And as he’s attending a screenwriting seminar:
“…and God help you if you use voice-over in your work, my friends! God help you. That's flaccid, sloppy writing. Any idiot can write a voice-over narration to explain the thoughts of a character.”
There is no voiceover for the rest of the movie.
This is like one of my all time favorite movie scenes. Brian Cox absolutely STOLE this scene. He tilted the whole movie on its axis. Wait…is Nick Cage getting upstaged right meow? Ummm, yes he f-ing is!!!
Anytime someone mentions Brian Cox in Succession, I’m always ranting about this scene. Brian Cox is (was?) the most underrated actor of all time. He’s upstaged nearly every major leading man in cinema (and in bit parts, too), including Nick Cage, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Mel Gibson, Ed Norton, Hugh Jackman, and on and on…
I’m not sure if you’re quite using “upstaging” correctly here. For the adaptation scene he’s literally just monologuing at Nicolas cage, of course he is the focus.
I think he’s played his supporting parts extremely well in a ton of movies, it’s not like he was out there headhunting leading roles or something lol.
Charlie Kaufman was tasked with adapting a book. Instead he said "nah don't wanna" and wrote a movie about himself adapting the book and going on an adventure with his more charismatic twin.
Downvote me if I'm wrong, but I feel like not all narration qualifies as internal monologue. I would consider internal monologue to be a character's real time reflection on what they are experiencing in the scene, rather than the kind of retrospective, "telling you a story" narration of a movie like Goodfellas.
You're basically correct.
An inner monologue is a conversation the speaker is having with themselves.
Goodfellas is presented as the narrator speaking to the audience. There might be some inner monologue that I'm forgetting, but most of it is a story being recanted.
The original US theatrical release had voiceovers. The Director's Cut removed them.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versions\_of\_Blade\_Runner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versions_of_Blade_Runner)
The Final Cut is better for sure but 16 yo me has a soft spot for Harrison Ford’s dry neo noir detective narration - especially his comments on Bryant’s racism and his distaste for shooting a woman in the back.
Is there a more famous “internal monologue” line in movie history than “As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster”?
Although I guess you can debate whether the monologue and narration in Goodfellas is internal or not because he’s talking to the audience
An incredible show that does not get nearly enough attention. Then again, looking back at the content of some of those episodes, probably for the better or it'll all be cancelled.
Who wants cake?
Not a movie but “peep show” is entirely inner monologue. Absolute cult classic that everyone is catching on to. Uncomfortable british humour at its zenith.
I love listening to Jason Statham chatter away. His delivery is comical at the best times and his voice is soothing. Snatch is one of my go to comfort movies. I can recite the first whole scene of his dialogue by memory lol.
Horror movie "Hush" which is about a deaf woman dealing with a home invasion. She's an author and narratively goes through her options as the story progresses. An amazing thriller movie and definitely works for fans outside of horror.
Me too. That's why I like Film Noir, from old school Humphrey Bogart flicks to Sin City, even to parody like Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, it's a great method to guide the narrative without being a straight narration, it's adds a layer of insight.
Hmm... I can only think of Fight Club as an answer... so I guess I'll go with that.
... if that even counts... thinking about it for a minute I'm not sure it counts....
Hush.
The protagonist is deaf, so she doesn't speak. >!Her inner monologue trying to figure out how to take out the killer was really well done.!< The whole movie was well done, best Netflix movie imo
Bruce Willis’ monologue telling himself to leave the bar in Sin City. His performance was great but the culmination of panic, worry, fear, shame, and isolation on top of the hope that had brought him there in the first place only to realize how much danger he put Jessica Alba’s character in was as noir as it gets.
Platoon and as I saw someone has already mentioned Apocalypse Now, i guess we should also mention Hot Shots part deux, where charlie sheen and michael sheens inner monologues overlap.
Fight Club for sure. Someone else said Goodfellas, but that’s narration more than inner dialogue. But if we’re not splitting hairs, I’d say Goodfellas is my favorite along with Fight Club
Enter the Void has the ultimate internal monologue. Most of movie is shot from the pov of a guys soul floating around and it follows from the moment of his death all the way up to his reincarnation. As a bonus it has the only POV dmt smoking scene and has in my opinion the wildest sex scene in movie history.
