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10 Greatest Fictional Movie Narrators of All Time – MovieWeb
These fictional narrators helped audiences become further engrossed in the movie’s world.
Narrators assume a crucial role in modern storytelling where characters share thoughts with the audience that cannot be expressed to the other characters in the filmic world. There is a classical charm to a film which opens with the ‘once upon a time’ effect. However, films have evolved from having the conventional reliable narrator, mainly focusing on the exposition of a story.
Today, narrators can be unreliable and may even talk directly to the audience as they vent out their unfiltered thoughts. Some retain the old-time effect of speaking from a retrospective point of view, while others tend to be experimental. Here are 10 narrators in films who made the audience feel immersed in the film.
It is fitting to begin this list with Morgan Freeman, as the actor’s deep voice has been attached to several great works of American Cinema. The Academy Award-winning actor is mainly known for portraying reliable and calm figures in films, such as Ellis Redding in Shawshank Redemption, Nelson Mandela in Invictus, and Eddie Dupris in Million Dollar Baby. Ellis Boyd Redding, aka Red, is a prison contraband smuggler in the Shawshank State Prison who gives a first-hand account of his prison experience and Andy Dufresne’s escape.
The narrator’s dramatic yet matter-of-fact narration style adds a pull to the film that can humanize a character’s complex journey with unpardonable choices. As the film’s supporting character, Red’s narration seeks empathy for the guilt-ridden prisoners whose life revolve around the prison walls and are dehumanized by the prison warden.
Trainspotting starts with its protagonist, Renton, running from two men in black suits as he narrates his frustration with life and society’s expectations. This is metaphorical to what the film stands for as Renton and his friends choose a life of substance abuse instead of responsibilities. The characters in the film are in dissent with conventional life as they battle addiction, poverty and chronic aimlessness. Ambitions, career, and life in suits are a trap for Renton, but his chosen life as an addict is not helping him either.
Throughout the film, Renton narrates his honest opinions on friendships, failure with women, and disappointing his family. His narration bares open his defenses of using substance. The film did not glamourize drug culture nor antagonize the characters. Renton’s narration gives a sardonic yet empathetic account of why there is no good reason to consume drugs, and it is hard to find the right reason to come out of it from an addict’s point of view. The narrator’s hard-hitting catharsis has gained cult status over time for speaking the bitter truth about neglected youth.
The Award-winning actress Emma Thompson has worked as the narrator in several fiction and non-fiction projects. The actress’s work as a narrator shone out in Stranger Than Fiction, where she plays Karen Eiffel, a novelist who controls her new character, played by Will Ferrell, who hears her voice in his head. Thompson adds a comedic touch to the novelist trying to come out of her writer’s block as if parodying the act of narrating a story. Ferrell plays Harold Crick, a mentally unstable IRS auditor and the lead protagonist of Eiffel’s novel, who does not initially pay heed to the voice that narrates every mundane action of his life. However, when he discovers he exists as a figment of her imagination and may die as she pleases, Crick fights for his life.
The film was lauded for its inventive storytelling and for incorporating magic realism in exploring themes of character agency and writer’s block. Similar themes were explored in the film Ruby Sparks, which explored how men write women in novels and female agency, which can be viewed as a response to Stranger Than Fiction, where a female novelist explores male agency.
Frank Sheeran is the voice of retrospection, guilt and unresolved trauma from The Irishman. Martin Scorsese directs the gangster film, adding to the filmmaker’s celebrated filmography involving the American Mafia. The Irishman stands out from Scorsese’s filmography by adding the perspective of ageing criminals reflecting on devotion to unethical loyalty and backstabbing faithful friendships.
The story is narrated by Sheeran, played by Robert De Niro, a war veteran and a truck driver. He meets mobster Russell Bufalino, played by Joe Pesci, who recruits in his Pennsylvania crime family, where Sheeran becomes a coveted hitman. Sheeran meets Jimmy Hoffa, played by Al Pacino, who grows in prominence as a union activist close to the mob.
