Favorite films featuring voice-over narration

[pokerfan]

Like many fly fishermen in western Montana where the summer days are almost Arctic in length, I often do not start fishing until the cool of the evening. Then in the Arctic half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise. Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of those rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters.

"God help you if you use voice-over in your work, my friends. God help you. That's flaccid, sloppy writing. Any idiot can write a voice-over narration to explain the thoughts of a character." (Robert McKee, Adaptation) Yeah, I realize that films are supposed to show rather than tell but sometimes the source material is just so mesmerizing that you just have to get someone like Robert Redford or Peter Falk in front of a microphone. Off the top of my head:

* Stand By Me
* A Christmas Story
* A River Runs Through It
* The Princess Bride
* The Shawshank Redemption

Others?

[av8rdave]

1. That voiceover you posted

Was also the closing paragraph of MacLean's book. I have always felt it is one of the most powerful and perfectly written paragraphs in modern literature.

[pokerfan]

5. It's one of my favorites, as well

I also note that two Stephen King stories made it onto my list. Not much of a fan of his horror stuff but I can't deny the dude can write.

[av8rdave]

10. I'm no fan of the horror genre, but when I read King's autobiography ("On Writing")...

I became a fan. He is one gifted author.

[MiddleFingerMom]

13. One of my favorite things about Stephen King's books were his forewords.

.
.
.
I know I'd love to sit down and have some beers with that guy.
.
.
.
And I think Shawshank Redemption may have been the finest thing he's ever
written -- and I don't think there was one iota of horror in there -- other
than the horror of serving all that time under those circumstances (don't
want to provide a spoiler).
.
.
.

[av8rdave]

15. Shawshank is a great piece of work

And you're correct - not everything he writes is horror, though that seems to be where his reputation lies.

[pokerfan]

23. Not much horror in The Body either

aside from the body itself. But no supernatural stuff which always tends to break my suspension of disbelief. Just a really good story. Take the clown stuff out of 'It' and it's still a really good story.



I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?

[alphafemale]

33. His non-horror translates to film much better

Shawshank Redemption

The Green Mile

Stand by Me

[MiddleFingerMom]

2. "Cannery Row" with Nick Nolte and Debra Winger...

.
.
.
...and John Huston as the narrator.
.
.
.
Definitely in my top 10 favorite movies (and in my top 5 favorite books).
.
.
.
.
.
.
Narrator: The party didn't slow down 'till dawn. The crew of a San Pedro
tuna boat showed up about One, and was routed. The police came by at
Two, and stayed to join the party. Mack took their squad car to go get
more wine. A woman called the police to complain about the noise, and
couldn't get anybody. The crew of the tuna boat came back about Three,
and was welcomed with open arms. The police reported their own car
stolen, and found it later, on the beach. Things were finally back to normal,
on Cannery Row. Once more, the world was spinning in greased grooves.
.
.
.

[pokerfan]

6. I haven't seen that in probably twenty years

Steinbeck is always a worthy source.

[fishwax]

3. Goodfellas

"As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster ..."

[pokerfan]

7. and Casino, which I like to think of as Goodfellas II

The town will never be the same. After the Tangiers, the big corporations took it all over. Today it looks like Disneyland. And while the kids play cardboard pirates, Mommy and Daddy drop the house payments and Junior's college money on the poker slots. In the old days, dealers knew your name, what you drank, what you played. Today, it's like checkin' into an airport. And if you order room service, you're lucky if you get it by Thursday. Today, it's all gone. You get a whale show up with four million in a suitcase, and some twenty-five-year-old hotel school kid is gonna want his Social Security Number. After the Teamsters got knocked out of the box, the corporations tore down practically every one of the old casinos. And where did the money come from to rebuild the pyramids? Junk bonds. But in the end, I wound up right back where I started. I could still pick winners, and I could still make money for all kinds of people back home. And why mess up a good thing?