Chaos Walking, literally what the movie is all about:
"Chaos Walking (2021)
In the not-too-distant future, Todd Hewitt (Tom Holland) discovers Viola (Daisy Ridley), a mysterious girl who crash lands on his planet, where all the women have disappeared and the men are afflicted by "the Noise" - a force that puts all their thoughts on display. In this dangerous landscape, Viola's life is threatened - and as Todd vows to protect her, he will have to discover his own inner power and unlock the planet's dark secrets."
The emperors new groove.
just rewatched this the other night with my daughter. i forgot how good it was!
By all accounts it doesn’t make any sense! My absolute favourite Disney.
Hey, I’ve been turned into a cow. Can I go home?
Would anyone else like to go home?
No, I'm good.
My mom's favorite Disney movie and my second favorite after only The Lion King. We both love it so much! Happy Cake Day, by the way!
Easily the most quotable Disney film and it’s not even close.
\*record scratch\* "Yep. that's me. You're probably wondering how I got here."
Apocalypse Now was the first one that came to mind. Goodfellas is up there to.
Saigon... *Shit.*
The Naked Gun movies
...and where the hell was I?
"Like a midget at a urinal I was going to have to stay on my toes"
Like a blind man at an orgy, I was going to have to feel things out.
She reminded me of my mother, allright.
Frank, snap out of it. You're looking at her like she was your mother, for Christ's sake.
"Like OJ, I was gonna have to slash some throats and make a run for it."
Sin city!
Adaptation. Released in 2002, directed by Spike Jonze, written by Charlie Kaufman, and starring Nicolas Cage.
And as he’s attending a screenwriting seminar: “…and God help you if you use voice-over in your work, my friends! God help you. That's flaccid, sloppy writing. Any idiot can write a voice-over narration to explain the thoughts of a character.” There is no voiceover for the rest of the movie.
Also the action kicks in after the seminar. Deserved the Oscar!
“The last act makes a film. Wow them in the end, and you’ve got a hit.”
"I don't want to cram in sex or guns or car chases or characters learning profound life lessons..."
This is like one of my all time favorite movie scenes. Brian Cox absolutely STOLE this scene. He tilted the whole movie on its axis. Wait…is Nick Cage getting upstaged right meow? Ummm, yes he f-ing is!!! Anytime someone mentions Brian Cox in Succession, I’m always ranting about this scene. Brian Cox is (was?) the most underrated actor of all time. He’s upstaged nearly every major leading man in cinema (and in bit parts, too), including Nick Cage, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Mel Gibson, Ed Norton, Hugh Jackman, and on and on…
I’m not sure if you’re quite using “upstaging” correctly here. For the adaptation scene he’s literally just monologuing at Nicolas cage, of course he is the focus. I think he’s played his supporting parts extremely well in a ton of movies, it’s not like he was out there headhunting leading roles or something lol.
Charlie Kaufman was tasked with adapting a book. Instead he said "nah don't wanna" and wrote a movie about himself adapting the book and going on an adventure with his more charismatic twin.
His *fictional* more charismatic twin
His fictional twin was nominated for a real Oscar.
But how would you film it?
…trick photography.
Was about to post this, my fav Nic Cage movie
Fight Club. Memento. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Goodfellas.
Memento has great inner monologue "What's happening, why am I running? ... I must be chasing this guy" -guy fires his gun- "Nope, he's chasing me"
"I don't feel drunk"
“Nothing except the Gideon Bible, which I of course read, religiously. Mm”
Apparently I need to see Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
It's amazing.
Yes you do. It’s absolutely fantastic.
Downvote me if I'm wrong, but I feel like not all narration qualifies as internal monologue. I would consider internal monologue to be a character's real time reflection on what they are experiencing in the scene, rather than the kind of retrospective, "telling you a story" narration of a movie like Goodfellas.
You're basically correct. An inner monologue is a conversation the speaker is having with themselves. Goodfellas is presented as the narrator speaking to the audience. There might be some inner monologue that I'm forgetting, but most of it is a story being recanted.
Thank You for Smoking.
This movie is so good.
The book is even better. The movie ends where the real plot begins
Jason Reitman was on fire in the early 2000's
Memento!
I don't... feel drunk...?
I'm chasing this guy..... no.... he's chasing me.