The film follows the conflicting dynamics of loyalty and betrayal between Sheeran, Buffalino, and Hoffa, which ends with Sheeran burying his conscience to save his life. The film is based on the book I Heard You Paint Houses, written by Charles Brandt, and itremains loyal to the book’s voice in capturing Sheeran’s guilt.
The unreliable narrator from Fight Club is a state of mind. That may be the reason why director David Fincher did not bother naming the character. The narrator, played by Edward Norton, is exhausted with his materialistic life and suffers from insomnia. He is unhappy in his professional and personal life and is existential about his life. He meets Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt, a mysterious soap salesman who shares a bleak worldview about consumerism, capitalism and the American society. They form an underground club with other frustrated men with strict guidelines to keep the community a secret. They engage in fist fights venting their anger with life. When everything seems to work well, a support group crasher named Marla, played by Helena Bonham Carter, exposes who Tyler really is.
The narrator from Fight Club is what Renton from Trainspotting feared would happen if he gave into corporate life. In many ways, the narrators from both films have a similar tone and disdain about life and express the Gen X angst of growing up in a consumerist world. However, the narrator from Fight Club suffers psychologically, and the film depicts his stress metaphorically through his alter ego in Tyler.
Ryan Reynolds plays the titular character in Deadpool, where he breaks fourth wall and narrates the character’s unfiltered humorous commentary of his mission. The character as a narrator adds an innovative spin to a convention superhero arc. Wade Wilson turns into Deadpool after an evil scientist’s experiment goes wrong. This gives him healing powers but is left with a disfigured face. The character uses his superpower and his dark sense of humor to disarm his enemies as he hunts for the man who destroyed his life. The narrative constantly winks at the audience with rib tickling one-liners and a meta-commentary of being an underappreciated character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The beauty of The Big Lebowski lies in its self-awareness of being a story. That is where the film’s narrator, played by Sam Elliot, plays a crucial role in adding an old-timey charm to storytelling. This Coen Brothers directorial is about a laid-back slacker, Jeff Lebowski, who spends his time bowling and taking life slow. He liked being referred to as the Dude and takes pride in having no ambition in life. However, things get too intense for Lebowski when he is mistaken for a millionaire sharing his name and is trapped in a deceptive case of kidnapping, spiraling into the underworld.
The film keeps its motives vague with the characters and, in the end, they return to the point where the film starts: the bowling alley. This is where the narrator breaks the fourth wall and summarizes the whole film to the audience, adding closure to the senselessness of the plot. The narrator juxtaposes the tale of a middle-aged slacker from the '90s with the commentary of an old Mark Twain narrative blending comedy and classic literature in an absurdist mood piece like The Big Lebowski.
Woody Allen plays Alvy Singer, a comedian, struggling with his break-up with Annie, a struggling nightclub singer, played by Diane Keaton. Annie Hall is known for the lead characters playing a version of themselves or a fictional representation of themselves. Allen was a comedian and had a relationship with Keaton, which inspired the film. Singer is the film’s narrator and breaks the fourth wall to explain his anxieties after his relationship with Annie.
The monologues by Singer resemble Allen’s stand-up routines and share the self-deprecation, wit and neuroticism that Allen is known for. Singer’s narration can be interpreted as his intrusive thoughts as the film reflects on the relationship from his point of view. One can interpret the narration as how a comedian copes with heartbreak oscillating between his comedic material and real life, which is definitive of Allen’s relationship with his artistry.
Goodfellas, directed by Martin Scorsese, is based on the book Wiseguy, written by Nicholas Pileggi. The film chronicles the life of mobster Henry Hill, played by Ray Liotta, who narrates the film. The film opens with Hill murdering a man in a trunk of a car along with James Conway, played by Robert De Niro, and Tommy DeVito, played by Joe Pesci. He then narrates his ambitions of being a gangster. His tone as a narrator reflects how he worshiped the mob and was ready to climb up the ladders to enjoy a life of power and luxury. It reflects his blind ambition to be a crime-lord which ultimately ended with substance abuse and his eventual downfall as a mobster.
