh & Blood
Four Rooms
Legend
Windtalkers
Batman & Robin
Beetlejuice
Casino Royale
Here Comes the Groom
Joe Versus the Volcano
Last Action Hero
The Mexican
Arsenic and Old Lace

There's a difference between no plot and bad plot. All those movies have plots, they're just bad. I think movies with no plots are more like "My Dinner With Andre" or "Kids".

[Johnny Stacatto]

"A Hard Days Night"

and it's one of the best movies

[AaronB]

M*A*S*H

[Pencey]

Anything Harmony Korine directed or will direct in the future.

[vmf]

The only mainstream movie I've ever seen that had absolutely no plot was:

The Matrix Reloaded.

It was just a series of totally unconnected action/talking-head scenes with a funky backbeat.

[Ravenlocks]

Once Upon a Time in Mexico

Stuff happened, but it was hard to detect a coherent plotline.

And...

(I'm gonna get crucified for this one)

Lost in Translation

It was more mood than plot, I thought.

[whitenavel]

Gummo.

[j over]

Donnie Darko

Although it may be difficult to understand and in some respects it may very well be less then thick, Donnie Darko does have a plot.

[s1eve]

Most of Antonioni & Tarkoysky's films come to mind.

Lost In Translation

Before Sunset

Somersault

[roscoegino]

Robert Altman films.

[Hairy Lime]

You're all heathens.

[argo]

Two good ones:

Clerks (which I still find funny) and Forrest Gump.

[NoTalentAssClown]

I've seen a lot of movies, including the ones mentioned in this thread, and I don't think I can say I've ever seen a feature film with no semblance of a plot whatsoever.

Experimental short films by the likes of Brakhage, etc are the only films I can say definitely have no plot.

[TheKeenGuy]

I don't love Donnie Darko, but it definitely has a plot, as do most of the other films that has been listed here. I mean, Before Sunset doesn't have a plot? I can understand Uncle Larry the mechanic saying "but all they do is talk!" But how can any screenwriter, who I am guessing must have a pretty good understanding of story and film, think that?

[Hairy Lime]

I can understand Uncle Larry the mechanic saying "but all they do is talk!" But how can any screenwriter, who I am guessing must have a pretty good understanding of story and film, think that?It didn't take me long on this board to realize there are no admission criteria, such as "writer", "dramatist", or "screenwriter". Anyone with a computer, internet access, and the interest can post here.

[English Dave]

Didn't post because I thought it was a joke. There are NO movies with no plot. There may be films without plot - but they are not movies.

[Ravenlocks]

I don't think anyone is saying that random stuff just happens in these movies and there's nothing coherent about any of it (I'm not saying that, anyway). But some movies tend to be short on story and long on other stuff, such as mood (in the case of LiT) or, um, I'm not sure what (in the case of Mexico).

And you can't listen to Hairy, he's just sore because we don't all share his opinions. ;)

[Hairy Lime]

Nobody needs to share my opinions, they simply need to post something remotely coherent every now and again. To say that almost any of the movies in this thread lack plot is just silly.

I do agree that many of them may be light on story, relying more on mood, texture, character, etc. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The Mexican, while not a very good film, had a clear story -- find the pistol and bring it home. Hell, that borders on high concept by today's standards.

EDITED TO ADD: I was referring to Pen's The Mexican, which I'd assumed you'd been referring to since I'd forgotten your Once Upon a Time in Mexico post - the movie being so forgettable.

[English Dave]

EDITED TO ADD: I was referring to Pen's The Mexican, which I'd assumed you'd been referring to since I'd forgotten your Once Upon a Time in Mexico post - the movie being so forgettable.

Which still had a plot about the kidnap of a pregnant gangster's moll. Or was that 'The way of the gun'?

I forget.

[Hairy Lime]

The latter. I think. Abysmal film. Way worse than OUATIM.

