Butch & Sundance. Holmes & Watson. Who else?
May 15, 2013 5:38 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for films which focus on a deep relationship between two grown men, whose burgeoning friendship is what ends up "saving" them both, in a way. Think the 21 Jump Street reboot, but more drama or emotion.
Only interested in films where the two characters are both central characters of the story.
Difficulty: no shallow Batman & Robin sidekick dynamics please-- more interested in peers.
A couple more things:
--Not interested in father/son dynamics
--They don't have to be friends at the start but they have to be at the end.
--Not interested in ensemble casts, but rather "two-handers" where the main characters consist of these two guys.
--The more in-depth their back stories, the better. Bonus points if there is some redemption arc of some kind.
--Their relationship is the most important in the story, but it's a platonic relationship only
Thanks!
A couple more things:
--Not interested in father/son dynamics
--They don't have to be friends at the start but they have to be at the end.
--Not interested in ensemble casts, but rather "two-handers" where the main characters consist of these two guys.
--The more in-depth their back stories, the better. Bonus points if there is some redemption arc of some kind.
--Their relationship is the most important in the story, but it's a platonic relationship only
Thanks!
The TV series version of Alien Nation did a great job of this.
posted by sueinnyc at 5:46 PM on May 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by sueinnyc at 5:46 PM on May 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
Django Unchained--Django and Dr. Schultz?
posted by scratch at 5:48 PM on May 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by scratch at 5:48 PM on May 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
I Love You, Man
posted by elizardbits at 5:59 PM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 5:59 PM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
Tango & Cash
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:01 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:01 PM on May 15, 2013
This is like my crack, so I am watching with interest.
I really like most of Simon Pegg's movies for this - humorous yes, but I love the buddy cop thing.
posted by geek anachronism at 6:01 PM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
I really like most of Simon Pegg's movies for this - humorous yes, but I love the buddy cop thing.
posted by geek anachronism at 6:01 PM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
Judge Dredd
Dr. Who & Emily Pond (and some other companion combinations)
posted by pyro979 at 6:05 PM on May 15, 2013
Dr. Who & Emily Pond (and some other companion combinations)
posted by pyro979 at 6:05 PM on May 15, 2013
Shawshank Redemption
posted by bdk3clash at 6:06 PM on May 15, 2013 [9 favorites]
posted by bdk3clash at 6:06 PM on May 15, 2013 [9 favorites]
The Sting
posted by fingersandtoes at 6:17 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by fingersandtoes at 6:17 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Pierce Brosnan & Greg Kinnear in The Matador.
posted by oh yeah! at 6:25 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by oh yeah! at 6:25 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Sideways - a roadtrip type movie where, at the beginning, there's some antagonism between the two characters, and by the end they're - well they've reached some sort of acceptance. Gave rise to the quotable, "I am NOT drinking MERLOT!"
(Also: an incredible monologue by Virginia Madsen - you'll know it when it happens.)
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 6:29 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
(Also: an incredible monologue by Virginia Madsen - you'll know it when it happens.)
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 6:29 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Starsky and Hutch
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 6:30 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 6:30 PM on May 15, 2013
Uh, guys? Not to thread-sit on behalf of the OP, but:
* Platonic
* Two grown men
Amy Pond is not a grown man; Brokeback Mountain is, shall we say, not quite a platonic story.
The OP has pretty clear desires here; let's at least try to pay attention.
posted by Tomorrowful at 6:31 PM on May 15, 2013 [9 favorites]
* Platonic
* Two grown men
Amy Pond is not a grown man; Brokeback Mountain is, shall we say, not quite a platonic story.
The OP has pretty clear desires here; let's at least try to pay attention.
posted by Tomorrowful at 6:31 PM on May 15, 2013 [9 favorites]
Bonus comment! My Favorite Year (less of a two-hander, with some ensemble cast, but worth a look as I think it offers much of what you're looking for) (Peter O'Toole - everyone, in fact, is very good in it).
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 6:31 PM on May 15, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 6:31 PM on May 15, 2013 [5 favorites]
The Lonesome Dove series. This is I how I envision Mr.Slothhog's life long friendships!
