The Most Tragic Film Character Ever?!

[God of War]

There are a few of them that fall into this category. First to my mind is Darth Vader. Talk about living the life of tragedy. He loses his father and mother. Loses his aunt. Turns evil. Kills his lovely wife. Gets mutilated almost beyond hope by his life time pal, Obi Wan.

What other movie characters are tragic?

The Elephant Man
Eraserhead
Ellen Ripley

[ivana]

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader from Star Wars
David Mills from Se7en
Maximus from Gladiator
Ellen Ripley from Alien
Henri 'Papillon' Charriere from Papillon
Andy Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption

[john_rambo]

http://barfblog.foodsafety.ksu.edu/gallery_Napoleon_Dynamite_1.jpg

[Smiert Spionam]

http://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2006/10/24/departed-leo.jpg

[Sonny Corleone]

Brandon Teena - Boys Don't Cry

[athf1980]

Gollum/Smeagal

[Powerslave]

First thing that comes to mind is Fredo Corleone.

Also:
-Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker
-Pretty much every character in both Ugetsu and Sansho the Bailiff
-Ellen Burstyn's character in Requiem for a Dream

[Natty]

That haven't been mentioned:

http://www.the-reel-mccoy.com/movies/1999/images/thegreenmile5.jpg

and the baby from Trainspotting

[tbone]

Gollum/Smeagal

Anakin Skywalker's descent to Darth Vader certainly fits the tragic hero -- also Hamlet.

I would say Michael Corleone is more tragic than Fredo
Daniel Plainview certainly seems to fit the definition of a tragic hero also

[Powerslave]

I would say Michael Corleone is more tragic than Fredo

If you're talking about a tragic hero, in the traditional sense, then yeah, I'd say Michael fits the bill more than Fredo, as was (obviously) the intention. But I've always been more emotionally affected by and to some degree more interested in Fredo. He's born into a life that he couldn't be any less suited for, and despite being the older brother, is passed over by his family and friends for his younger brother, who's better-suited for the mafia life (whether he immediately knows it or not). These unfortunate circumstances destroy him mentally and emotionally, and leave him a pathetic, miserable character who makes mistakes, despite trying to make good, and is eventually held with disdain by the people surrounding him, most notably Michael. Perhaps he's not tragic in the way Michael is, but he's certainly a far more sad character, in my eyes.

[Le_Big_Mac]

Enrico Salvatore Rizzo (Midnight Cowboy)
Jake La Motta (Raging Bull)
John Merrick (The Elephant Man)
Genjuro (Ugetsu monogatari)
Seth Brundle (The Fly, 1986)
Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars Saga)
John Coffey (The Green Mile)
Nick (The Deer Hunter)
Charles Foster Kane (Citizen Kane)
Don Birnam (The Lost Weekend)
Colonel Kurtz (Apocalypse Now)
all four of them (Requiem for a Dream)
Smeagol (The Lord of the Rings)

[Bourne101]

That haven't been mentioned:

http://www.the-reel-mccoy.com/movies/1999/images/thegreenmile5.jpg

Great choice.

[bigred760]

William Munny

[Z_oasis]

Rocky Denis from "MASK"

[ilovemovies]

Kevin Bacon in Death Sentence
The Boleyn sisters (especially Portman) and brother in The Other Boleyn Girl

[tbone]

If you're talking about a tragic hero, in the traditional sense, then yeah, I'd say Michael fits the bill more than Fredo, as was (obviously) the intention. But I've always been more emotionally affected by and to some degree more interested in Fredo. He's born into a life that he couldn't be any less suited for, and despite being the older brother, is passed over by his family and friends for his younger brother, who's better-suited for the mafia life (whether he immediately knows it or not). These unfortunate circumstances destroy him mentally and emotionally, and leave him a pathetic, miserable character who makes mistakes, despite trying to make good, and is eventually held with disdain by the people surrounding him, most notably Michael. Perhaps he's not tragic in the way Michael is, but he's certainly a far more sad character, in my eyes.

Well said, I agree Fredo is a sadder character or I suppose a character to actually pity as well.

[Frank the Tank]

Morgan Freeman's character in Gone Baby Gone
Radio Raheem (Do The Right Thing)
Dae-Su and Woo-Jin (Oldboy)

[Muddy Shores]

An old man dies. A young girl lives. A fair trade. I love you, Nancy.

http://www.webwombat.com.au/entertainment/movies/images/sin-city.JPG

[john_rambo]

http://www.248am.com/images/bmgirl.jpg

poor bee girl just wants to be loved for being a bee girl... who doesnt want to be loved as a bee girl?

[Homyrrh]

Jake LaMotta in "Ragining Bull"...no doubt.

[bigred760]

An old man dies. A young girl lives. A fair trade. I love you, Nancy.

http://www.webwombat.com.au/entertainment/movies/images/sin-city.JPG

Good call.

[adamjohnson]

http://www.aullidos.com/imagenes/caratulas/beowulf.jpg

Tragic Hero, n all that.

[Powerslave]

Jake LaMotta in "Ragining Bull"...no doubt.
Ah, right. I knew I forgot something.