[vmf]

Didn't post because I thought it was a joke. There are NO movies with no plot. There may be films without plot - but they are not movies.

Exactly. Matrix Reloaded is not a movie, but a pure cash-grab.

Seriously, if you want to drive a fanboy insane, ask him to outline the overall plot and linkage of Matrix Reloaded. Watch out though, as halfway through he'll realize there is no discernable plot and then try to kill you.

[rumely]

Easy Rider

Most Peter Fonda flicks. Existentialism is beyond plot, man.

Rum

[Architeuthis Dux]

Easy Riders had a plot. You had Captain America and Billy. They score. They ride. They die. It's like Homer's Odyssey. Only on bikes. Dude.

[vmf]

See, that's the problem with this kind of conversation.

If I made a 2-hr movie about a guy sitting on his step sleeping, I guess its plot would be:

He sat on the step, he slept and slept, his chair creaked, then he dreamed and snored. :rolleyes:

[yvonnjanae]

I definitely have to agree with putting "Lost In Translation" on the list. Was there an actual script for this? I fell asleep the first time I tried to watch it, but drank lots of Pepsi to keep me hyped for the second try.

Don't get me wrong, a movie doesn't always need a plot. One of my favorite, Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing" is very slim on plot, but I think it's one of the finest movies ever made.

Whatever happened to movies that were thick with delicious plot points, such as "Dial M for Murder," "Sorry, Wrong Number," and "Shadow of a Doubt?" Wow.

[wolfy262]

Two Lane Blacktop.

[cluckyburger]

take a look at gus van sant's last 3 films, particularly LAST DAYS.

[Architeuthis Dux]

Two Lane Blacktop.

This also had a plot. Two guys in one car race Warren Oates in another car.

Then the two guys die.

[Hairy Lime]

Spoilers, a$$hole.

[Biohazard]

Although it may be difficult to understand and in some respects it may very well be less then thick, Donnie Darko does have a plot.

Well if it does have a plot, they did a real good job of keeping it a secret. There's WAY too many scenes in that movie that have no effect on all the other scenes. They don't happen because of what took place in the previous scene, but for a totally different reason, or for no reason at all.

[vmf]

The problem with Donnie Darko is that it takes a plot worthy of a 5 minute short, and then extends it to movie-length using teenage angst, pop ballads, and geek scenes of vast import.

So although I'm definitely on-side regarding your Matrix Reloaded choice, Darko does have a semblance of a relevant plot, thin and extended as it may be.

[Architeuthis Dux]

Spoilers, a$$hole.

Thelma and Louise.
Dirty Mary and Crazy Larry.
Vanishing Point.
Easy Riders.
Two Lane Blacktop.

All essentially the same movie; all road pictures about an antihero/antiheroes/antiheroines bucking the system, hitting the highway, and DYING IN FLAMES!!!!

It's like an action picture where the hero beats the bad guys and saves the world, or the detective picture in which the detective catches the clever crook. It ain't a spoiler if the end is built into the genre.

[Hairy Lime]

Okay, now you've ruined 2 additional films for me. Happy yet?

[Architeuthis Dux]

Yes.

[BeefMissile]

I saw a few films over the years that had little or no real story and I just sat there saying WTF? to how A-list stars and/or well known writers/directors/producers get these projects made....

IQ
Forget Paris
City of Angels
You've Got Mail
French Kiss


I'll think of a few more later on....

BM

[cluckyburger]

IQ
Forget Paris
City of Angels
You've Got Mail
French Kiss

BM

not a meg ryan fan I presume?

[TheKeenGuy]

City of Angels
You've Got Mail
I case you didn't notice, these two films do indeed have plots... plots of other much better films!

I just can't help but picture the meeting that took place in which they said "In exactly how many different ways can we ruin Shop Around the Corner? Okay, for starters, let's cast Meg Ryan..."

[BeefMissile]

I was thinking that some members may bring that point up! No, I like Meg Ryan, she is good at acting but needs better roles.


