Is there a movie equivalent to a David Foster Wallace story?

Submitted by IndieCurtis t3_zxwau9 in movies

Obviously there is Interviews with Hideous Men. I’m looking for something somewhat similar. Most of DFW’s characters have darkly tragicomic backstories. The plots tend to consist of a lot of backstory and setup leading to or centered around one event. Eye-opening deeply human moments that show the viewer a unique perspective.

Magnolia isn’t a bad example. I am a fan of the Coen Bros and Martin McDonagh. If anyone here has read any DFW and has movie or tv recs, I’m interested.

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frightenedbabiespoo t1_j22zuno wrote

Have you seen any of Charlie Kaufman's films? I haven't read DFW, but I've seen Synecdoche, New York compared a lot to his work.

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superfeds t1_j230opg wrote

Try The Player. Great Altman movie.

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Fearless_Plant1220 t1_j22qmuz wrote

Yeah, A Serious Man is one I guess I'd say, but you've mentioned the Coen Brothers. Some Haneke like Happy Ending fits, I think. Force Majeure and some Ruben Ostland. Altman has a few that might work too. Shortcuts, Nashville, Kansas City and some others. Definitely would not say The End of the Tour though.

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Minhinmonterey t1_j22t7rc wrote

The end of the tour is a god awful movie. The book was not bad but do not watch the movie. It's 2hrs straight of cringe.

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TheTige t1_j25k932 wrote

I think the Coen Bros and PTA are natural comparisons. I’d second David Lynch, as others mentioned, and add Jim Jarmusch and Bong Joon Ho. Parasite and The Host are both darkly comedic. Terry Gilliam I’d another director I’d throw out too.

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Malice_n_Flames t1_j24lc5w wrote

I could be way off as I have only finished DFW short pieces (cruise line, etc)…. But perhaps Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Inherent Vice” which is a Thomas Pynchon story.

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psychotropicfox t1_j253iww wrote

I think it would be almost impossible to make a film in the vein of Infinite Jest, or what was completed of The Pale King.

I think the closest you will likely come are the films of David Lynch, especially Blue Velvet. I believe Wallace himself wrote about Lynch and was an admirer.

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IndieCurtis OP t1_j2598xh wrote

Reading his essay on Blue Velvet greatly enhanced my enjoyment of that movie.

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psychotropicfox t1_j25aitj wrote

It seems like you've dug further into the subject than I have. The only other possibility that comes to mind for me is the Luis Bunuel film The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie. This may be a little more on the surreal side than some of the others films mentioned here, again I think Bunuel and the film 'movement' he was associated with is in a sense parodied in Infinite Jest.

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Jerrymoviefan3 t1_j22nxde wrote

Didn’t that movie about DFW himself have a slight resemblance to his books?

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IndieCurtis OP t1_j22tgyx wrote

Lil bit. As a fan I watched it, though I could barely get through it because the grief of his loss hit me pretty hard while watching. Good film.

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DrRexMorman t1_j22szce wrote

I don't especially enjoy Jason Segel or Jessie Eisenberg; but I really enjoyed them in End of the tour - which is about a series of conversations between David Foster Wallace and a journalist who is interviewing him right as he becomes David Foster Wallace.

This:

>The plots tend to consist of a lot of backstory and setup leading to or centered around one event

is a pretty basic scheme for understanding all narrative, so - triangulating from this:

>Coen Bros and Martin McDonagh

You might like the Hesses (Napoleon Dynnamite, Nacho libre, Gentlemen broncos, Austenland), pre-MCU Taikka Waiti (Eagle vs Shark, Boy), early Wes Anderson (Rushmore, Royal Tenenbaums), and Steve Conrad (the Promotion and Patriot).

Also, I'm not sure I see DFW in his tv work, but you might also consier that Michael Schur (co-created the Office, Parks and Rec, the Good place, etc) is a huge DFW fan.

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IndieCurtis OP t1_j22tys9 wrote

I don’t disagree with what you say about narrative. To be more precise, I should have mentioned that the backstorys of particular characters in DFW novels are almost their own story. A character might spend the majority of the plot in the background, then get an entire chapter dedicated to their childhood or some other traumatic even that informs who they are. Not sure if this helps, but I enjoy thinking about it.

Thank you for your comment. Big fan of the Hesses and early Wes Anderson. And now that you mention it, I think The Good Place fits nicely in this genre. A good reminder for me to rewatch it.

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