100 Decent Folk In Cinema - Page 2

Since Atticus Finch is naturally taken here is my pick:

36. Sam in Lord Of The Rings. Cynical people may even call him simple but he literally traveled to hell and back not because it was his fate, to prove his worth, or to find adventure but because he loved his friend and because it was the right thing to do. And corny or not his "I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you" line at the slopes of Mt. Doom shows that sometimes the second stringers have a heavier load to bear than the heroes.

38. Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), 'The Incredibles'.

She's a highly effective superhero (arguably the most effective and versatile one in the movie) and a first-class wife and mother. She has the most to juggle in the entire movie, and she does so with grace and class.

He's the moustache. The lack thereof in Part 2 is why that film was doomed to failure.

Oh, and nice avatar, Merriweather.

"...and Winston is the soul." C'mon, guys, wake up!

39. William Atherton as Walter Peck, 'Ghostbusters'.

A man who's just trying to do his job. He has a very legitimate reason for wanting to check out the Ghostbusters and their operation, and he actually is very polite and reasonable when presenting his initial request for access to the facility. Venkman is the asshole who decides to play games with Peck, not the other way around.

Peck does his job and gets the proper paperwork to investigate the facility. When he arrives, he's met with Venkman who, in his smarmiest tone of voice, pleads for cooperation. Peck won't be dissuaded from his civic duty, though.

HE'S the one who gets personally insulted in the courtroom. Does HE resort to such name calling? NO.

Walter Peck is a good, decent man.

40. Cliff Robertson as Ben Parker in 'Spider-man' (and Spider-man 2 and 3).

After the death of Peter's parents, Ben takes the boy in and, without whining, complaining or anything, raises him with all the love and adoration of a father. Perhaps he's even better at it. It's his simple, yet meaningful words 'With great power comes great responsibility.' that carves Peter into the man, and superhero he is, when he easily could have continued on his path towards selfish gain. Whenever Peter is in doubt, the words of his Uncle ring in his ear and he finds the path again.

And like so many decent folk in films, he ultimately pays the price for it (and in Spider-man 3, it's even shown he's being decent while being held at gunpoint). A true saint.

41. Jonathan Price as Sam Lowry in Brazil

Most other people in this film, when faced with the Tuttle/Buttle mix-up, would have shrugged and gone about their business, allowing the pittance of a government check to be enough compensation. Sam won't let it go, even knowing what digging into it can cost him. Everything he does in the film is done either from a sense of justice or out of love. And ends up catatonic for it.

42. Clancy Brown as Lt. Jimmy Williams in The Hurricane.

A honest, dutiful prison guard, Williams respects the strength and nobility of Hurricane and does his best to allow him to live with dignity, even when forced to punish his blatant rule breaking. Lt. Williams adds a humane touch to the harsh prison world, and could be called the only friend Hurricane Carter had for much of his incarceration. A good man doing unpleasant yet necessary work, he singlehandedly keeps decency alive within the walls of New Jersey State Prison.

As an aside, Clancy Brown holds the distinction of having played perhaps the most and least decent prison guards in film history.

43. Russell Crowe as Officer Wendell 'Bud' White in LA Confidential.

Kind of a random connection to The Wizard of Oz (I may have read it elsewhere), but I compare Bud to the Scarecrow. Both are decent and honorable characters that want brains they already have.

Sure, the dude's got a temper and may have indulged a bit in his position as Dudley's muscle. But even as he may have enjoyed beating the men who deserved it, in his heart he knew there was something wrong and begins to investigate the Nite Owl Massacre himself.

The guy is tough and brutal, but he's also naive and still a child in some ways. He's always ready to come to the rescue of a damsel-in-distress. In the world of LA Confidential, he is the most innocent and decent human being who survives (since Vincennes gets killed the moment he gets decent).

Relatively.

44. Martin Brody

Sure, he might be a little high-strung and rough around the edges. And he smokes too much. But Chief Brody is about as decent of a human being as I've seen onscreen. And he's not "pussy decent" either. He can man up when he needs to.


45. Del Griffith

He's a charmed man, after all. Poor bastard's just trying to find his way in the world after losing his true love. Sure, he might run off at the mouth a bit, and he has no plane etiquette whatsoever. But deep down, he's as decent a human being as they come. Even when you shit on him, ultimately, he'll be right there to pick you up. By hand... or by balls.

Marcus Brody would probably qualify as well.

Then goddamnit, whip you your number and name the name!!!!!!

Ah, but this is contradicted by the fact that the man had seen shit that turned him white.

Because I'm watching it on Bravo right now....

46. Ben Kingsley as Vice President Nance in Dave

Sure, Kevin Kline's Dave is the more obvious choice, but every scene Kingsley has in this is invested with such honesty and dignity. The scene where he talks to Dave about how he first got into politics is such a winner.

47. Justin Long in Drag Me to Hell

Considering he never actually sees anything supernatural until the very end of the movie, he is an incredibly supportive boyfriend to Alison Lohman's character. He cares deeply about her and even helps to pay for a seance that she desperately needs. Plus, the guy collects coins as a hobby. Have you ever met an evil coin collector? Didn't think so.