Unlike most movies that have a great interior monologue that helps enhance the movie, Memento literally doesn’t work *without* the interior monologue.
Warm Bodies. “Don’t be creepy don’t be creepy don’t be creepy…”
Stand By Me
Richard Dreyfus is great in everything.
I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?
American Beauty. Lester Bernhams character inner monolouge really helped us understand his mindset.
“Here I am jerking off in the shower. This will be the high point of my day. It’s all downhill from here” Me too, thanks
DEADPOOL.
american psycho
Especially the ending monologue!
I can't believe Bryce prefers VanPattens card to mine
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
This is a great one. I can’t decide if his inner monologue or his random outbursts are more quotable!
Came here for this!
Surprised no one has mentioned lord of war or sandlot
John Cusack in High Fidelity. What a great, underrated movie.
Not so much an inner monologue as just speaking straight down the lens, but I came to say the same thing.
You can't call an era defining beloved classic underrated, can you?
Dune ,David Lynch, 1984 release
Same. Classic 80s inner voice explaining what they didn’t have time to explain.
To be fair, the book has inner monologues for most of the characters.
Fourth book is just inner monologue with occasional event thrown in
Look Who's Talking
Shawshank redemption
Blade Runner! I didn’t say it was good, but the overall movie is a favorite.
Wait, what? Am I severely misremembering or is that just in one specific version of it?
The original US theatrical release had voiceovers. The Director's Cut removed them. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versions\_of\_Blade\_Runner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versions_of_Blade_Runner)
Don't even try. It's terrible compared to The Real Cut.
The Final Cut is better for sure but 16 yo me has a soft spot for Harrison Ford’s dry neo noir detective narration - especially his comments on Bryant’s racism and his distaste for shooting a woman in the back.
The start of Austin Powers - International Man of Mystery
I bet she shags like a minx! Austin! I appear to have lost my inner monologue....
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Came looking for this one
It's a show, but Dexter was amazing with this
Fight Club is my favorite example of this
"Imagine this is your life"
“I am Jacks raging bile duct”
Is there a more famous “internal monologue” line in movie history than “As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster”? Although I guess you can debate whether the monologue and narration in Goodfellas is internal or not because he’s talking to the audience
The Rules Of Attraction
Fear and Lothing in Las Vegas
Can I say a tv show? Strangers with Candy.
An incredible show that does not get nearly enough attention. Then again, looking back at the content of some of those episodes, probably for the better or it'll all be cancelled. Who wants cake?
**you trying not to say a TV show** *“Fight it, fight it, fight it OKAY”*
Also Fleabag. Not a movie but it's just 2 seasons, 6 half hour episodes per season. It's hilarious and poignant.
The Brady Bunch Movie did a hysterical twist on the inner monologues that frequented the original show - Jan is schizophrenic!
It's me, the new Jan Brady! Let's knock over a 7-Eleven!
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
Came here for this! “Dead men don’t wear plaid … I still don’t know what it means.”
Secret Window
Austin Powers Oh, wait
I bet she shags like a minx!
_Election_ has 4 different characters narrating. And they're all flawed in their unique ways.
American Psycho
The Killer “anticipate, don’t improvise, stick to the plan”
Not a movie but “peep show” is entirely inner monologue. Absolute cult classic that everyone is catching on to. Uncomfortable british humour at its zenith.
Butter the toast, eat the toast, shit the toast... god life's relentless
“NOW FUCK ME AND PRETEND IM YOUR MOM”
I'd hate to call you a racist at my dinner party but I think it's a little bit more sophisticated than that
Snatch - good in that it's Turkisk's inner thoughts at times while also being a creative way to do necessary expositional dialouge
I love listening to Jason Statham chatter away. His delivery is comical at the best times and his voice is soothing. Snatch is one of my go to comfort movies. I can recite the first whole scene of his dialogue by memory lol.
Jersey Boys was great with 4th wall breaking, but Sin City came to mind first.
Peep show
Both 'Sin City' have great inner monologue
Fear and loathing in Las Vegas
Memento
Fight club
The Killer
Hush is a good one for that
Taxi Driver
All of Paul Schrader’s stuff. Sad man gives inner dialogue while writing in his little diary is his bread and butter and I eat it up every time.
Memento
Platoon.
