One thing I've noticed these days, unless it's a crime/gangster/cop movie, it's kind of annoying when movies have f words repeated over and over. It doesn't ruin the movie for me at all or anything, it's just kind of annoying. It feels like a gimmick. It also loses its power. In crime/gangster/cop movies, it doesn't feel like a gimmick, and doesn't seem to lose its power.

Am I the only one?

Fuck no! I'm right fuckin' with ya!


On a serious note, it is annoying in most movies. I would like to see a mafia movie that doesn't have one whole curse word in the whole flick. I suppose that would be like a fantasy film though.

Cursing is very creatively used in Appetow/Jody Hill productions though.

I like what Bob Clark said on his commentary for Porky's. He originally had a lot more profanity, but he was told by a producer or someone to pull back, and he ended up thinking it worked far better.

Strangely enough, it doesn't bother me so much in movies. Where I get frustrated with excessive language is in stand-up comedy. There are entirely too many comics that don't understand that their craft is predicated on their creative and thoughtful use of language. A well-placed word can send good material over the top, as has been demonstrated by many of the masters. Unfortunately, too many misunderstood the lesson and believe that those words are, themselves, what makes material good.

It depends really, like anything in a story. Some people curse a lot, some don't. I don't think lots of cursing is necessarily a gimmick though.

For example, in District 9 it was used well. Loved that when Wikus used it later in his anger it still sounded odd for him to say it in that manner cuz..well...he isn't a tough guy.

Yep, this. There are people who walk around saying fuck every other word. There are others that might slip up with a darn it when they slam their hand in a door. A movie's language should reflect the way its characters would speak in real life, so some movies will have tons of swearing, others will have none and most will lie somewhere between.

Also, remember that movies tend to be about dramatic moments. A character is more likely to use profanity while arguing with their spouse or engaged in a shoot out then they would while clipping their tonenails or sleeping or in any other routine life moment most movies don't focus on.

And get rid of that darned rock-and-roll music too!

I could do without it, but as long as it fits and is well written... couldn't imagine some movies without it (goodfellas, etc) What bothers me is when you have one or two F bombs just kinda thrown in there for no real reason, than it sounds forced and stands out.

After one episode of Deadwood, a typical Hollywood film is like Sunday school when it comes to profanity.

I think Rob Zombie's movies win the award for having the most overuse of profanity to the point of being unrealistic almost.

I think the discussion could go both ways. A lot of movies throw in extra amounts of profanity for shock value while others don't use enough to get lighter ratings. If I was ever going through the events of Paranormal Activity (first that came to mind), I'd fill the swear jar 5 times over. I don't remember either of them using profanity much at all during the film.

Yup, and who can forget this classic scene from "The Wire"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbsnSVM1zM

I agree with the group that think it's ok as long as it fits the situation. I will give an example.

I recently watch the Tony Scott movie True Romance again. It has a bunch of cursing and while it is excessive, it doesn't take away from the movie.

I also watched another Tony Scott film The Taking of Pelham 1.2.3. and thought the cursing was outrageous. Travolta especially sounded like a kid in junior high trying to sound tough. While it would be realistic for a hostage taker to use the f word excessively, it just felt out of place and made a poor movie (imo) even worse.

British Films set in the Blue Collar or Seedy settings often have more "Fucks" then most American films.

Lol, i thought that was the only entertaining part of the movie. I think that's the character Travolta was playing, he wasn't a career criminal, it was his first time committing a violent crime. Just how i interpreted it.

Well, John Malkovich's multiple variations on "what-the-fuck" in Burn After Reading were great.

I understand it's realistic, but I think profanity is powerful, and I think it loses its power, if it's used over and over, over the course of an entire runtime. Like I said though, I don't mind it, in crime/gangster/cop movies.

The word fuck is part of the american vocabulary.

I don't cussing care about all this cussing nonsense. Cuss!

Sometimes, a lot of profanity fits the character...



(Not a movie, I know, but still a good reason to post her pic )

I recently watched Burn After Reading and just felt like it was excessive.

I took my ex-fiance on our first date to see Superman Returns and The Departed double feature at the Drive-In. I expected the language in The Departed to be on par with a Scorcese film but my ex was totally offended. I had to take her home because she didn't want to hear it or do anything else after that.

^ And you later proposed to her?