PS: I laugh just thinking of the Mad TV spoof of Ryan( "I'm so cute, like puppies, yay!")

[MacG]

I just watched the original GONE IN 60 SECONDS. That has a plot...but just barely, man.

[Architeuthis Dux]

The original Gone in 60 Seconds is a triumph of fiercely independent cinema.

And, it had lots of car wrecks!!

Oops. Spoiled that one for Hairy too.

[MacG]

The original Gone in 60 Seconds is a triumph of fiercely independent cinema.

And, it had lots of car wrecks!!

Oops. Spoiled that one for Hairy too.

Yeah, but that doesn't mean it's actually any good. The flimsy narrative was an excuse to get a lot of car wrecks on film...and even that gets boring after a while.

[Pipe]

Magnolia.

[cluckyburger]

cassavettes. pretty much take your pick.

[Erdnase]

YUME by Akira Kurosawa.

Plotless but a brilliant anthology.

[rumely]

My Life as a Dog
Dancing at the Blue Iguana
Parenthood
MASH


Rum

[Biohazard]

Bringing this back to life with an addition:

Miller's Crossing

and Requiem For A Dream, although that's more of a series of events than a real plot.

Good call on Magnolia.

[whitenavel]

Perhaps you should watch Magnolia again, it most definitely has a plot.

[Biohazard]

Perhaps you should watch Magnolia again, it most definitely has a plot.

No it doesn't. It's a series of unrelated events.

[vmf]

and Requiem For A Dream, although that's more of a series of events than a real plot.

Even worse than that is Personal Velocity: Three Portraits..

[vmf]

Bringing this back to life with an addition:

Miller's Crossing

I am a bit confused why you would bring this movie up, as I thought it had a nifty little plot.

[wcmartell]

What is the plot to MAGNOLIA?

As for MILLER'S CROSSING, it has a plot swiped from Dash Hammett's RED HARVEST (the novel where the phrase "blood simple" first pops up).

- Bill

[kintnerboy]

Since this thread should be titled Name Some Movies You Hate, I will add Dodgeball and XXX State Of The Union.

[Biohazard]

As for MILLER'S CROSSING, it has a plot swiped from Dash Hammett's RED HARVEST.

Yojimbo has a plot. A Fistful of Dollars has a plot. Last Man Standing has a plot. We know who the characters are and what they want. Miller's Crossing just seems to have no driving force behind it. It's unclear who wants what and how they are all tied together. It's convoluted just for the sake of it.

I really wish more plot-driven movies were made. You mentioned Blood Simple, which is an excellent plot-driven thriller from the Coens. It's a shame that every plot-driven film these days takes it's plot from an older film and simply recycles it. If I wanted to see The Lady Vanishes, I'd watch that, not Flightplan.

As for Magnolia, that movie has no plot at all. Hell...you can even remove some of the characters totally and you'd be left with the same movie, just minus whoever you removed. One of these expendable characters is played by Julianne Moore.

Since this thread should be titled Name Some Movies You Hate, I will add Dodgeball and XXX State Of The Union.

Some people just got confused. It doesn't mean you have to be.

[Deus Ex Machine]

I've watched the Big Sleep many times and read the book, which is significantly different from the movie.



The movie focuses on Marlow's search for the person trying to blackmail Colonel Sternwood.

Even though the film is a little hazy at times, the book makes it look like high definition.

[mdb]

THE BIG SLEEP

love it

but I defy anyone to watch that thing more than once and outline the plot. Even Chandler couldn't do it.
The famous version had several scenes deleted to make room for created scenes of Bogie and Becall to capitalize on the success of TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT. A previous version exists that does better service to the plot.

[alipali]

I'm of the school that all movies have plots.

[billythrilly7]

Tango & Cash

???
Plenty of plot. Let me see if my mom can dig up my USC film school final thesis....

"Tango & Cash: Better than Chinatown."

..I'll get back to you.

