Breaking the Fourth Wall

[stayillogical]

I was just thinking to myself about how much I love when movies and television do this. Sometimes just a look into the camera at the right moment is golden or when a narrator says exactly the right thing. I remember watching Kiss Kiss Bang Bang for the first time and laughing out loud when RDJ said exactly what I was thinking, it's great stuff.

So what are your favorite scenes that break the fourth wall? Or maybe the opposite, an instance where it doesn't work?

[drewz5]

There are some moments from The Royal Tenenbaums where Alec Baldwin has the best narrations. I can't name any off the top of my head though

[Smash Adams]

Zach Morris is the king
Family Guy abuses it
/thread

[Bryant]

I love the stares Will Smith gives to the camera when someone mentions Vivian changing and Nicky growing from baby to child.

Ray Liota's in Goodfellas is memorable to me too.

[A_True_Poet]

http://www.horror-movies.ca/albums/userpics/poster_funny_games_ver2.jpg

[IAmNietzche]

Anna Karina in Vivre Sa Vie.

[Bob Payne]

Malcolm in Malcolm in the Middle.

[stayillogical]

I love when the camera zooms in to a close up of Audrey Tautou in Amelie and she looks straight into it with the most mischievous smile.

[Thomas Balkcom]

Nights of Cabiria

[Thomas Balkcom]

and Sling Blade

[3eb23]

I love the stares Will Smith gives to the camera when someone mentions Vivian changing and Nicky growing from baby to child.

Ray Liota's in Goodfellas is memorable to me too.

First thing that came to mind was Fresh Prince

[Thomas Balkcom]

Layer Cake

[irthesteve]

Austin: Wait a tick. Basil, if I travel back to 1969, and I was frozen in 1967, presumably, I could go visit my frozen self. But, if I'm still frozen in 1967, how could I have been unthawed in the 90's and traveled back to... (cross-eyed) Oh, no. I've gone cross-eyed.
Basil: I suggest you don't worry about this sort of thing, and just enjoy yourself.
(to the home audience) That goes for you all, too.

[ThePartialGlow]

This is pretty random...but I'll never forget this for some reason.

When I was a kid, I was watching a Bugs Bunny cartoon in which he is sniffing the ground trying to find Elmer Fudd. He approaches Elmer who is leaning with his arm up on a tree...Bugs sniffs up from the ground to his armpit...stops...looks at the camera and says in a deep voice: "Beeeeeeeeeee Ohhhhhhhh!"

Don't know why I laughed so hard at it, but I'll never forget it.

[1mastalker]

http://www.horror-movies.ca/albums/userpics/poster_funny_games_ver2.jpg
I haven't watched it myself but my sister and friends have told me that this movie is really good. Are they right?

[WakingTheMisery]

I haven't watched it myself but my sister and friends have told me that this movie is really good. Are they right?

Its brilliant.

[stayillogical]

Zach Morris is the king
Family Guy abuses it
/thread

When Zach talks to the camera, does everyone else freeze? I'm trying to remember.

Any time in my adolescence, whether at school or camp, when I've had to make a skit I always had a main character that talked to the audience while everyone else was frozen. I did that so many times, haha. Trying to think of where I got it from, probably Saved By The Bell.

[nivek87]

http://www.horror-movies.ca/albums/userpics/poster_funny_games_ver2.jpg

i came in to post this, for the original though, not the remake.

[SmokieB.High]

i came in to post this, for the original though, not the remake.
I agree i watched the original first then the remake. The remake seems so akward because its a direct translation and little or no change in dialoge, but still a great film

[SmokieB.High]

Apparently theres going to be a lot of this in the Deadpool movie

[Smash Adams]

When Zach talks to the camera, does everyone else freeze? I'm trying to remember.

Any time in my adolescence, whether at school or camp, when I've had to make a skit I always had a main character that talked to the audience while everyone else was frozen. I did that so many times, haha. Trying to think of where I got it from, probably Saved By The Bell.
um yeah he would say time out and everything would freeze

[Colorblind!]

http://www.horror-movies.ca/albums/userpics/poster_funny_games_ver2.jpg

Came to post exactly this.

:clap:

[bouttogetfancy]

Harold in Harold and Maude.

[kaoskid]

http://www.horror-movies.ca/albums/userpics/poster_funny_games_ver2.jpg

hell yes. Amazing film.

[matt_rawlings]

High Fidelity does it alot and to hilarious effect

Woody Allen also does it in quite a few films, most notably, Annie Hall

[stayillogical]

High Fidelity does it alot and to hilarious effect

Woody Allen also does it in quite a few films, most notably, Annie Hall

I love when Alvy argues with the guy behind him in line at the theater, or when he randomly stops a couple on the street to talk about love.

[matt_rawlings]

I love when Alvy argues with the guy behind him in line at the theater, or when he randomly stops a couple on the street to talk about love.


One of my favourite parts of the film is the arguement with the pretentious douche in the movie theate, especially because he makes the nerdiest in joke ever when he brings New Media Technology theorist Marshall McCluhan to back up his arguement...

...I've studied that bastard for two fucking years, reading all his long winded and techno-speak-gibberish books and articles as well as writing three papers on his work. Then one day, I'm watching Annie Hall and the guy I have been doing part of my degree on pops up in one of the best films ever made.

Made my year

[Metal Now]

Malcolm in Malcolm in the Middle.

Oh God I loved that show. Still golden.

[kaoskid]

Ferris Bueller is probably one of the, if not, the most memorable character breaking the fourth wall. Amazing film.
Ron Howard on Arrested Development is easily the best comical narrator ever.
(ex.)"Hey, that's the name of the show!"
or "So GOB *bleep*ed Lucille 2."

[andrewshungry]

funny games was so nuts. i'm normally not a fan at all of characters breaking the fourth wall but here it just worked for some reason. i need to check out the original.

[neo506]

High Fidelity does it alot and to hilarious effect

Woody Allen also does it in quite a few films, most notably, Annie HallCame in to post high fidelity.

Mel Brooks uses it in alot of his films as well...Robinhood Men In Tights and Blazing Saddles come to mind

[Anderson]

First thing that came to mind for me was Wayne's World.

[billyboatkid]

Funny games.

Waynes World.