By definition, an anti-hero is a protagonist lacking many of the heroic or idealistic qualities that would be expected in a main character. Anti-heroes invert the protagonist archetype and abandon the notion of fixed morality, making for some of the most intriguing characters ever witnessed on the silver screen. Unlike conventional protagonists, anti-heroes are not bound to follow the obvious and predictable route within films; instead, they ‘play by their own rules’, often leading to a controversial and unexpected outcome, a feat which makes them infinitely compelling. The list of cinematic anti-heroes is ever growing, but I took a look at ten of the best anti-heroes in cinematic history and below are my thought on each of them.
10. Charles Bronson (Bronson)
In one of his more ambitious roles, Tom Hardy takes on the mammoth character of Michael ‘Charles Bronson’ Peterson, a criminal hooligan meets bare-knuckle fighter in this bizarre biopic. Bronson is a fascinating character to explore, taking pleasure from abhorrent behaviour and fighting merely for the sake of fighting. His self-professed single desire was to become the ‘most violent prisoner in Britain’, engaging in such absurd behaviours as stripping naked and covering himself in butter so as to be unable to be held onto by prison guards. Despite receiving little of the deserved recognition for the role from critics, Tom Hardy’s impressive performance was surprisingly appreciated by the man himself, Charles Bronson, who allegedly sends the actor Christmas cards every year from his prison cell.
9. Mickey and Mallory Knox (Natural Born Killers)
Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis portray Mickey and Mallory Knox in Natural Born Killers, two deranged and highly hostile serial killers on the run from the police after a mass of brutal murders. Slammed upon release for its supposed inspired string of ‘copy-cat’ killings that ensued, Oliver Stone’s tongue-in-cheek masterpiece epitomizes social satire; his portrayal of two criminals as media heroes is an expertly fashioned hyperbole of the mass media’s tendency to glorify criminals as celebrities. Although written off as overly and unnecessarily violent by some critics, Natural Born Killers is undoubtedly a clear and resounding message to its audience concerning the consumption of tabloid journalism and the public fascination with the ‘celebrity’.
8. Tony Montana (Scarface)
Tony Montana is the cocaine-snorting Cuban drug lord of Brian De Palma’s celebrated classic, Scarface. In a legendary performance, Al Pacino depicts Montana as cold-blooded and ruthless, hell-bent on attaining absolute power over the narcotics empire. Brian De Palma even lightly touches upon the theme of incest in Scarface, through Montana’s disturbing obsession and controlling nature over his sister. Despite the utter repugnance of his character, there is no doubt that Tony Montana will remain a pinnacle of anti-heroism and has been immortalized by his infamous line: ‘Say hello to my little friend!’
7. Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)
Based on Bret Easton Ellis’ massively controversial novel American Psycho, the film adaptation of the same names sees Christian Bale deliver a slick and sinister performance as the Wall Street mogul and yuppie psychopath, Patrick Bateman. The ever-intertwining juxtaposition of humour and horror leaves viewers disturbed yet simultaneously entertained and the satirical edge of the narrative cuts through the film like a hot knife through soft butter to deliver a magnificently crafted and endlessly intriguing lead character against a back-drop of biting social satire that leaves a lot to think about.
6. Hannibal Lecter (The Silence of the Lambs)
In an Oscar-winning role, Anthony Hopkins takes on the endlessly intriguing character of Hannibal ‘The Cannibal’ Lecter in this grizzly adaptation of Thomas Harris’s best-selling novel. A polar opposite to Jodie Foster’s clean-cut Clarice Starling, Lecter is guilty of utterly grotesque crimes, but is an unquestionable genius with a fascinating mind that the audience can’t help but be seduced into. His chilling and unmoving composure make him especially alluring and Hopkins’ riveting performance will go down in history as an unparalleled and truly mesmerizing feat.
5. Michael Corleone (The Godfather)
Michael Corleone is an unexpected anti-hero; it is his astounding transition from victoriously returning home as a war hero and favourite son of his mob father to the scheming and ruthless Don of the criminal Corleone family that deems him so. Across three lengthy films, the audience is granted a detailed insight into his slow but certain moral descent. We are shown in great detail how his good nature becomes corrupted and his integrity disintegrates; because of this, the audience understands this transformation and The Godfather trilogy remains rife with Michael Corleone’s ever-decreasing moral conflict.
4. Alex DeLarge (A Clockwork Orange)
In this exceedingly controversial role, Malcolm McDowell portrays Alex DeLarge in Stanley Kubrick’s critically acclaimed A Clockwork Orange to deliver a truly disturbing performance of a sociopathic and violent teenage rapist in Kubrick’s richly depicted dystopian society. Iconic for his unwavering stare, the sadistic and charismatic leader of the ‘droogs’ embarks on ultraviolent escapades that have shocked and disgusted audiences throughout the years. Ultimately, it is Alex’s repugnance that makes him such a captivating force to behold and McDowell’s standout performance of the troublesome teen is as memorable as it is commendable.
3. Tyler Durden (Fight Club)
Tyler Durden represents the modern anti-hero of cinema as a brutally free spirit interested only in chaos and upsetting the status quo through scheming deeds of rebellion, namely establishing a top secret underground ‘fight club’ where half-naked men release their repressed frustrations by pummeling each other. A hater of capitalism, conformity and control, Durden embodies the unrestrained ID of Edward Norton’s protagonist; Durden’s sole desire is to overthrow the system and be free of the constraints and restrictions placed upon people by society. Starring in David Fincher’s Fight Club, based on Chuck Palahnuik’s scandalous novel of the same name, Tyler Durden has reached legendary cult status and will undoubtedly remain one of the most memorable characters of all time.
2. Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver)
Travis Bickle is the icon of anti-heroism. Robert De Niro’s alluring depiction of the bitter cab driver-turned violent vigilante in the Scorsese-helmed Taxi Driver has enthralled, fascinated and confused audiences for decades. Bickle spends his time as a depressed porn-loving loner, ineffectively attempting to woo an attractive blonde political activist whilst covertly formulating a plan to assassinate a presidential candidate and simultaneously plotting to rescue a child prostitute from the holds of a pitiless pimp. His motives consistently remain blurry, it never being made clear whether he’s an inherently evil character who commits a solitary act of good, or an innately good character painted as a victim of circumstance. Either way, the character of Travis Bickle will undoubtedly be at the centre of much debate for many decades to come.
1. V (V For Vendetta)
V represents the anti-hero within every human being; he is the symbol of liberation and embodies the universal rebellious nature relatable to everyone that loathes conformity, government and totalitarianism. It is because of this that V is such a successful anti-hero; as a political radical, he is the polar opposite of historical activists such as Martin Luther King or Mahatma Ghandi, unafraid of using violence as a means to an end. V is indisputably one of the very few inspiring anti-heroes that have the ability to empower an audience; this has been demonstrated numerous times by the use of V’s Guy Fawkes mask as a symbol of revolt, namely by the internet ‘hacktivist’ group, Anonymous. Unlike countless others, the character of V from David Lloyd’s acclaimed comic book has directly impacted popular culture, a rare feat for a modern anti-hero but one that ultimately holds V as one of the most important fictional characters of all time.
Who’s your favorite movie anti-hero? Let us know in the comments below!
Recent Comments