Most of Scorsese’s gangster films are book adaptations and incorporate narration. This helps to contextualize a story with more events that may remain irrelevant to the plot but is important to the zeitgeist of the criminals. The director also used photographs to convey the same.
The narration in Juno by the titular character is conversational, quirky and intimate. Juno, played by Elliot Page, is a teenager who is impregnated by Paulie Bleeker, played by Michael Cera. The film portrays how she is supported by her family, friends and Bleeker, as she braces to keep the baby and place it for adoption. Juno is genuinely funny and narrates how she interprets her life full of simplicity and silly mistakes. The narration captures the essence of adolescence and the character’s imaginative world, almost like a page out of a journal or a diary, which keeps the audience asking for more of Juno’s irresistible humor and honesty.
Odyssey has previously written for a film website, worked at a children’s film festival and has a Masters in Film Studies.
Jake Paul and Tommy Fury get heated in their faceoff and push each other in the ring. (1:28)
After the multiple disappointments of fights failing to materialize last year, 2023 is already shaping up to be an improvement for boxing, with some exciting matchups on the horizon. Some fights have been officially announced. Others are very close to being finalized.
But what are the top fights in the months ahead? From Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury to Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis and the first heavyweight fight for the undisputed championship in the four-belt era, ESPN marks your calendar for dates not to be missed.
A clash between the best two heavyweights in the world, and perhaps the best heavyweight world champions since the Klitschko brothers (Wladimir and Vitali) reigned, is likely to be the biggest fight of 2023. Boxing suffered from fights not getting made last year, but this one — dare we say it — seems likely to get made and will determine the legacies of both these skilled and clever boxers.
Both have achieved so much in their careers, but what they do on April 29 will be what they are remembered for most. This fight is the first to have all major four heavyweight belts on the line and will create boxing’s first undisputed world champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999 (three-belt era).
Usyk’s slick movement and quick hands could unsettle Fury, but Fury’s long jab and heavier punches (if he can land them) could leave Usyk flat out like Deontay Wilder.
It was a pleasant surprise to see this fight get made given the obstacles — rival promoters and broadcasters, egos and unbeaten records — and it could be the start of a series of megafights at lightweight.
As well as popularity — they have nearly 13 million followers on Instagram between them — these two American rivals are supremely talented. Davis has skills, power (he has stopped 26 of his 28 opponents) and tactical intelligence, while Garcia has lightning-fast hands with a six-inch height advantage.
Devin Haney holds all the belts, but this matchup is almost as important as Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko. When the fight was announced, Garcia perfectly summarized this encounter: “Boxing needs this fight right now. It’s time for us to get back to what made this sport so great for the fans: Glamourous fights in places like Las Vegas, grudge match storylines, and most importantly — the best fighting the best.”
Be sure to find time to watch the Taylor vs. Serrano rematch.
Taylor, who lives and trains in Connecticut, has yet to box in her home nation since turning professional more than six years ago. When she steps out at a yet-to-be-confirmed venue in Dublin that night, the roof will lift (presuming the fight doesn’t occur at an outdoor venue like Croke Park). Taylor’s decision over Serrano last year lived up to expectations of it being the biggest fight in the history of women’s professional boxing. Who wouldn’t want a rematch?
Anthony Joshua doesn’t hide his emotions while discussing his split-decision loss to Oleksandr Usyk.
Haney, the undisputed lightweight champion, believes he is the man of the moment, the younger champion looking to make this his era.
Lomachenko, 34, was winning Olympic gold medals when Haney was nine years old and is definitely in the last throes of his career. It’s yet to be seen whether Haney can come close to showing the dazzling technique and skills Lomachenko has in lighting up boxing, winning world titles from featherweight up to lightweight.
