Films with Selfish Protagonists

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  • Films with Selfish Protagonists

    Hi everyone, I was hoping some you could direct me to some movies in which the protagonist begins as a selfish/arrogant/narcissistic/self obsessed character but changes over time.

    Examples off the top of my head include Scrooge in A Christmas Carol or Tony Stark in the first Iron Man.

    Thanks in advance.

  • #2
    Re: Films with Selfish Protagonists

    In varying degrees:
    Blood Diamond. The Professional. The Man from Nowhere. Pitch Black. The Flowers of War.

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    • #3
      Re: Films with Selfish Protagonists

      Dallas Buyers Club, Local Hero, 3:10 To Yuma (though this is antagonist being selfish and changing), and of course the greatest of them all Groundhog Day.
      @hairingtons

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      • #4
        Re: Films with Selfish Protagonists

        Casablanca.

        The whole "reject the call" then "accept the call" happens to a lot of protags, but for me personally, some of the most rewarding moments in cinema are when the secondary character (Han Solo) or even the bad guy (Tommy Lee Jones in THE FUGITIVE), see the light and support the often-less-interesting good guy / protag, usually at the 11th hour for the long-awaited hurray moment.

        Either way, when well done, it's quite powerful.

        Other examples (with protags), DARK BLUE, THE BIG EASY.
        Last edited by Rantanplan; 08-15-2016, 07:58 PM.

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        • #5
          Re: Films with Selfish Protagonists

          flight of the pheonix
          I heard the starting gun


          sigpic

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          • #6
            Re: Films with Selfish Protagonists

            Great suggestions guys, thank you very much

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            • #7
              Re: Films with Selfish Protagonists

              Bill Murray in Ghosbusters.
              Bill Murray in Groundhog day.
              Bill Murray in Lost in translation.
              Bill Murray in Broken Flowers.

              It's almost like there's a pattern or something

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              • #8
                Re: Films with Selfish Protagonists

                Originally posted by Hawkins66 View Post
                Bill Murray in Ghosbusters.
                Bill Murray in Groundhog day.
                Bill Murray in Lost in translation.
                Bill Murray in Broken Flowers.

                It's almost like there's a pattern or something
                1 post. Hmm, Bill?

                Also...

                Bill Murray in St. Vincent.
                @hairingtons

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                • #9
                  Re: Films with Selfish Protagonists

                  Jack Nicholson - As good as it gets.

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                  • #10
                    Re: Films with Selfish Protagonists

                    Bill Murray in Scrooged.
                    Know this: I'm a lazy amateur, so trust not a word what I write.
                    "The ugly can be beautiful. The pretty, never." ~ Oscar Wilde

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                    • #11
                      Re: Films with Selfish Protagonists

                      Hud, Auto Focus, Kramer vs Kramer
                      "I ask every producer I meet if they need TV specs they say yeah. They all want a 40 inch display that's 1080p and 120Hz. So, I quit my job at the West Hollywood Best Buy."
                      - Screenwriting Friend

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                      • #12
                        Re: Films with Selfish Protagonists

                        Two I particularly like are NIGHTCRAWLER and YOUNG ADULT because they resist redemption - the protags are just as despicable at the end as they were at the start.

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                        • #13
                          Re: Films with Selfish Protagonists

                          Originally posted by roscoegino View Post
                          Hud, Auto Focus, Kramer vs Kramer
                          I was also going to suggest "Hud," but I don't think he's changed at the end. There's just nobody left in his life.

                          I think he changes more in "The Hustler."

                          "The Misfits" has a protag arc for Gable.

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                          • #14
                            Re: Films with Selfish Protagonists

                            Tom Cruise in Rainman

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                            • #15
                              Re: Films with Selfish Protagonists

                              Can't believe no one mentioned There Will Be Blood.

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