12 movies that expertly break the fourth wall
By Rachel Roth
11. Wolf of Wall Street
Based on the seemingly unbelievable life of Jordan Belfort, while he was the “Wolf of Wall Street”, and fell from grace. There’s usually only two types of Martin Scorsese movies, gangster and non-gangster movies. This is one of his non-gangster movies. It was met with positive reviews but had a more polarizing reaction from audiences because of the abundance of drugs, sex, and insanity. It basically feels like riding a roller coaster while drinking spiked punch in a strip club, not stopping even when you blow chunks on the people below you. Fun ride until it becomes too much to handle.
Leonardo DiCaprio talks to the audience periodically, narrating what’s going on. In this case, the fourth wall comes down as Jordan reminisces his time as Mr. Moneybags. The film takes place in the past with Jordan telling us what happens. The narration instantly gives away the ending because it’s in past tense, meaning everything we are seeing has already happened and Jordan has since been punished, letting us know that we can guiltlessly sit back and enjoy the overkill.
10. Amelie
A French romantic comedy about a shy waitress that sets out to improve the lives of those around her. A good film for anyone with social anxiety or Asperger’s, anyone who has a hard time relating to others.
After the sad death of Princess Diana, and the discovery of a box filled with the treasures belonging to a long-lost boy, Amelie decides her purpose in life is to make people happy. Her decision to change people’s lives is uplifting in itself. After living a tragic childhood that would have made anyone else give up hope, Amelie uses it to see the positive. Amelie breaking the fourth wall is heartwarming strictly because of how she is. She’s a sweet girl, keeping herself separated from the rest of the world, but thankfully she has us. We’re her best friend, her wide innocent eyes confiding in us confirms this. She looks into the camera and shares her secrets, whispering in our ear, “I like looking at people’s faces in the dark.”