This is a little different than the entries so far, because it's about an actor and not a role, but: Pierce Brosnan

The man is incredibly decent and caring.

Two-Face!

I actually collect specific kinds of coinage.

48. Chewbacca

What a Wookieee!

A loyal friend and co-pilot. A brave warrior; his rebel yell helped bring down an evil empire.

Sure, he had a temper, but as long as one let him win at games everything w be okay. Possesses a rich and oft unappreciated sense of humor.

Devoted to his family and friends. In the end (according to expanded universe lore) gave his life, the ultimate sacrifice, to protect both.

(Where's the medal?)

49. Gregory Peck as James McKay in the Big Country

A man of secret honor and integrity. A seeker, intent on doing the right thing. Possessing of a quiet nobility; So confident is he in his own skin, with nothing to prove to anybody, nor the need to show off his ability and accomplishment, that it's almost baffling to the wild West folk he comes across.

(Whether breaking a fire-breathing horse, buying valuable property in hopes of negotiating peace, or out-boxing and beating down Chuck Heston, he prefers a private victory; yet as his final confrontation with Chuck Connors' Buck proves, pushed and put on the spot, he becomes a man of Action, remaining quick on his feet and in his thinking)

50. Kicking Bird in Dances with Wolves played by expert thespian, Graham Green

I think if you're going by that criteria (which I'm not disputing) you'd have to give some mention to Merry and Pippin. Sam was sorta drafted (though not particularly unwillingly) by Gandalf; Merry and Pip - well, Merry, at least - made the decision to follow Frodo through hell and/or high water in about a second. Simply because he needed help.

This, yes. Before he appears onscreen we're given a buildup through characters too cynical to appreciate him. We're encouraged to find him ridiculous. Then we realize there's nothing wrong with being described as a "boy scout". Also he has a hot wife.

51. TC "Twin Cities" Ellis in GRAFFITI BRIDGE

As the resident rapper in Prince's then-band, the New Power Generation, TC is treated remarkably poorly by Prince. Forbidden from rapping by the Prince of Power-Trips at every turn, ("Kid, I need a break man, when U gonna let me rap?"), TC nevertheless stands by Prince during his hour of need.

When no patrons turn up to Prince's nightclub, TC watches approvingly from the floor ("Yeah, dat don't never stop da Kid though"). He loyally warns Prince of the imminent arrival of Morris Day and the Time ("Yo Kid, Morris is coming"), and stands by Prince even after Prince's disastrous attempt to win the Battle of the Bands by performing a song about cumming all over a woman.

TC is rewarded for his loyalty by ultimately being allowed to rap during the end credits ("Yo Kid, Kid, I got 2 do this, I got da noise, I got 2 do this!").

If the theme of the movie is that everybody wants to find some measure of peace and salvation, represented here by the Graffiti Bridge ("Everybody wants 2 find Graffiti Bridge"), then TC surely helps Prince find his own Graffiti Bridge, and in doing so, is rewarded with his own Graffiti Bridge of sorts. Not all decent folk are punished for their decency; TC Ellis is living proof of this.

52. Reggie Bannister in Phantasm

He became a bit violent and sex-starved in the later films, but in the first Phantasm Reggie continues to go above and beyond for his friends. At the end he apparently adopts, or at least becomes the guardian of his best friend's younger brother. He's also an ice cream man, and doesn't appear to be a pedophile or a drug pusher.

53) James Brogan (Brian Cox), 25th Hour.

Most parents would hate or downright cut ties with a son who deals in drugs and traffic; not James, who loves his son and is supportive of him despite his choices in life; even though suffering the "endless grief" of the loss of a wife and the impending incarceration of Monty, James remains by Monty'sside and undertakes the hardship of driving his own son to prison, while making clear that he's willing to abandon everything and risk himself in order to give Monty another chance at life, even if it means never seeing his son again.

I admire the attempt, nooj, but I don't think anyone could sell me on this one. Every one of the characters in L.A. Confidential is massively compromised, White included. Even relatively speaking, he's really no more decent than Exley or Lynn. Despite his pathological hatred for women-beaters, he can't get past his own tendencies in that direction with Lynn; he's thoroughly amoral in his choice to help with the interrogations; and his ultimate aims don't seem rooted in decency so much as revenge for being screwed with.

Admittedly a less challenging case to make (although with tough competition from the headliners of the same movie): Tom and Munch in Away We Go. After the clueless, obnoxious parents that Burt and Verona encounter prior to their trip to Montreal, Tom and Munch practice a warm, caring style of parenting that doesn't smother their pack of adopted kids and gives the expecting main characters hope and role models, of a sort. While there's obviously tragedy there, as well, it's surmountable seemingly through a shared decency.

Damn! You could tell I was kinda straining to push it, eh? Yeah, Bud White made more sense at the beginning than it did by the time I finished typing. But I put it forth anyway.

Good choice from Away We Go. You should make that one 43 instead.

(note: Because this is a character from a TV show, it doesn't count or belong on this list. You may ask why I'm even bothering to mention him, but really as soon as I saw this list this is the first person to leap to mind.)