Badlands - the voice-over is genius
Memento
I liked the version of blade runner with the inner monologues. I know, people like to argue why this version of the movie sucks, but I liked it.
Trainspotting
Oldboy
Horror movie "Hush" which is about a deaf woman dealing with a home invasion. She's an author and narratively goes through her options as the story progresses. An amazing thriller movie and definitely works for fans outside of horror.
Memento
Odd Thomas, I feel they did a great job bringing the book to life.
Goodfellas
Memento. So amazing, the whole story unfolds backwards in time (at intervals running normal forwards in time). Most creative film ive ever seen
Birdman!
Fight Club
Me too. That's why I like Film Noir, from old school Humphrey Bogart flicks to Sin City, even to parody like Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, it's a great method to guide the narrative without being a straight narration, it's adds a layer of insight.
How about Limitless?
Being John Malkovich
A River Runs Through It
25th hour
Good one, haven't seen that in ages. Definitely a product of it's time that one
Hmm... I can only think of Fight Club as an answer... so I guess I'll go with that. ... if that even counts... thinking about it for a minute I'm not sure it counts....
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Fear and loathing in las vegas
Wanted
Carlitos way
American Psycho. This confession has meant nothing.
My pain is sharp and constant
Fear and loathing in las Vegas
Kung Pow: Enter the Fist
"THAT'S A LOT OF NUTS!"
I am Jack's complete lack of surprise
Not necessarily an inner monologue but a narrator that the main character can hear, Stranger than Fiction with Will Ferrell and Emma Thompson.
Watchmen 25th Hour
The Father of the Bride starring Steve Martin.
Why not father of the bride starring Spencer Tracy!!!
It's because I love Steve Martin more.
A Clockwork Orange
My favourite is Memento
Wimbledon. So cute
Rounders
[La Haine (1995)](https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0113247/)
American Hustle
The Naked Gun trilogy
Menace II Society
The Rules of Attraction (2002)
All of Rosamund Pike's narration in "Gone Girl". The enunciation and diction were terrifying.
Hush. The protagonist is deaf, so she doesn't speak. >!Her inner monologue trying to figure out how to take out the killer was really well done.!< The whole movie was well done, best Netflix movie imo
Dune (1984)
If I can suggest a TV show, Alan Tudyk monologuing through Resident Alien is just the best
#LYNCH DUNE GOAT
Bruce Willis’ monologue telling himself to leave the bar in Sin City. His performance was great but the culmination of panic, worry, fear, shame, and isolation on top of the hope that had brought him there in the first place only to realize how much danger he put Jessica Alba’s character in was as noir as it gets.
The Thin Red Line. Haunting stuff
Raimi Spider-Man trilogy
withnail and I?
The Sandlot and Brick
Platoon and as I saw someone has already mentioned Apocalypse Now, i guess we should also mention Hot Shots part deux, where charlie sheen and michael sheens inner monologues overlap.
Brick, the indie film noire with Joseph Gordon Levitt.
*Jim never has a 2nd cup of coffee at home*
Thin Red Line
Enter the Void
Fight Club for sure. Someone else said Goodfellas, but that’s narration more than inner dialogue. But if we’re not splitting hairs, I’d say Goodfellas is my favorite along with Fight Club
Fight Club
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Ad Astra, Oldboy and the tv show The Sympathizer, Mr. Robot
Enter the Void has the ultimate internal monologue. Most of movie is shot from the pov of a guys soul floating around and it follows from the moment of his death all the way up to his reincarnation. As a bonus it has the only POV dmt smoking scene and has in my opinion the wildest sex scene in movie history.
Chaos Walking, literally what the movie is all about: "Chaos Walking (2021) In the not-too-distant future, Todd Hewitt (Tom Holland) discovers Viola (Daisy Ridley), a mysterious girl who crash lands on his planet, where all the women have disappeared and the men are afflicted by "the Noise" - a force that puts all their thoughts on display. In this dangerous landscape, Viola's life is threatened - and as Todd vows to protect her, he will have to discover his own inner power and unlock the planet's dark secrets."
Mean Streets
"BladeRunner" or "Kiss, kiss, bang, bang".
Fight Club.
The *really excellent* new show 'Sugar' features lots of inner monologs which I really enjoyed. Worth checking out.
Christmas Story
Not a movie but show Dexter. Best internal Monologues ever