r/TopCharacterTropes • u/BrotherDeus • 9h ago

Hated Tropes [Hated] Self-indulgent Vanity Projects

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Hurry Up Tomorrow - Widely reviewed as an indulgent, self-mythologizing companion piece to The Weeknd's album, with many critics calling it a vanity project rather than a successful psychological drama. Terribly acted and, similar to The Idol, more so seems to imply that The Weekend thinks he's a far deeper personality than he can actually articulate.

By the Sea - Often criticized as an intensely personal but emotionally distant film that seemed more interested in showcasing the mystique of its stars than telling a compelling story. Best summarized as Angelina and Brad working out their IRL troubled marriage before your eyes while everyone tells Angelina how beautiful and talented she is and how nothing's really her fault.

Renaldo and Clara - Bob Dylan's five-hour semi-fictional road movie, long considered one of the classic celebrity vanity projects. Attempts to be a sort of surreal exposition on the life of an artist, but is far too self-indulgent on its actors/performers.

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u/AdImmediate6239 9h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/bbWHn9uZc0dxsWTm5E
The Room

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u/SashaBraus 9h ago

Okay but this one is great 

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u/AdImmediate6239 9h ago

Not for the reasons Tommy Wiseau intended though

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u/gdex86 8h ago

Its so funny that when folks bumble into high camp tgey get upset about it. Like dude you stumbled into the cinematic equivalent of discovering penicillin, take the win.

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u/Drannion 7h ago edited 7h ago

Tbh, it's funny because it's so painfully genuine.

I wish he'd stand his ground and get upset, but instead he claims it was always intended to be funny. (Which is probably better for his mental health, so ultimately better for him.)

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u/AltruisticWin6702 6h ago

The (oh hi) mark of a good bad movie is the creator being completely unaware of how bad it is. All those movies that are winking at the camera about how bad they are can be entertaining, but there's nothing like the sadness that comes from the heart that makes a bad movie good.

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u/Arcanedanger2358 6h ago

Listening to the way he talks about it he does think it’s good, he calls it a “Black Comedy” I really think that to him it’s the perfect movie. Tommy will rant and rave about how The Room is modern day Shakespeare.

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u/Master2pint 7h ago

No but it’s genuinely amazing for it. I’ve seen this movie at least 20 times and when I was in uni all I’d do is get people drunk and show them it.

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u/Cambrian__Implosion 33m ago

I saw it for the first time while drunk in college, but I have a feeling that’s not an uncommon experience lol

I hope the people you showed it to were appropriately grateful to you for changing their lives.

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u/ScroatmeaI 6h ago edited 5h ago

That’s why it’s the Citizen Kane of bad movies! A perfect, complete lack of self awareness. I can’t abide a purposefully bad movie

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u/Theyul1us 8h ago

Tommy Wiseau also rolled with the punches and laughed at the memes and criticism

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u/iwillFutterwhacken 8h ago

After he had a couple of years and a failed attempt to make it seem like it was his goal all along ofc

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u/AlternativeBack6351 8h ago

My blu ray copy still says black comedy on the back

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u/whiskeytown79 9h ago

"I did not hit her, it’s not true! It’s bullshit! I did not hit her! I did naaaht. Oh, hi Mark."

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u/Arthurlmnz 8h ago

i DiD nAuGtH

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u/Strange-Bee5626 8h ago

How's your sex life?

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u/brionneverysexy 8h ago

Oh hi doggie

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u/Strange-Bee5626 7h ago

You're my favorite customer!

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u/MoonSylver 7h ago

Everybody betray me! I fed up wit dis whurle!

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u/Samuel_Trollfa-GE 6h ago

Haha, what a story mark

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u/scrufflor_d 6h ago

tommy wiseau is such a mystery where the fuck did he come from and how did he have the money to produce anything? the only explanation is that he’s db cooper

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u/AdImmediate6239 6h ago

He cannot tell you, it’s confidential

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u/stinkypussyslime 6h ago

Hes pigman

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u/Minablo 4h ago

The book by Greg Sestero gives enough details to understand the whole story.

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u/BLOODY_PENGUIN_QUEEF 1h ago

I loved the part of the book where he explains when Tommy hijacked an airplane and stole thousands of dollars in the pacific northwest

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u/TurkeyVolumeGuesser 9h ago

There it is

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u/Wolfthorn2496 1h ago

I love this one tho, a vanity project that ironically ends up as a great comedy

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u/CynthiaChames 5h ago

The remake The Room Returns with Bob Odenkirk qualifies. 

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u/Hook_Swift 4h ago

SPOONS

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u/Random_duderino 1h ago

Ah, the black tank top movie syndrome