black comedy

May 15, 2007 5:43 PM

Looking for some character-driven black comedy.

I'm interested in characters that are cynical yet still manage to be somewhat optimistic - by that I mean, they view the world as a dark, twisted, and unjust place and laugh at it. They manage to be paradoxically cheerful, though maybe unnervingly so, in situations that seem hopeless or futile.
An example would be the Marvel character Deadpool. He had cancer, then underwent experimental treatment for it and ended up being horribly disfigured and a bit insane. He can never be with the one he loves and generally leads a tragic life. Still, he cracks jokes and seems to be having fun with what he does, which is kill for money.
Another example off the top of my head is Private Joker from Full Metal Jacket. He's in the Vietnam War where everything's going to hell but he goes around wearing a peace button.
In what books, films, comics, etc can I find more of these types of characters?

posted by god particle to society & culture (20 comments total)

John Constantine?
posted by jbickers at 5:49 PM on May 15, 2007

The Joker.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:57 PM on May 15, 2007

I think Jhonen Vasquez (Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, Invader Zim) is someone you should check out.
posted by Rock Steady at 5:59 PM on May 15, 2007

I'm not really looking for characters that are particularly evil, like Johnny the Homicidal Maniac (though he does look interesting). I guess the characters are want are good at heart, or something like that, but aren't naive or overly-optimistic and somewhat accept the bad aspects of the world.
posted by god particle at 6:08 PM on May 15, 2007

Samuel L. Jackson in "Unbreakable"?
posted by rhizome at 6:12 PM on May 15, 2007

It's hard to tell if you're looking for black comedy (which tends to involve more than the attitude of a single character) or if you're describing more of what I'd call an "ironic subjectivity," albeit a tragic one where the character's attitude countenances a troubled circumstance.
posted by rhizome at 6:14 PM on May 15, 2007

It's the latter. I didn't really know what it was called.
posted by god particle at 6:16 PM on May 15, 2007

Vash and (to a lesser extent) Wolfwood from Trigun.
posted by Shecky at 6:50 PM on May 15, 2007

The purest version I can think of comes from a wonderful movie that you've probably never hear of: "Green for Danger," which was released in 1946. The character is called Inspector Cockrill and he's played by Alastair Sim. If this is the sort of character that interests you, run -- don't walk -- to Netflix.

And since you brought up "Private Joker," you might also want to add a few characters from other Kubrick films: Alex from "A Clockwork Orange" and Dr. Strangelove from "Dr. Strangelove."

Ginger Roger's characters, in the Fred and Ginger movies (notably "Top Hat" and "Swing Time"), fit this bill. And to some extent Fred Astaire's does, too. These films, of course, are not black comedies.

Al Pacino played a version of it in "Dick Tracy."

More recently, Alan Arkin played it in "Little Miss Sunshine."

Jack Nicholson does it in "Witches of Eastwick"
posted by grumblebee at 6:54 PM on May 15, 2007

From literature, Voltaire's Candide fits the bill.
posted by vito90 at 6:59 PM on May 15, 2007

That's a broad-ass spectrum, but it's got some great characters in it.

Phillip Marlowe (Raymond Chandler) and Sam Spade (Dashell Hammet) are noir detective-heroes who basically personify cynical optimism. (Marlowe a bit more than Spade)

Comic books? Desolation Jones seems to fit your bill. I also don't think it's a coincidence that this series bears more than a passing resemblance to the detective novels mentioned above. Mr. Jones has a more concrete reason for his cynicism, but still.

Also The Goon seems to fit your bill. A little bit heavier on the comedy than on the black at first, but still a lot of darkness to go along with the laughs.

All these suggestions don't fit your bill 100%, but I think you might find them right up your alley anyway.
posted by Doublewhiskeycokenoice at 7:08 PM on May 15, 2007

Brazil
posted by any major dude at 7:13 PM on May 15, 2007

this makes me think of igby goes down, which i love.

also, american beauty? and withnail from withnail and i is definitely cynical, pathetic and totally hilarious, though not necessarily cheerful...but maybe close enough.
posted by lgyre at 7:38 PM on May 15, 2007

Harold and Maude? It's been a long time since I last saw it, but Harold is basically an angsty teen obsessed with death, who befriends the elderly Maude. Sorry if I'm way off the mark, it's the first thing that leapt to mind.
posted by goshling at 7:43 PM on May 15, 2007

The character of Scratch (aka Satan) in THE DEVIL & DANIEL WEBSTER fits this bill quite nicely. It is a good film and a great performance from Walter Huston (John Huston's father) - though his character is technically evil....

The kid sister in THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK is a humorous and falsely cynical character. Hell, any Preston Sturgis film is a goldmine for these characters; see Barbara Stanwyck in THE LADY EVE also.

There are tons of these characters in the films of Billy Wilder as well; STALAG 17 for example.

The cinema of Sam Fuller is loaded as well: PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET, THE NAKED KISS, and others.
posted by cinemafiend at 8:24 PM on May 15, 2007

How about some sci-fi ones like Dr. Who (especially as played recently by Christopher Eccleston) or The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy?

Both had cheerful characters in the face of some nasty situations.
posted by freshgroundpepper at 9:21 PM on May 15, 2007

The Comedian from Watchmen, although he's only seen in flashbacks.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:49 AM on May 16, 2007

My favorite example of that ever is PI Joe Hallenbeck in The Last Boy Scout. If you haven't seen it, don't be fooled by the cover. It's hilarious, though pretty dark at times.
posted by zebra3 at 10:03 AM on May 16, 2007

Sorry I couldn't give better criteria but those all sound very interesting. Thanks.
posted by god particle at 11:49 AM on May 16, 2007

A few mildly dark comedy films where the main characters have some of the characterstics you describe

Heathers

Ghost World

Gross Point Blanc

Fight Club

See also wikipedia

posted by mikshir at 12:30 PM on May 17, 2007