And maybe just because I desire a redemptive story arc/ friendship with Jackie Chan...
Shang Hai Noon ?
Rush hour?
posted by slothhog at 6:32 PM on May 15, 2013
And maybe just because I desire a redemptive story arc/ friendship with Jackie Chan...
Shang Hai Noon ?
Rush hour?
posted by slothhog at 6:32 PM on May 15, 2013
Forgot to add my favorite Tombstone scene and went searching for it as the edit time window expired. "Whatt Earp is my friend."
posted by jms18 at 6:32 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by jms18 at 6:32 PM on May 15, 2013
Lethal Weapon.
posted by shallowcenter at 6:34 PM on May 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by shallowcenter at 6:34 PM on May 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
geek anachronism's mention of Simon Pegg spurs me to mention Hot Fuzz in particular. So good, and the relationship between Nicholas and Danny is definitely central, growing and blossoming by the end. It's a comedy, but the emotions have honest depth.
posted by theatro at 6:38 PM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by theatro at 6:38 PM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
Pineapple Express
posted by coupdefoudre at 6:45 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by coupdefoudre at 6:45 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Blade
The Big Chill
The Blues Brothers
The Apostle (I'm thinking of the relationship between E.F. and the Reverend)
(Not a movie, but I feel Sports Night is about this very thing.)
posted by Riverine at 6:46 PM on May 15, 2013
The Big Chill
The Blues Brothers
The Apostle (I'm thinking of the relationship between E.F. and the Reverend)
(Not a movie, but I feel Sports Night is about this very thing.)
posted by Riverine at 6:46 PM on May 15, 2013
And how could I forget: The Defiant Ones, with the luminous young Tony Curtis & Sidney Poitier.
posted by theatro at 6:48 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by theatro at 6:48 PM on May 15, 2013
Also, White Nights, with Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines. Very of-its-time Cold War plotline, but the central relationship and the way it changes and grows is extremely satisfying. (Plus, the dance sequences are fantastic.)
posted by theatro at 6:55 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by theatro at 6:55 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Lord of the Rings trilogy? There's some ensemble stuff going on, but at it's heart the story is about Frodo and Sam.
posted by platinum at 7:00 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by platinum at 7:00 PM on May 15, 2013
Enemy Mine with Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett, Jr.
posted by halfbuckaroo at 7:09 PM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by halfbuckaroo at 7:09 PM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
Do brothers count? Jeff, Who Lives At Home and Step Brothers both explore some of this.
posted by platinum at 7:10 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by platinum at 7:10 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Midnight Cowboy
posted by gudrun at 7:17 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by gudrun at 7:17 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Rainman
posted by brentajones at 7:24 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by brentajones at 7:24 PM on May 15, 2013
Master and Commander.
posted by jeffhoward at 7:33 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by jeffhoward at 7:33 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Master and Commander, based on the first of the Aubrey/Maturin novels by Patrick O'Brian.
posted by ambrosia at 7:34 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by ambrosia at 7:34 PM on May 15, 2013
John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, in the HBO series John Adams.
posted by LarryC at 7:51 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by LarryC at 7:51 PM on May 15, 2013
Rory O'Shea Was Here
posted by Soliloquy at 7:59 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Soliloquy at 7:59 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Bag of Hammers. The two guys are friends from the start, and their back stories are mostly just meaningfully hinted at and inferred, but for an indie comedy-drama about two slacker grifters who unexpectedly end up with a kid, it treats their relationship with gratifying seriousness. By which I mean, there are no "no homo!" moments or any moments where they downplay or make fun of how important they are to each other.
