Movies Driven by Unexplainable Forces?

[DJ2]

I'm wondering if there are movies out there - dramas - in which key things drive the action that are unexplainable or not really believable. For example, in Groundhog Day we don't know how he goes back in time but just accept it. Anybody know of such things happening in a dramatic story structure? I'm considering writing something along these lines and am curious to see if it's been done before successfully. I have a feeling that it has but can't think of any examples.

[F.Scott.Frazier]

Re: Movies Driven by Unexplainable Forces?

BEING JOHN MALKOVICH and ENTERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND immediately spring to my mind. To me what's most important in that kind of story is couching the unbelievable in the believable and perhaps even the mundane. In ETERNAL SUNSHINE, the doctor's office where you go to get your memory erased is not some super high-tech laboratory -- it's a doctor's office, like the one we've all been to a hundred times in our life.

[gravitas]

Re: Movies Driven by Unexplainable Forces?

Charlie Kaufman. I think the consensus around here is to write what you really feel you need to write. If you need to write this, if it's what you enjoy, then go for it and it will show in your work. (haha, overlapped with F. Scott)

[RGF]

Re: Movies Driven by Unexplainable Forces?

While it doesn't drive the whole movie....watch the opening of Magnolia and how it ties itself to an odd little bit of "rain" near the end.

[fanatic_about_film]

Re: Movies Driven by Unexplainable Forces?

I don't agree with you F. Scott.

Eternal Sunshine is very different to the example of Groundhog Day.

Groundhog has expresses no real reason why the character repeats the saem day again and again.

But External Sunshine has very definite reasons why what is happening in the film is happening. They may not necessarily be 'realistic' by todays technology, even if they are presented in what seems to be present day, but it all works and makes sense with the logic if the world that has been created.

But Groundhog Day seems to exist for an unexplained reason.

So big difference in my opinion.

[fanatic_about_film]

Re: Movies Driven by Unexplainable Forces?

I was just thinking Magnolia (poster above me got there first) but then I remember the 'weather' does seem to be a strong focus with the weather reports throughout the film. And then we get an admittedly strange phenomenom of weather the toad rain later.

But I still don't see this example fitting in entirely with the OP's original question.

Maybe Children of Men does, as there is no reason presented why humanity can't have children anymore, or why one individual suddenly is able to have a child.

[DJ2]

Re: Movies Driven by Unexplainable Forces?

Good food for thought. Thanks.

I always saw ETERNAL as sci fi even though most things seemed like present day. For me, BEING JOHN MALKOVICH is the most interesting example - a totally bizarre and unexplainable situation that we just accept as we get drawn into and follow the story.

[F.Scott.Frazier]

Re: Movies Driven by Unexplainable Forces?

Good food for thought. Thanks.

I always saw ETERNAL as sci fi even though most things seemed like present day. For me, BEING JOHN MALKOVICH is the most interesting example - a totally bizarre and unexplainable situation that we just accept as we get drawn into and follow the story.

What's interesting about that one is the bizarre set up helps us to believe in the unexplainable and unbelievable action. John Cusack is a puppeteer, a profession that is so outside of modern acceptance, it's almost fantasy. Then, he winds up getting a job in a building with a floor that shouldn't exist. Then, when he finds a portal into John Malkovich's head, we as the audience accept it because in all honesty, that's not really the weirdest thing about the movie...

[fanatic_about_film]

Re: Movies Driven by Unexplainable Forces?

The movie Triangle, from what I understand of it, involving some kind of time travel element actually has no reason whatsoever for why the time travel and other spooky events take place.

You'd have to see it to understand it (or not understand it as the case may be).

[Southern_land]

Re: Movies Driven by Unexplainable Forces?

Been a while since I saw it but I think Run Lola run fits in this category. I can't recall any reason why she relives that period of time (but maybe my mind's going?)

[jcgary]

Re: Movies Driven by Unexplainable Forces?

There's a difference between the unexplained (CHILDREN OF MEN) and the magical story conceit (GROUNDHOG DAY).

CHILDREN OF MEN and basically any sci-fi movie puts us in a world where something (or everything) is different within a (sort-of) scientifically explainable framework. Environmental catastrophes or evolutionary accidents happen sometimes. Entire populations of animals can become sterile through environmental mishaps. We might not understand the why of CHILDREN OF MEN, but we understand that it's basically possible. I'd say ETERNAL SUNSHINE falls into this category -- while it appears almost absurd (especially in the tone of the film), the idea of deleting memories isn't patently impossible.

Contrast that with GROUNDHOG DAY or CLICK or LIAR LIAR or FREAKY FRIDAY or BIG (high concept comedies do this a lot). Reliving the same day over and over again is impossible. Suddenly not being able to tell lies is also impossible. These movies rely on a magical conceit (A remote control that works on the universe, not just your television!)(A ten year-old turns into the guy from Bosom Buddies!). Blake Snyder calls these types of stories "out of the bottle." I don't have any of his books around at the moment, but his chapter on these movies might give you some ideas.

I could argue BEING JOHN MALKOVICH is either -- while the conceit appears absurd and magical, the notion of putting your consciousness into someone else's body could some day be possible. Same goes for THE NUTTY PROFESSOR -- while it's apparently magical, it's actually just lap band surgery weight loss compressed from a few months to a day.

MAGNOLIA isn't really about the frog rain. It's a thing that happens, but it's not the movie. Take it out, and it's still the same story.

[gravitas]

Re: Movies Driven by Unexplainable Forces?

To a much lesser degree and not as fantastical, Children of Men stemmed from something unexplainable. But it was believable. The first time I saw the movie, I felt disappointed they didn't explain why it happened - the infertility. Then I realized, no one knew why it happened, it just did. Successful movie for me, one of my favorites.

[NoTalentAssClown]

Re: Movies Driven by Unexplainable Forces?

I'd make the argument for STRANGER THAN FICTION. There is no attempt whatsoever to logically explain why Harold Crick starts hearing the author's narration, and that definitely drives the movie.

[ReneC]

Re: Movies Driven by Unexplainable Forces?

The Butterfly Effect
Cube (perhaps explainable, but never explained)

[Biohazard]

Re: Movies Driven by Unexplainable Forces?

Night of the Living Dead - no explanation for the undead.

Halloween - no explanation for Michael Myers killing people.