[velysai]

This is the dumbest thread ever.

Most of you need to put down the pipes you're smoking and look up the definition of "plot". While you're at it, look up the word "no".

For godsakes.

[billythrilly7]

"dumbest.thread.ever"

is how you do it. FYI.

[Frankclone]

This is the dumbest thread ever.


You're right... & it's generated 68 replies.

[Biohazard]

I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me the plot of the matrix reloaded and/or magnolia.

[vmf]

I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me the plot of the matrix reloaded

Me too. :rolleyes:

When the movie first came out, I questioned some serious fanboys about it, and they always started out with the usual ".. Agent Smith multiplies, and then they had to go to Zion, and then go see the French guy, and then Keanu meets the subway conductor, and then finds the Keymaker...." and it was almost like a light went off (i.e. a classic "there is no spoon" Keanu moment) that the movie had no logical plot.... and it was just a series of unrelated scenes.

Then the fanboys would get all angry and scream that "You aren't smart enough to understand it", and leave in a huff. :rolling:

[pconsidine]

For what it's worth, Kids does have a plot, as buried as it is. It has to do with Jenny trying to find Telly so she can tell him she's sick.

Again - bad plot or poorly written plot does not equal No Plot.

[whitenavel]

I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me the plot of magnolia.

I just don't feel like doing that. You're right Bio.
Magnolia is a story of coincidence with several "subplots" that have a connection.
True, you could take away some of those subplots and still have a story, but you could do this with many many movies.

[Deus Ex Machine]

Empire has no intrinsic plot but the plot is extrinsically supplied by the viewer so... hmm... is there no plot... or is there a plot...?


Can infinity exist in a finite reality?


:D

[vmf]

Again - bad plot or poorly written plot does not equal No Plot.

What is that supposed to mean? That anything put to film automatically has a plot, just by virtue of it being filmed?

If so, I disagree, and there are plenty of plotless movies, filled with unrelated scenes/vignettes or just two guys gabbing over dinner. And no, "Two guys sit at a table and gab about life" is not a plot by any definition of the word.

[vmf]

I am still waiting for someone to explain to me the plot of Personal Velocity: Three Portraits.

[dclary]

Love, Actually had no plot. It sucked.

Vimmer, how you doing, man?

I miss you.

[wcmartell]

I can't. Except that all three women continues to make terrible choices when they were given the chance to make good ones. And that the camera work sucked on all three segments. And that I want my $10 back.

- Bill

[billythrilly7]

Love, Actually had no plot. It sucked.

Love, Actually had many plots.

All of which made me cry at one point or another.

[dclary]

I cried for having had wasted an entire movie waiting for some major Keira Knightley sexiness.

[whitenavel]

Dude. Dave.
Keira has never looked better than in Love, Actually.
Looking forward to Domino.

[argo]

Natural Born Killers. Oliver Stone was too big of a sledgehammer for his violence message to make room for a plot...or a good movie.

Oh, and Love Actually had multiple plots and ruled.

[dclary]

Navel, she was gorgeous. There just wasn't enough of her to compensate for such a god-ass-awful movie.

[pconsidine]

The best example I can think of for a movie with no plot is Riding in Cars with Boys. Episodic tripe at best.

[Biohazard]

Looking forward to Domino.

As much as scrotum cancer. Tony Scott couldn't direct a decent film to save his life.

[billythrilly7]

Tony Scott couldn't direct a decent film to save his life.

:rolleyes:

Director - filmography
Crimson Tide (1995)
True Romance (1993)
The Last Boy Scout (1991)
Days of Thunder (1990)
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
Top Gun (1986)

All awesome, especially Top Gun, True Romance and Crimson Tide.

How dare you.

[dclary]

Some people don't appreciate pop art, Billy. We call them artphags.

[whitenavel]

We all know Bio's hatred towards talented directors. (QT, PTA and Scott).

Good luck with your testes Bio. I hope it clears up.