For the sake of full disclosure, I suppose I should add that the two friends' relationship can be read in a non-platonic way, but I'm pretty sure they're just supposed to be platonic BFFs.
posted by yasaman at 8:30 PM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
For the sake of full disclosure, I suppose I should add that the two friends' relationship can be read in a non-platonic way, but I'm pretty sure they're just supposed to be platonic BFFs.
posted by yasaman at 8:30 PM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
Sounds like you might like Man on the Train/L'homme du train.
posted by RogerB at 8:34 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by RogerB at 8:34 PM on May 15, 2013
Maybe White Men Can't Jump?
posted by mhum at 8:42 PM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by mhum at 8:42 PM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
Avengers - Bruce and Tony
posted by Sebmojo at 9:17 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Sebmojo at 9:17 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
R2D2 and C3PO
Stretching the "grown men" constraint of course...
posted by XMLicious at 9:31 PM on May 15, 2013
Stretching the "grown men" constraint of course...
posted by XMLicious at 9:31 PM on May 15, 2013
If TV shows are admissible, the show Supernatural is pretty bang on I'd say. Two grown men, platonic (brothers), the show is very much centered around their relationship, tremendous amount of backstory. Their relationship (as brothers, as friends, as team mates) is absolutely key to the show's story and their survival in a lot of ways.
Plus, it is just really good.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 4:28 AM on May 16, 2013
Plus, it is just really good.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 4:28 AM on May 16, 2013
Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe in L.A. Confidential - epic friendship arc of antagonistic peers.
posted by Hugobaron at 5:53 AM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Hugobaron at 5:53 AM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
"Get Him to the Greek" - if you want to keep on the Jonah Hill unlikely-buddy-movie train. It hits pretty much all of your criteria.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:12 AM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:12 AM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Robert Altman's California Split with George Segal and Elliott Gould (review)
posted by betweenthebars at 6:51 AM on May 16, 2013
posted by betweenthebars at 6:51 AM on May 16, 2013
Smoke, by Paul Auster. Specifically the relationship between William Hurt and Harvey Keitel.
posted by jbickers at 7:01 AM on May 16, 2013
posted by jbickers at 7:01 AM on May 16, 2013
Old Joy. That movie kicked, and continues to kick, my ass.
posted by MrMoonPie at 7:07 AM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by MrMoonPie at 7:07 AM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Grumpy Old Men?
And for tv shows, Due South - Benton Fraser and Ray Vecchio, and then Benton Fraser and Ray Kowalski, even more so.
posted by lemniskate at 8:58 AM on May 16, 2013
And for tv shows, Due South - Benton Fraser and Ray Vecchio, and then Benton Fraser and Ray Kowalski, even more so.
posted by lemniskate at 8:58 AM on May 16, 2013
Bandits
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
Silver Streak
Stir Crazy
posted by luckynerd at 9:05 AM on May 16, 2013
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
Silver Streak
Stir Crazy
posted by luckynerd at 9:05 AM on May 16, 2013
Spring Forward (1999) with Ned Beatty and Liev Schreiber as Connecticut park & rec workers. (With songs by Mark Mulcahy, and Ian Hart in a Miracle Legion t-shirt.) IMDB. Wikipedia.
Nthing Withnail and I.
posted by editorgrrl at 9:21 AM on May 16, 2013
Nthing Withnail and I.
posted by editorgrrl at 9:21 AM on May 16, 2013
Response by poster: These are all best answers. Thank you!
posted by MrHalfwit at 10:00 AM on May 16, 2013
posted by MrHalfwit at 10:00 AM on May 16, 2013
I'll second pineapple express for sure and I love you man.
also 50/50. recently rewatched it and enjoyed it a lot.
maybe tucker and dale vs evil?
posted by rog at 3:24 PM on May 16, 2013
also 50/50. recently rewatched it and enjoyed it a lot.
maybe tucker and dale vs evil?
posted by rog at 3:24 PM on May 16, 2013
Wedding Crashers
posted by Grandysaur at 3:57 PM on May 16, 2013
posted by Grandysaur at 3:57 PM on May 16, 2013
I think the relationship between Will and Jack in the Pirates of the Caribbean qualifies. Also, the Petrelli brothers in Heroes.
posted by teraspawn at 5:42 AM on May 17, 2013
posted by teraspawn at 5:42 AM on May 17, 2013
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posted by third rail at 5:41 PM on May 15, 2013 [4 favorites]