With war raging in his homeland Ukraine, Lomachenko could understandably be distracted and slowed by the passing of time and a long career. Haney sees this as an opportunity to establish himself as one of boxing’s biggest names.
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The two former super middleweight champions almost got their fight started early during a recent news conference to announce the event. The animosity will only intensify toward fight night, ensuring a healthy interest in the nontitle encounter. This clash, between the best 168-pounders not named Canelo Alvarez, will be decided by whether Plant’s slick boxing skills can defuse Benavidez’s big-punching power and volume.
Plant is in form after his stunning KO of Anthony Dirrell in October catapulted him back to the No. 3 spot in the division after losing to Alvarez in November 2021, and he will be Benavidez’s best opponent yet.
To go straight into a world junior featherweight title fight in his first outing at the new weight class is a bold move by Inoue. To do it against Fulton is even bolder.
Fulton, 28, from Philadelphia, is ESPN’s No. 1 boxer at 122 pounds. As a seasoned campaigner in the division who throws a prodigious number of punches, he represents a big risk for Inoue. Inoue became undisputed bantamweight champion in December and is chasing a world title belt in a fourth division, a feat that would surely deserve universal recognition — or confirmation — as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter.
These two featherweights are the least well-known boxers on this list, but what they lack in star appeal, they make up for in entertainment value. After being plucked from the domestic scene in their home countries, both pulled off shocking wins at an elite level and produced fireworks in recent fights.
Wood’s last-gasp, 12th-round knockout of Michael Conlan was voted ESPN’s fight of the year and KO of the year for 2022. The English boxer also produced a last round KO win to capture the WBA belt against Can Xu in July 2021. Lara stopped Josh Warrington — who was ESPN’s No. 1 featherweight — in February 2021. Lara added two early stoppage wins last year. It has all the ingredients to be an eventful fight.
Alvarez needs a dominant performance to silence critiques that he’s sliding after a brilliant career, winning world titles in four different weight classes. After losing by decision to Dmitry Bivol for the light heavyweight title last May, followed by a decision win in his trilogy fight against Gennadiy Golovkin at 168 pounds, Alvarez will return to defend his four world title belts against Ryder, the mandatory challenger who will have to pull off one of the biggest shocks in boxing history to win.
It is one of the least competitive matchups on this list, but it will be intriguing to see what sort of form Alvarez is in after surgery on his left hand and a confidence-denting defeat that has seen his position in the pound-for-pound rankings take a tumble. Details of the fight have yet to be confirmed.
This fight is about how Joshua responds to back-to-back decision losses to Usyk and the upheaval in his training arrangements. Joshua’s frank and confused outburst in the ring in the immediate aftermath of losing to Usyk for a second time only adds to the doubts around whether Joshua can regain the form that saw him reign as WBA, IBF and WBO world champion. But Franklin looks like an accommodating opponent.
Stevenson is a talented boxer, but his lack of punching power and relatively unknown opponent means his fight will not attract as much attention as his lightweight rivals Haney, Garcia and Davis. But this is a solid first step at lightweight for Stevenson, who unified world titles against good opponents at junior lightweight. A fight against the winner of Haney-Lomachenko is a good incentive for Stevenson to look good — and a KO victory would help.
Okay, so this is the bottom of the pile, but for many, this crossover event will be the No. 1 fight of 2023 to follow and tune in to based on entertaining value alone. Paul is better known than many current champions, even if he has just six professional fights, with no amateur boxing pedigree.
The YouTube star appeals to demographics that Terence Crawford, Inoue, Errol Spence Jr. and Canelo can’t reach. Tommy Fury is a reality TV star from the UK, half-brother of world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, but also a professional boxer taking the sport seriously.
The storylines behind the fight will ensure it generates good pay-per-view numbers, with many intrigued to see if Paul can continue his impressive adventure in professional boxing, during which he has silenced all criticism that he is out of his depth. But Fury will be his toughest test yet.
