Exposition! Exposition!...


I've heard a lot of critics and people in general complain when a movie's dialogue is nothing more than information we would need to better know the character's... or in better vernacular, "exposition"

Usually, I just take it like it is, not letting it bother me, but the first twenty minutes of this were nothing but character spouting out who they were
like "I've been with the company for twenty-four years. I was posted in Greece for fifteen. I've advised and armed the Hellenic Army. I've neutralized champions of communism. I've spent the past three years... learning *Finnish!* Which would come in handy here in Virginia, and I'm never ever sick at sea."

or... "I'm from Lufkin, Texas. I'm the son of an accountant for a timber company. I take home about $700 a week. I pay alimony"

these are people talking to others they know saying stuff that this should rightly know. If it's important to the character, then weave them better into conversations than this. I know some people won't agree but I feel like there is a fine line between letting the audience know something integral to the story...then there's this.

If you feel like you disagree, I understand. please feel free to leave a comment on what you feel the difference between good exposition and bad exposition is.

and for the respect of everyone, leave the insults out of it. Thank you!
I'm not putting in my report that I lost a crew member to find an alien named Jerry"- Barnes

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[deleted]

Its an Aaron Sorkin thing....he likes chatty dialogue.

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I agree. I understand all that exposition can be a necessary evil to get a lot of background to the audience in a swift manner, but it never fails to come off as lazy.

"Janet, we've been married for seven years, and in that time have you ever seen me drink coffee without sugar?"

Nobody really talks like this, do they?

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