Movies that switch gears midstream?

FrankLad

FrankLad

Can you list some movies that seemed to shift in tone (or genre, even) at some point during the film?

For instance... a comedy that turns into a drama.

Did it work for you? (ie. did it throw you, or did you continue to enjoy it?)
 
I think the greatest example ever would be "From Dusk till Dawn"

It totally worked for me. I found it surprising and innovative.
 
"The Graduate" sort of feels like two different films. The turning point being when he takes Elaine on a date. That's when the movie stops being as much of a dark comedy and just turns into Benjamin being a creepy stalker. ;)
 
"Enter the Void" switches from an over-the-shoulder fest to a floating-camera fest. Both are incredible to look at.

I wouldn't say that I enjoyed the film (it's more of an anti-film anyway), but it was very aesthetically pleasing.
 
"Until The End of The World" is my favorite gear-switching movie. The first 1/2 to 2/3rds are a road movie. And then the get to Australia....
 
Thanks for the examples, everyone!

I'm sorta wrestling with this idea... I'd like to play it more humorous... tongue-in-cheek, but the initial concept (particularly the ending) was conceived as fairly serious/dramatic.

Seems like it's doable as long as I perhaps keep the ending in the same tone, but with a bit more heart or sincerity.

Just wondering if it's acceptable, and whether other movies have done similar.

Thanks again!
 
Definitely acceptable, FrankLad. If I'm understanding what you're saying, a sort of deconstructionist approach is what you're going for.

Example: Hot Fuzz. The first half of the movie breaks down all the tropes and cliches of action movies. Points out the inherent silliness and unrealistic nature of all those kind of movies. And then, in the second half, gleefully uses them ALL. In essence, saying "this is why all of this is stupid...but on the same token, it is AWESOME". Shaun of the Dead took a similar approach to zombie films.

So what you want to do is play it light, being aware of your cliches and pointing them out, before using those same concepts earnestly, right? I'm on board! Might do you well to research post-modernism and deconstruction (though you'll then be REconstructing it, I'm not sure if that's the commonly used term for it).
 
JoshL said:
Definitely acceptable, FrankLad. If I'm understanding what you're saying, a sort of deconstructionist approach is what you're going for.

Example: Hot Fuzz. The first half of the movie breaks down all the tropes and cliches of action movies. Points out the inherent silliness and unrealistic nature of all those kind of movies. And then, in the second half, gleefully uses them ALL. In essence, saying "this is why all of this is stupid...but on the same token, it is AWESOME". Shaun of the Dead took a similar approach to zombie films.

So what you want to do is play it light, being aware of your cliches and pointing them out, before using those same concepts earnestly, right? I'm on board! Might do you well to research post-modernism and deconstruction (though you'll then be REconstructing it, I'm not sure if that's the commonly used term for it).
Click to expand...

Very interesting, Josh! I appreciate the examples, and the terms (which I'll be researching next). Thank you, sir!
 
Steve: Thanks! I've admittedly never seen that movie all the way through. Does it maintain a similar vibe or is one half more dark (or more humorous) than the other?
 
It's a different vibe, to me - two different movies, but it's not like one is funny and one sad - they're both different looks at war - preparing for it, then fighting it. Both horrible in their own way, but very different. It's been a while since I've seen it, so I can't be much more coherent than that. But I remember thinking it felt like two different films.

gelder
 
I think it can be absolutely brilliant, if you somehow make it work. Off the top of my head, the first movie that comes to mind is "Death Proof". Somewhere around the 2/3 mark, it changes from thriller, with our heroines being the victims, to a revenge-fueled action-flick. And, yes, it works for me. I LOVE that movie.

Then, there's "2001". That's practically two different movies, as far as I'm concerned (but I know I'm in the minority in my distaste for that movie).

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" has a gradual shift of our protagonist. The movie starts with Franco as our protag, but eventually it firmly becomes the story of a rebellious chimp.
 
I think the shift has to be earnt. From the movies referenced above, I think looking at a few TV series may also be beneficial.

Because there is a "shift", there's a risk. When changing the tone, you give the audience the chance to step back, step out, and question "What has just happened here?"

All of it rests on the character. If I'm sympathetic with the character behind the humour, if I can connect with him, then I'll care enough to be taken to a new venture of dramatics. But if this guys is churning out one-liners, and playing a role I've seen a thousands times, then the shift isn't going to have any such effect on me.

It's a fine art to merge two genres. But it's certainly doable. I don't think any film just consists of one genre. When movies are funny, they should be funny. When they want to be dramatic, or frightening, I should feel that. I think there's a blend of that in almost every movie.

I'd suggest you watch The Royal Family, it's a British BBC comedy, and possibly the most influential of the last 30 years. It's minimalist, and as close to a slice of "lower class" life in England as you'll get. There's only three series, six episodes in each. If you have the time to watch them, you should. Perfect blend of Genre. Hugely earnt.
 
Steve, Cracker Funk, and PaperTwin: thank you all for the insight, and additional sources to check into! I'm really digging the info; it helps a bunch!
 
Wanted to add another one to the list...

"Little Voice"

Rated R movies are generally not my cup-o-tea, but a friend strongly suggested I watch it as a nice example of mixing comedy and drama.

It was quite intriguing. Started out like a comedy, played that way throughout (with some dramatic undertones), but got quite serious at the end. (In fact, I was preparing for a tragic conclusion at one point.)

I thought the two mixed pretty well. At no point did I catch myself going "Wait... this was supposed to be a comedy."
 
"Switch" (1991) from Blake Edwards, starring Ellen Barkin as a woman who used to be a sexist pig of a man. A terrible film from a great director.

It starts out being quite farcical, then turns into a maudlin, life-lesson-packed weep-fest by the last act -- what a car-wreck!
 
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