Gymnastics
AUBURN, Ala. – Another school year means another season of Auburn gymnastics! And as we get ready to kick off the 2024 season in January, it is time to get to know the 10 newcomers to the squad. Next up is freshman Jersie Woolsey!
Hometown: Riverton, Utah
Club: Black Diamond South Jordan
Prior to Auburn: Top 10 finisher on vault at the 2023 Level 10 Region 1 Championship … Finished third on vault at the 2021 Winter Classic … Multiple top 10 finishes in the all-around throughout her club career.
Q: Why Auburn?
A: “I chose Auburn because it felt like home the moment I stepped on campus. Everyone here is so welcoming and friendly. I couldn’t imagine going to school anywhere else.”
Q: What’s your major and why did you choose it?
A: “My major is exercise science. I chose it because I want to do physical therapy and help athletes recover.”
Q: What do you hope to do once you are done with school?
A: “Once I am done with school, I want to get a job as a physical therapist and work with athletes. I’m still undecided where I want to go, but I want to try something new.”
Q: What’s your favorite thing about your hometown, what makes it unique?
A: “My favorite thing about my hometown is the mountains. I love listening to music and going on canyon drives.”
Q: What does a typical day in your life at Auburn look like?
A: “A typical day in my life starts with me waking up, getting ready, Wellness Kitchen for breakfast or go to treatment. I then go to my classes, then back to Wellness for lunch. I have practice and after practice I do recovery and cold tub. After that I eat dinner and go to SADC for studying.”
Q: What’s your favorite event and why?
A: “My favorite event is either floor or vault. I like floor because I love to perform.”
Q: What are you most looking forward to here at Auburn?
A: “The thing I am looking forward to most is meet season. I can’t wait to compete with my teammates at Neville Arena surrounded by all the gymnastics fans.”
Q: How did you get involved in gymnastics?
A: “I was a very energetic child, so my mom decided to put me in gymnastics, and I loved it.”
Q: What is your pre-meet ritual?
A: “My pre-meet ritual is listening to music and just having fun. I don’t do anything specific.”
Q: Coming from Utah, what is the biggest culture shock you have experienced coming to Auburn?
A: “One of the biggest culture shocks I have had is the food. I have tried a lot of new things here.”
Q: What is your go-to karaoke song?
A: “My go-to karaoke song is ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ by Fergie.”
Q: What fashion trend do you hope never comes back?
A: “A fashion trend I hope never comes back are chokers.”
Q: If you were in a zombie apocalypse, what person on the team would you want with you?
A: “I would want Lila Smith with me because we are both going to fight.”
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“In human history, people have always moved. But never before has the smuggling business been so profitable, and so deadly. Human mobility is a fact of life. Migrant smuggling should not be. It can be defeated. It is a matter of political will. And we can only succeed together.”
Commission President von der Leyen
Every year, thousands of lives are lost because of migrant smuggling. To fight this deadly criminal activity, the Commission has launched the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling. This Alliance will focus on prevention, response and alternatives to irregular migration, including addressing the root causes of irregular migration and facilitating legal pathways.
The Commission is also proposing to update EU rules to prevent and fight migrant smuggling by
Fuelled by crises around the world, criminal migrant smuggling into the EU, which attracts desperate people with lies, is reaching new heights. Criminal organisations who use land, sea and air routes, typically squeeze hundreds of people onto small boats, when travelling by sea. This has resulted in a staggering 28,000 people drowning or missing in the Mediterranean Sea since 2014. The tragic loss of human life must stop.
For more information
International Conference on a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling
New Pact on Migration and Asylum
Migrant smuggling
Factsheet on EU stepping up the fight against migrant smuggling
Press release: Commission launches a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling and proposes a strengthened EU legal framework
Speech by President von der Leyen at the International Conference on a Global Alliance to Counter Smuggling
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