[The Heart Collector]

the correct answer is, of course,

http://steef.ndrw.net/cellurants/photos/balthazar.jpg

[NathanRomano]

An old man dies. A young girl lives. A fair trade. I love you, Nancy.

http://www.webwombat.com.au/entertainment/movies/images/sin-city.JPG


I literally JUST finished this movie for like the 560534 time

[Jig Saw 123]

Anakin Skywalker- Star Wars
Jason Voorhees- Friday the 13th
Jesus Christ- Passion of the Christ
Sweeney Todd- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
David Drayton- The Mist
The Entire "Requiem for a Dream" Cast

[darknite125]

Edward Scissorhands-Edward Scissorhands
Rick-Casablanca
Batman/Bruce Wayne-Batman Begins
everyone-Requiem for a Dream
John-Green Mile
Leonard Shelby-Memento
Tommy Creo-the Fountain
Ophelia-Pan's Labyrinth
Seita and Setsuko-Grave of the Fireflies
Eric Draven-the Crow
Sweeney Todd-Sweeney Todd Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Lon Chaney-every movie he was in
and all the Universal Monsters

[APzombie]

all of the characters in magnolia.

[God of War]

Some really great replies, peeps. Alot I never even thought of

all of the characters in magnolia.
Amen to that. And I just thought of another one. Didn't see it so far.

http://muitobarulho.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/gollum.jpg

Edit - My bad. athf1980 already metnioned Gollum.

[Briare Rabbit]

Blanche Dubois and for that matter, most characters of Tennessee Williams...

also Tom Joad, Boo Radley, Norman Bates, Melanie Hamilton...

[EvilHenchman]

I vote for Michael Corleone, especially with Coppola going all King Leary in the third film.


Also: Ash, Army of Darkness (the alternate ending) :D

[Ripper1888]

Larry TalbotThe Wolf Man
Eric DravenThe Crow

are a couple that come to mind

[jaw2929]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1790000/images/_1793817_historyx300.jpg

[freakandgeek]

That haven't been mentioned:

http://www.the-reel-mccoy.com/movies/1999/images/thegreenmile5.jpg



definately

[IHRTNJ]

If you're talking about a tragic hero, in the traditional sense, then yeah, I'd say Michael fits the bill more than Fredo, as was (obviously) the intention. But I've always been more emotionally affected by and to some degree more interested in Fredo. He's born into a life that he couldn't be any less suited for, and despite being the older brother, is passed over by his family and friends for his younger brother, who's better-suited for the mafia life (whether he immediately knows it or not). These unfortunate circumstances destroy him mentally and emotionally, and leave him a pathetic, miserable character who makes mistakes, despite trying to make good, and is eventually held with disdain by the people surrounding him, most notably Michael. Perhaps he's not tragic in the way Michael is, but he's certainly a far more sad character, in my eyes.

Yeah I'd say so myself... Hey look by the way don't know if you're into books but The Godfather's Revenge really delves into Fredo's character and his love/hate relationship with Mike.

Also, I'd like to mention Montgomery "Monty" Brogan from 25th Hour played by Edward Norton. I just can't help but feel bad for the dude. And for some reason Carlito Brigante just popped into my head from Carlito's Way.

[Burnsy1101]

I'd say Wilson off castaway.

And the cast of Identity bar one.(if you've seen it you know who i mean)

[SecuritatMethod]

Oh and Dave Boyle played by Tim Robbins in "Mystic River"

[SecuritatMethod]

1 that hasnt been mentioned yet is Larenz Tate - Dead Presidents

[Natty]

Tommy from Trainspotting is also pretty tragic.

[dancegirl]

Kyle Reese in The Terminator
Poor guy, he crosses time to save the world and to meet the woman he idolizes, only to die not even knowing that he was sent back by his own son who he didn't even know he had.

[Terror Australis]

There have been many great tragic film characters and all the ones mentioned here are all wrothy, here's one I'd like to add to the list....

http://media.commercialappeal.com/mca/content/img/photos/2007/10/25/g26jesse2.jpeg

[jawsismyno1]

Jack Lemmon's character in Glengarry Glenross. He is so pathetic and its sad to see how he ends up at the end of the movie. Amazing performance by Lemmon.

[Z_oasis]

I still can't believe no one said this one.

THE PENGUIN from BATMAN RETURNS.

i was watching it again on HBOHD last night and i felt for him at times. Tragic.

[The FamilyJulas]

Fredo Corleone
Lester Burnham

[solidstealth]

chieko - babel
dae-su - oldboy

[taliesyn30]

Michael Corleone - The Godfather Trilogy
Florya - Come and See
Cesar and Ugolin - Jean de Florette & Manon des Sources (tho you have to see both films to see why!)


Tal x

[God of War]

Two more I just thought of. Melting Man and Norman Bates.

http://www.b-movies.gr/UserFiles/Image/INCREDIBLE%20MELTING%20MAN/INCREDIBLE%20MELTING%20MAN%2005.jpg

http://www.movieforum.com/movies/titles/psycho/images/perkinsleigh.jpg

[JohnLocke2342]

http://www.mrnuke.com/pics/hudson1.jpg

[Antonio141]

Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) in THE GODFATHER Trilogy!!!

[ivana]

Truman Barbank(Jim Carrey) - Truman's Show

[AversionTherapy]

http://content7.flixster.com/photo/56/35/92/5635925_gal.jpg

Ellen Burstyn from Requiem for a dream

http://www.dancewithshadows.com/media/images/anakin-skywalker.jpg

Anakin Skywalker

[Eric Flatpack]

Carrie from Carrie and Ulrich Muhe's character in The Lives of Others

[franky4fingerz]

Ned Plimpton, owen wilson's character in life aquatic. All he wanted was his dad, but he never really got even that.