[x1onexwo1fx]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonlinear_narrative

Quote:

Nonlinear narrative, disjointed narrative or disrupted narrative is a narrative technique, sometimes used in literature, film, hypertext websites and other narratives, where events are portrayed, for example out of chronological order, or in other ways where the narrative doesn't follow the direct causality pattern of the events featured, such as parallel distinctive plot lines, dream immersions or narrating another story inside the main plot-line. It is often used to mimic the structure and recall of human memory but has been applied for other reasons as well.

discuss...

[Cody Nelson]

Coupling did this very well.

RIP Coupling.

[bladerdude360]

Obligatory Memento mention.

[Wake Up]

bleh

[x1onexwo1fx]

Originally Posted by Wake Up

bleh

[Tetragrammaton]

It is overused in modern times to hide deficiencies in the entire narrative.

[x1onexwo1fx]

Originally Posted by Tetragrammaton

It is overused in modern times to hide deficiencies in the entire narrative.

well that's definitely a better response than "bleh."

have you enjoyed at least one film that does it?

[SkyHeldUpByStar]

Originally Posted by Tetragrammaton

It is overused in modern times to hide deficiencies in the entire narrative.

I went to an independent film festival a couple years back wherein I witnessed a filmmaker take her linear narrative and apply this method to it because some agent from L.A. told her it would make the film more interesting/marketable. I remember sitting there thinking how useless it ended up being; partly because the film was still by and large uninteresting. So yeah.

[Tetragrammaton]

Originally Posted by x1onexwo1fx

well that's definitely a better response than "bleh."

have you enjoyed at least one film that does it?

Tarantino has always been great with it, even though he does not do it the same way. It enhances the story in Pulp Fiction in Jackie Brown.

[WakingTheMisery]

I liked when they used it in the Back to the Future films.

[suicidesaints]

Originally Posted by bladerdude360

Obligatory Memento mention.

Originally Posted by x1onexwo1fx

have you enjoyed at least one film that does it?

I think Memento set the standard for what a nonlinear narrative could/should be... Sure it was done before, and probably better in some instances, but Memento is the modern prototype.

I think it worked well with Memento because of the plot of the movie. You can't just take a linear story and mash it up and make it nonlinear and think it's going to work... with Memento, we were finding things out at the same time/rate as Lenny

I know it's probably considered "overrated" on this site, but Memento is my favorite film so, yeah...

[Star Slight]

Originally Posted by Tetragrammaton

Tarantino has always been great with it, even though he does not do it the same way. It enhances the story in Pulp Fiction in Jackie Brown.

Yup. And the Tarantino knock-off "Go" is entertaining as well

[Star Slight]

Originally Posted by suicidesaints

I think Memento set the standard for what a nonlinear narrative could/should be... Sure it was done before, and probably better in some instances, but Memento is the modern prototype.

I think it worked well with Memento because of the plot of the movie. You can't just take a linear story and mash it up and make it nonlinear and think it's going to work... with Memento, we were finding things out at the same time/rate as Lenny

I know it's probably considered "overrated" on this site, but Memento is my favorite film so, yeah...

Modern prototype is probably Pulp Fiction

[suicidesaints]

Originally Posted by Star Slight

Modern prototype is probably Pulp Fiction

I agree, and I thought about mentioning Pulp Fiction, but I feel like Memento does it better in the sense that the plot (Lenny's amnesia) blends nicely with the nonlinear style.

Not to put down Pulp Fiction at all... it's probably the superior film, but the nonlinear nature of it seemed to fit the plot less than Memento... if that makes any sense.

I'm sure Pulp Fiction is imitated more often and probably a larger influence than Memento for lots of filmmakers... idk

edit: and I'm sure Nolan took a few nods from Tarantino when making Memento

[Cody Nelson]

Originally Posted by Star Slight

Yup. And the Tarantino knock-off "Go" is entertaining as well

Just watched this for the first time in a while last night. Fucking love that movie.