Kyle Maclachlan as Special Agent Dale Cooper in Twin Peaks.

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this." -Dale Cooper

Here is a man who is a joy to watch and behold. Neither a brooding anti-hero or a joyless by-the-book guy, he's simply a polite, pleasant fellow who relishes the little things in life but at the same time confronts and stands tall against the darker forces. He's a guy who, when confronted by a sexy, crying high schooler (18 folks!) naked in his bed begging him to have sex with her, resists temptation, tells her she needs a friend, to get her clothes on, and he'll be back with some milk shakes and they can talk about what's troubling her.

Not even to mention his enormous talent when it comes to field work, here's a man who just embodies GOODNESS, plain and simple.

54(?) Max Cherry(Robert Forster) in Jackie Brown

In this world of hustlers, monsters, and crooks, Max Cherry has his own little corner and quietly runs his bail bonds business, a small cog in the wheels of justice. Throughout the movie, he risks his life and his career for a woman he just met and fell for, and all he wants at the end is his usual 10 percent fee and maybe a little happiness with Jackie.

You could always count him from Fire Walk With Me. His whole character is informed by previous knowledge of the show, but it's still the same character.

Ellen Burstyn as Edna Mae McCauley in Resurrection.

Following a near-death experience, Edna discovers she has the ability to heal by touch. She never exploits this gift or calls attention to it, and gently resists others' attempts to characterize her power as something it's not. She would probably also object to being included on a list like this.

Siobhan Fallon as Brenda, Dancer In The Dark

I may have to go all the way and call her the only 100% decent person in a Lars Von Trier film. She never asks about the murder. She doesn't try to make her do anything "for her own sake" She never judges. She's the only person offering an unconditional aid and comfort to Selma, right up to those fateful 109 steps, and even then, she gives her the backbeat of that journey. She's the only person that unquestioningly kind in Von Trier's entire resume.

The woman's an angel.

Catherine Keener as Harper Lee, Capote

She's best friends with Truman Capote, helps him research his book, sticks by his side, and accepts without excusing the fact that he's a giant dickhead most of the time. And when she finally wises up to the fact that Truman doesn't think she's a very good writer, that he's so consumed with his own obsession and fame that he can't be happy for her on one of the best nights of her life, she has the pride and strength to walk away. Keener never overplays it, either.

Mary,(Cameron Diaz), There's Something About Mary.

Probably the most decent character ever created by the Farrelly's. She takes a chance on a guy in High School, who is so panfully nerdy, grows up into a successful orthopedic surgeon, and doesn't seem to realize she's hot. Very protective of her retarded little brother, and she's kind to everyone she meets.

Itzak Stern, Schindler's List.

He works for this German who just wants money and workers for his factory. Itzak does everything in his power to save as many lives as he can by getting them work in the German's factory.

He also helps the Schindler go from just caring about money, to helping save as many lives as he can with his vast wealth.

Although it's a minor role, what jumps to mind for me when I think of "decency" is the role John C. Reilly has in The Hours. Really, no one can evoke a guileless quality like Reilly, so many of his characters seem to be decent folk. But in The Hours his work as Julianne Moore's earnest and devoted husband is outstanding. He's naive and out of touch with her malaise, but all he wants is for his family to be happy, and he just radiates a gentle selflessness in his few brief scenes. Although that part of the story centers on Moore, her character is rather inscrutable*, while Reilly plays a tragic simpleton who is easy to sympathize with.



*Off topic, re: The Hours, I suppose the degree to which Moore's character's problems are made explicit is debatable, and probably depends on gender perspective (which is why I bring it up-- it's a touchy subject), although one of the factors is that the film is flawed.

On that note, I think you could very much make a case for his character in Boogie Nights. Ditto that for Magnolia.

Yeah, this thread was pretty much MADE for John C. Reilly. He seems to be the 'go-to' actor whenever you need a standup guy for your lead to play against.

I find it interesting that nobody has argued against my inclusion of Walter Peck.

In all seriousness, I blame that entire fiasco on Venkman.

You can also put Stephen Dillane's Leonard Woolf as another decent character in The Hours.

I'm shocked and disgusted, by the way, to have to bear witness to the mockery you people are making of the numbering system!


Number 50-60 something...

John Voight's "Ed" from Deliverance.

He tries to tame Burt Reynolds prickish swagger from the get go, and has to watch his friend play farm animal games with a not-so-simple simple man.

And even when he gets his chance to kill the fucking degenerate redneck, he struggles due to his pure bred decency.

He's so decent, he weeps when confronted once again with the decency of that family.

I gotta give you that one, Joey.

What about Rony Cox's Drew though? He's so decent, he throws himself off the canoe!

51. Timothy Hutton's Brian Moreland Taps

Honor. Tradition. Loyalty.

Sometimes those things are worth fighting for.

When pushed, leadership calls for you to make a stand (What would George C. Scott do?), and he does. Fighting the power, with the best of intentions, leads a take over of the school.

Unfortunately, under siege, situation escalates into a hurricane; a perfect storm that leads to tragedy, death and an end of innocence (Thanks a lot, Tom Cruise!) .