Supporting Characters: The Real Reason Brilliant Movies Work

Author's Note: The following post contains some slight spoilers for "Inception," "Saving Private Ryan" and "Spiderman."

"Inception" is a brilliant movie. It was worth going at midnight and is worth seeing again — which is a good thing because apparently sometime next week I'm taking my little sister and her friend to go see it. You can read my review of it here. This morning at 2 a.m., I was excited about the intricate plot and the mysteries Christopher Nolan left unsolved. Today, however, when I considered my favorite parts of the movie I realized I loved the character development of Robert Fischer (Cillian Murphy) — the man Dom Cobb, Leonardo DiCaprio's character, is hired to target.

Most of the film rightfully focused on Cobb and his family history and why he became a fugitive. However, I was more interested in Fischer and his broken relationship with his father. Murphy's performance was captivating, and it was emotional to watch the young man come to terms with how his father viewed him and how he could become his own man. The final scene Fischer had before he woke up from his dream was the most gratifying part of the movie for me as an audience member — it brought his character full circle and almost moved me to tears. But not quite.

Supporting characters stealing the show is nothing new — I remember watching "Saving Private Ryan" for the first time. While I cared about John Miller (Tom Hanks) and came to admire Private Ryan (Matt Damon), the one character I connected with was Upham (Jeremy Davies).

His struggle to deal with being thrown into the harsh reality of war and combat was affecting and real. Though many people I have discussed the movie with have called Upham a coward, I never saw him as one. I simply saw the consequences a gritty, hopeless reality can have on one's soul. Upham was a scholar, a philosopher who was never built for war. His compassion for Steamboat Willie in the middle of the movie showed someone struggling to be different and break away from the endless killing cycle. And, finally, when Upham reached his turning point in the climax, it's easy to see turmoil and a rush of emotions cross his face. Through his performance, Davies helped make "Saving Private Ryan" one of the most emotional, if not the most emotional, war movies of all time.

Even in straightforward superhero movies sympathetic supporting stars strengthen the overall plot. Throughout the entire Sam Raimi "Spiderman" franchise, James Franco's Harry Osborne was the character whose story arc was the most unpredictable and compelling. As Harry struggled with who to trust and what to do, the audience empathized — even when he knowingly turned on Peter momentarily. Though some (like my friend April, for example) were only upset at the end of the third movie when they realized they could no longer stare at James Franco were a sequel to be made, I cried for the loss of a great character.

I don't think I'm alone — I mean, how many people's favorite character from "Harry Potter" is Harry? Or Bella from "Twilight?" While main characters usually make or break a movie, book or television show, it's the supporting roles that give some of the best surprises and depth.

Limited Release: The Bane of a Cultured Mississippian

Today, the first trailer for a new comedy "It's Kind of a Funny Story" was released online. You can watch it below. The film is based on a novel of the same name and revolves around 16 year-old Craig (Keir Gilchrist) who checks himself into a mental hospital to deal with his depression. Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover) and Emma Roberts (Valentine's Day) play Craig's fellow patients.



And guess who also stars in the movie? Jeremy Davies who played Daniel Faraday from "Lost" and is one of the greatest character actors of his generation (in my opinion). So, still hoping to hold onto anything to do with "Lost" in anyway possible, I was understandably excited to go see the film when it comes out September 24th. Besides, even without Jeremy Davies, the film looks like it will be really good and seems to have the same originality "(500) Days of Summer" carried.

However, I became disappointed when I learned the film would only open in limited release and then may not expand to any theaters near me. Because I live in Starkville, Miss. for the bulk of the year. It's a place where the one cinema we do have doesn't give viewers an option between 2-D and 3-D experiences, and one is forced to pay a higher ticket price.

In September people who live in New York City will be able go see "It's Kind of a Funny Story," while I'm stuck with the Kristen Bell comedy "You Again" and "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps." Even though "Wall Street" has gotten good reviews, it's still a sequel starring Shia LaBeouf (something new for Hollywood — not). And even though smaller films like "Slumdog Millionaire" have done well once theaters actually start showing them, it still takes months from the original release for the movies to make their way to states that aren't New York or California.

It's just not fair that it took three months for "Slumdog Millionaire" to make its way to Mississippi from its original release. And "(500) Days of Summer" took from July to August to receive a wide release. I know that offbeat films don't have tested audiences like sequels to big blockbusters or famous directors to bank on but when given the chance, many arise to the occasion.

Because audiences, believe or not corporate Hollywood, do like a change of pace. And if a film is good people will continue to buy tickets. It wouldn't hurt to send a film that isn't a sequel or a movie full of $100 million explosions to Mississippi. Just every once in a while. I'm just sayin'.