[alphafemale]

4. That one narrated by God. with penguins. nt

[Moondog]

8. I love noirs. And too many noirs to mention use that technique.

[Aristus]

9. I'm probably in the minority on this one, but

I've always liked the voice-over narration in "Blade Runner." It fits in with the whole neo-noir-ish feeling of the movie. Fans of the film are supposed to hate it and appreciate the Director's Cut better, but I like Harrison Ford's world-weary delivery, and his final thoughts about Roy's last moments. His toneless speech, contrasted with Roy's sorrow and passion make one wonder which of them was more human.

[pokerfan]

24. I didn't mind it

It gave it kind of a Raymond Chandler feel.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

11. Little Big Man

"that was back in mah gunfightin' days"

[Fire Walk With Me]

12. Zentropa.

Sorry, that was mean of me, to any who haven't seen it.

[Faygo Kid]

14. "All About Eve" comes to mind.

George Sanders was great. More of an intro thing, I suppose.

[JonLP24]

16. Favorites are already mentioned

but I would like to add "Pursuit of Happyness". Tough to think of movies with voice-over narration.

[petronius]

17. Lord of War is a good one. But yes, the quote you posted is at the tippy-top

of the list, and the first thing I thought of...

[alphafemale]

18. Sunset Boulevard!!!

No one has yet mentioned Sunset fucking Boulevard?

puh-leaze

[Lindsey]

19. I love movies w/good narration. I LOVED Goodfellas & Casino..

and also many of the others mentioned here. I also really enjoyed Million Dollar Baby with the wonderful narration of Morgan Freeman. I went to it w/a friend who writes screenplays on the side and she didn't like Million Dollar Baby because of the narration.:shrug:

[Lindsey]

20. Oh yea, The opening scene of American Beauty... n/t

[MiddleFingerMom]

28. I've seen "American Beauty" 4 or 5 times...

.
.
.
...and each and every time I've forgotten just how remarkable it is
and I'm bowled over anew.
.
.
.
A movie I always forget when listing fantastic movies, for some reason.
.
.
.
I was sitting outside of a library in a somewhat protected corner on a
slightly breezy day and watched a plastic bag dance like that for a good
3 or 4 minutes. It was incredible.
.
.
.

[alphafemale]

30. I've called them suburban tumbleweeds. nt

[alphafemale]

34. So that's at least three with Morgan Freeman

Shawshank Redemption

March of the Penguins

Million Dollar Baby

[pokerfan]

25. I've always meant to see that...

some day...

[alphafemale]

27. You should make that someday SOON.

Cause it is one of those old movies that are fukin AWESOME!

[Graybeard]

21. To Kill A Mockingbird

The film is narrated by Scout, now an adult, remembering a very special summer of her childhood. The actress is uncredited in the film. A search of IMDB reveals that it was Kim Stanley.

[Brigid]

22. "Lord of War," definitely.

I think VO was used very effectively to help maintain the film's laconic tone, without being overused.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

26. Robert Mitchum's voice-overs at the beginning and end of "Tombstone."

"Tom Mix wept."



:toast:

[Swede]

29. "The dude abides"

The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh. I sure hope he makes the finals.

Sam Elliot and Morgan Freeman are the best narrators IMHO.

[blogslut]

31. I'm having a hard time

...coming up with a narrated film that I don't like.

Also, I fucking loved Adaptation. I loved how the hero ended up including...oops - almost gave it away. :D

[Graybeard]

32. Kind Hearts And Coronets.

Absolutely the best use of voice-over narration ever!

[Brother Buzz]

35. To Kill A Mockingbird

[EFerrari]

36. Cannery Row, narrated by John Huston

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMjI0OTcyMDcxMF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDY0MjE3Mw@@._V1._SY314_CR11,0,214,314_.jpg

[cemaphonic]

37. Days of Heaven

Without the narration, you've got a kinda soapy melodrama with some really amazing cinematography. But the narration really underscores all of the main themes of the movie, while being extremely subtle about it.

[bluesbassman]

38. The Sandlot

The running narration was great. Doesn't hurt that I basically grew up like they did. :)

[VenusRising]

39. American Beauty.

I love that movie so much. It's easily in my top 3 favorite movies.