MovieChat Forums > Streamers (1983) Discussion > Dialogue out of place for the scene

Dialogue out of place for the scene

posted 16 years ago by gumborific
9 replies | jump to latest

This is one of the most pretentious films I have ever seen. The language is forced and unrealistic. These are military men, and if there were these heated conversations there would have been fisticuffs within five minutes. I understand that the writer is raising important issues and there are messages abound, but it just doesn't work. Plays always get wordy, and sometimes you have to suspend your disbelief that certain conversations would play out as they do, but just not in the barracks, like they do here.
Biloxi Blues takes place in the military, but Neil Simon does a much better job of keeping the language believable, and the dialog moving in a way that seems natural.
For example, Deadwood does a much better job of utilizing intelligent language and discussion while still staying true to the scene and history. The characters in Streamers seem too forced, and parodies.
I know these kids were wet behind the ears, but they were all just too soft for it to be believable.

"In our wings that bark, flashing teeth of brass, standing tall in the dark" - David Bowie

[–] onomotopean 15 years ago

I beg to differ. These were not "military men" but draftees on their way to Vietnam. I think that was the point of the movie.

Having once been a 19 year old GI dumped into a barracks with a bunch of people I didn't know I found the movie to be very believable - including the part with two drunk NCO's.

[–] gumborific 15 years ago

Fair enough. Thanks for your perspective.

"In our wings that bark, flashing teeth of brass, standing tall in the dark" - David Bowie

[–] tieman64 15 years ago

Stageplays often have a very "literary", very "mannered", quality to the writing. The actors were natrualistic, but you simply can't read a script like this without coming off a bit awkward. You just have to accept it as a filmed stageplay.

"Rape is no laughing matter. Unless you're raping a clown."

[–] gumborific 15 years ago

That's a fair and reasonable assessment. Thanks tieman64.

"In our wings that bark, flashing teeth of brass, standing tall in the dark" - David Bowie

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] gumborific 13 years ago

I agree it can be fun to listen to, and "poetic" but to me, poetic is not natural...it is artistic.
My post was about it being out of place.
As I stated in my original post - the seriousness of the topics do not jive with the actions or mood of the characters.
Stageplays can have a very, you speak, then I speak, "mannered dialogue", which is another way of explaining why I feel the dialogue is forced into the setting, rather than feeling natural.
Plays about the military are a tricky thing.
Intellectualizing a scenario that in real life is not very intellectual, can be dangerous, or feel very forced.
The words and content of the dialogue is not the item in question. I am questioning and commenting on the delivery in realtion to the subject matter and scene.

"In our wings that bark, flashing teeth of brass, standing tall in the dark" - David Bowie

[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

Well, yes ... and no. You are certainly correct that the words the characters use here are more mannered than actual G.I.s would probably use, and many scenes here seem more enigmatic than true-to-life. This film very much has a David Mamet staccato, with odd words and phrases repeated and emphasized.

But that's the reality of theater, which uses the tools of the writer and actor to (hopefully) deliver larger truths. I'm sure you could go on YouTube or various video sites and find clips of G.I.s talking about various subjects, and ... well ... I'm not sure what you'd get out of that, or than the facts they are reciting along with whatever emotions they choose to provide.

This script indeed has poetry, but it also has subtext, tension, insight, yearning and despair. So while the words the characters use might be more eloquent than those you'd hear in a typical barracks, the light this piece of fiction sheds on the real-life situation is valuable – at least it was for me.

[–] gumborific 13 years ago

Well said, Warped. Well said.

"In our wings that bark, flashing teeth of brass, standing tall in the dark" - David Bowie

[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

Thanks very much, Gumborific. I can tell by your responses here that you are a kind person with an open mind. And the fact that you like Bowie means you have excellent taste. Have a great day!