[Biohazard]

We all know Bio's hatred towards talented directors. (QT, PTA and Scott).

If they really are talented, they are all doing a tremendous job of keeping it a secret.

Next you'll be saying that Bryan Singer is talented. Please do, that would just make my day. I need a real good laugh.

[Slappynipsy]

I think Domino would be a lot more interesting if they had kept the main character gay, as she was in real life… and not made her straight to give her some lame male romantic interest…. Seriously, did they think people wouldn’t want to see Knightly do a lesbian love scene? Please. It would probably break box office records…



And what a weird follow up from the writer of Donnie Darko, eh?

[whitenavel]

If they really are talented, they are all doing a tremendous job of keeping it a secret.

That's right. You think they're just ripping off others.
Singer was talented before the generic superhero X-Men films.

[Biohazard]

That's right. You think they're just ripping off others.
Singer was talented before the generic superhero X-Men films.

tarantino and anderson just rip people off. singer and scott just plain suck. I can give my reasons for saying this, but if you haven't figured them out just by simply watching their films, then you obviously aren't going to get it, no matter how many times I tell you. Once will be enough. Every director mentioned in this reply sucks.

[Erehwon]

"tarantino and anderson just rip people off. singer and scott just plain suck. I can give my reasons for saying this, but if you haven't figured them out just by simply watching their films, then you obviously aren't going to get it, no matter how many times I tell you. Once will be enough. Every director mentioned in this reply sucks."

Thanks, Bio. You've just layed the biggest turd bomb ever on Done Deal. What an F'n cop out, man. Pathetic of you, to not even explain your position. a passive/aggresive masterpiece!

Oh wait, you CAN'T explain your position, because you haven't really formulated one, you just spew forth what you deem to be erudite bulls hi t.

The directors mentioned in your post aren't perfect, but you obviously just don't understand, or can't understand what you're seeing on film. Whatever.

[Biohazard]

"tarantino and anderson just rip people off. singer and scott just plain suck. I can give my reasons for saying this, but if you haven't figured them out just by simply watching their films, then you obviously aren't going to get it, no matter how many times I tell you. Once will be enough. Every director mentioned in this reply sucks."

Thanks, Bio. You've just layed the biggest turd bomb ever on Done Deal. What an F'n cop out, man. Pathetic of you, to not even explain your position. a passive/aggresive masterpiece!

Oh wait, you CAN'T explain your position, because you haven't really formulated one, you just spew forth what you deem to be erudite bulls hi t.

The directors mentioned in your post aren't perfect, but you obviously just don't understand, or can't understand what you're seeing on film. Whatever.

Why don't you just cry about it? That will make it all better.

You don't need to be a genius to see that tarantino copes shots directly from other movies (Kill Bill especially), and that Anderson follows around subordinate characters for extended periods of time (Magnolia especially) before they are never to be seen again. That is called bad directing. Anyone with the same budget and equipment that tarantino had to work with on kill bill can re-create shots from Once Upon A Time In The West and The Searchers. And anybody with a steadicam can simply follow around extras for no reason other than to connect two seperate scenes without a cut. There is no art in either of those two examples. Copying what other/better directors have done a long time ago is the opposite of art. Showing off for no reason other than to show off is not art either. What don't you understand about that?

Now give me examples of what make bryan singer and whoever the other retard is...examples of what makes them very good directors, and since you seem to be so sure in your beliefs, then it shouldn't be any problem for you at all. Go ahead now.

[whitenavel]

I'm still wating for you to tell me what Punch Drunk Love is copied from.
And while you're at it, what is The Usual Suspects and Apt Pupil a retread of?

[Biohazard]

I'm still wating for you to tell me what Punch Drunk Love is copied from.
And while you're at it, what is The Usual Suspects and Apt Pupil a retread of?

I am still waiting to see all of PDL.

and whoever said that Synger was unoriginal? I just said he sucks.