Some people just can’t win.
Even in movies.
For better or worse, these are the people who end up on the wrong side of every clash, whose presence makes you feel sorry they were forced into the movie to begin with.
People we ought to feel sorry for.
1. Cops
Talk about a group of useless, inept, ineffective people. I’m not bashing cops, I’m just pointing out that in movies—unless said movies are about cops, the FBI, and stuff like that—they’re hardly more than props for the characters and plot, puppets to be tugged this way and that by the invisible strings of the filmmakers.
- They provide a sense of realism but little else
- They have lots of cars, which make for epic crash scenes—because we can’t get enough of those
- They’re always outgunned—and often outsmarted
- Either they show up and don’t help the situation or arrive just as the enemy is sounding the call of surrender
2. The Villain’s Minions
These are what I’d call disposable elements. Some villains have a handful of people they work together with, but most of their employees are nothing more than second-hand pieces the villain can always replace.
Their existence depends on a few roles:
- To shoot at things and make a ruckus
- To guard things with the skills of master incompetents
- To provide extra bodies to pile up the count at the end of the movie
- To act as targets for the good side, because they can’t get the villain till the end
- To be readily available punching bags on whom the villain can take out his ire
3. Citizens of New York City
If you’ve seen any Marvel movies—or a lot of other action and thriller type movies—you know what I mean. From Spiderman to Avengers, New York City seems to be a magnet for epic melees that cause swaths of destruction.
With all the battles waged there, it’s a wonder the city is still standing.
I understand the reason for choosing NYC. It’s prime battleground, after all.
- High-rises aplenty to smash and wreck
- Narrow streets to focus the action
- Hordes of people to give the heroes innocents to save
- Thousands of windowpanes to break
- Cars to topple, total, and trash
It gets old after a while. I’m always thankful when a movie goes against the flow and decides to pick on a different city for once.
After all, the people of NYC can only handle so much.
These three groups are the tired, the poor, the huddle masses of moviemaking dictatorship yearning to breathe free.
Poetic sarcasm aside, my point is that in movies, certain sets of people are relegated to the role of set pieces. It’s impossible to avoid, but I wish there were more variety.
In the meantime, I guess I’ll keep a place of sympathy reserved for the unfortunate people who can’t seem to get ahead in the movie world.
Have you noticed any other groups that get picked on? Which group has your deepest sympathy? I would love to hear your thoughts.
